John Franco - Definition and Overview

John Franco (born September 16, 1960 in Brooklyn, New York) is a left-handed relief pitcher for the New York Mets and a New York baseball icon. He has deep roots in New York City and is generally considered one of the best relievers of all time. 2004 represented his 21st season in Major League Baseball and his 15th season with the Mets as well.

Basic information

• Name: John Anthony Franco
• Age: 44
• Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
• College: Saint John's University

Career accomplishments (through 2004)

• Pitching record: 90-86
• Saves: 424, 2nd most in major league history behind Lee Smith, and the most for any left-handed pitcher.
• Strikeouts: 959
• ERA: 2.84
• Innings pitched: 1230.2
• Games played: 1088
• 4-time All-Star (1986-87, 1989, 1990)
• Postseason record: 2-0, one save, 1.88 ERA in 15 postseason appearances.

Background

The son of a New York City sanitation worker, Franco graduated from Lafayette High School in Brooklyn and St. John's University in Queens, where he pitched two no-hitters in his freshman year. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 1981 amateur draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1983, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds organization, where he made his major league debut in 1984.

Playing career

Franco was an immediate success in the majors, providing solid relief for several mediocre Cincinnati teams during the 1980s. He became the Reds' closer in 1986, and in 1989, was traded to the Mets for Randy Myers and Kip Gross. Franco has stuck with the Mets ever since, and is now the Mets' captain and the longest-tenured player on the team. He was the Mets' closer until 1999, when he moved to a setup role in front of Armando Benitez. He finally reached the postseason in 1999 and the World Series in 2000, when the Mets lost to the New York Yankees in five games. Injuries caused Franco to miss the 2002 baseball season, but he made a successful recovery from surgery and returned in June 2003. He signed a one year contract for the 2004 season. He finished with a 2-7 record with 36 strikeouts and a 5.28 ERA in 46 innings. In January 2005, he was signed to a one-year deal with the Houston Astros. Now at the age of 44, it's likely to be his last season as a professional baseball player.

Legacy

Franco has solidified his position as one of the greatest closers of all time, but the Baseball Hall of Fame has been slow to honor relievers. His accomplishments merit strong consideration for the Hall, but his position and lack of postseason success may count against him. Whatever the decision of the voters may be, he will remain one of the most beloved sports figures in New York - both for his ties to the Mets and for his charitable work, for which he has been honored with the Thurman Munson Award.