[DaBigManOnCampus]

Let Me ask you this, me and my tech teacher in Tech (baseball coach and a Braves Fan to boot) has been arguing about If he is a hall of famer and a first ballot to boot, I say he is not going in unless he hits 3,000 end this do you think he is hof material...

[MJHMarc]

I don't think so.

In my opinion, he wasn't that great.

[MVB]

Here are Franco's career numbers:

2500 games played
1300 runs
2500 hits
400 doubles
50 triples
175 home runs
1200 RBI
280 stolen bases
.298 career BA
.365 OBP
.993 career fielding percentage
( 22 errors in 3331 total chances)

4 Silver Slugger Awards (1988-1991)
3-time All Star (1989-1991)
All Star Game MVP 1990
1 batting title (1991)
led the league in singles (1991)
finished in the top ten in MVP voting (1990)

oldest player ever to hit a grand slam
oldest player ever to hit a pinch-hit home run
oldest player ever to hit a home run
oldest player ever to steal two bases in one game
oldest player ever to hit two home runs in one game
oldest player ever to pinch-run

Maybe we should designate a spot in the Hall for him just because of what he did after the age of 45?

[Lefty Noob]

You know, I agree with MVB. The numbers aren't there, but because of his longevity, I'd love to put him in for sentimental reasons.

[vincesanity82]

he needs to be there just because hes so old and still productive, his earlier stats may not be stellar but like lefty said for sentimental reasons..

[EmpireWF]

I don't know...right now I wouldn't vote for him. Although if he stayed in MLB for all those years in the mid-late 1990s, he'd probably be a sure-fire pick with over 3,000 hits.

[vincesanity82]

another thing to think about is he still wants to play for as long as he can and hes proven he still can play so that def will help him him..

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

You know, I agree with MVB. The numbers aren't there, but because of his longevity, I'd love to put him in for sentimental reasons.

Sentiments has done nothing for Roger Maris...Dale Murphy or Blyeleven...I don't see him getting in...

[EmpireWF]

Was Franco ever looked at as one of the best players in MLB...at any point in time? I don't think so.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Sentiments has done nothing for Roger Maris...Dale Murphy or Blyeleven...I don't see him getting in...

Yeah. I mean, don't get me started on Murphy. But all of those guys should be in long before Franco, and probably several others as well.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

Was Franco ever looked at as one of the best players in MLB...at any point in time? I don't think so.

He was never even the best player on his team at any point in his career. He was just a good player. The game needs them too.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Yeah. I mean, don't get me started on Murphy. But all of those guys should be in long before Franco, and probably several others as well.

I still don't understand Murphy not being in. I wish somebody could explain it to me.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by DaBigManOnCampus

Let Me ask you this, me and my tech teacher in Tech (baseball coach and a Braves Fan to boot) has been arguing about If he is a hall of famer and a first ballot to boot, I say he is not going in unless he hits 3,000 end this do you think he is hof material...

NO. Not even an issue, IMO. Franco was never close to being a great player. A very good player, yes...but not HOF material.

[stepay]

I say no, but it's really really close. Remember that he missed 1995 and 1998 (1995 playing in Japan I believe). Just ONE at bat in 1999 too! And he didn't play in 2000!

He will end up his career with just under 2600 hits. Had he played in 1995 and 1998 and 1999 and 2000 in the Major Leagues and had he been used a bit more when he was still effective but teams thought he was too old, I think he could have gotten 3,000 hits, but woulda coulda shoulda. Fact is that he won't get 3,000 hits (this is probably his last year).

Many will view the stout numbers he does have as just longevity. He hasn't had more than 100 hits in a season since 1997!

Maybe some stories about him need to be in the Hall of Fame, but the Hall of the Very Good has to have some members, and he's solidly in that group I think.

I would love to see him play all next year though and get a hit after he turns 50.