04-21-2006, 08:52 AM
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 | Senior Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 912
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| Julio Franco
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Originally Posted by Yahoo News Julio Franco doesn't intend to slow down any time soon.
Franco became the oldest player in major league history to hit a home run when he connected for a two-run, pinch-hit shot in the eighth inning Thursday night to help the New York Mets rally for a 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres.
Franco, 47, drove a 1-0 pitch from reliever Scott Linebrink (1-2) into the home-run porch down the right-field line at Petco Park. That gave the Mets a 3-2 lead and Franco the spot in the record book that had been belonged to Athletics pitcher Jack Quinn, who was 46 years, 357 days old when he homered on June 27, 1930.
Franco already was the oldest player to hit a grand slam, a pinch-hit homer and have a multihomer game.
"That won't be the last home run I hit, and I hope I hit one when I'm 50," said Franco, who has four career pinch-hit homers.
He wasn't joking.
"Why not? They signed me here for two years," said Franco, who turns 48 on Aug. 23. "God gave me the great gift to play the game of baseball, and I want to play until I'm 50. If He gives me two more years, don't you think He's going to give me another one?"
If Franco lasts that long, he'll turn 50 during the 2008 season.
The fan who ended up with the ball gave it to Franco in exchange for a bat. Anticipating a call from the Hall of Fame, Franco said he'd send either the ball or the bat, but not both. | How cool is that? Franco is 48 and he has more homers then Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez! Will he go to the Hall of Fame and how many more homers will he hit?  |
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