http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/l...htm?POE=SPOISVA

 

You probably think these guys are graybeards. Greg Maddux is 4-0 the same month he turned 40. Curt Schilling is 4-0 at 39. Randy Johnson is still occasionally blowing away hitters at 42.

 

Imagine what Julio Franco might have to say about them: "Yeah, the kids are doing just fine."

 

They're almost all kids to Franco. Players, managers, umpires, ushers.

 

Matter of fact, major leaguers come in three ages. Young, old and Julio.

 

In case you missed it, the most remarkable home run of the season was struck last Thursday in San Diego by a pinch hitter for the New York Mets ? Julio Franco, age 47. To find an older geezer rounding the bases, you'd have to stop by a company picnic softball game. The last senior citizen to hit a homer in the major leagues did it 76 years ago: Jack Quinn of the Philadelphia Athletics, at the time just a week or so short of 47.

 

Forty-seven? Isn't that when a guy is supposed to be making appointments for his first colonoscopy and stress test? Franco is playing for the first place team in the National League East. Says he wants to hit a homer at 50, when he could become the only man ever to drive in a major league run the same day he uses his AARP card for a discount ticket to Sea World.

 

Speaking for all baby boomers who creak, crackle and show signs of falling apart.... Our Hero! Raise your prune juice glasses in a toast.

 

As of Monday, 60 players on active major league rosters had not been born the day Franco played in his first game for Philadelphia in 1982.

 

Scott Linebrink, the San Diego pitcher who gave up Franco's 171st major league home run, was six years old the day Franco hit his first.

 

In 1983, Franco finished second in voting for American League rookie of the year. The man who beat him, Ron Kittle, has been out of baseball for 15 years.

 

Franco won the 1991 American League batting crown. The hitter who finished third is now his manager, Willie Randolph.

 

Franco is older than seven managers and his own general manager. His career predates 20 of the 30 ballparks now in use.

 

He is older than Ryne Sandberg, who is already in the Hall of Fame.

 

When he played his first game, Bowie Kuhn was the commissioner of baseball. Cal Ripken had not even begun his record-breaking streak of 2,632 consecutively-played games. The Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays did not exist.

 

When he became a starter at shortstop in Cleveland, his first baseman was Mike Hargrove. Hargrove is now on his third major league team as manager.

 

Franco works hard, eats right, smiles a lot, goes to bed early. So he's had time to land in more places than a FedEx plane. Philadelphia, Cleveland (twice), Texas, the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay, Atlanta and the Mets. Also Japan, Korea and Mexico.

 

Franco was 38 years old when he finally got the chance to play in his first postseason. Now he's been in six. He was MVP of the All-Star Game ... 16 years ago.

 

His body shows less wear than my tires. He hit a triple last year at 46. Stole two bases in a game. He last did that at 35. People call a player old when he's 35.

 

And now, 11 years later, he has a two-year contract with the Mets, who were not born until 1962. They're not as old as Julio Franco.

 

But then, who in baseball is?

file:///C:/DOCUME~1/ARIELJ~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg

 

Rookie Card

Wow, he was a skinny mofo.

Wow, he was a skinny mofo.

 

 

'Roids.

What can you say? He's old...

He says he wants to play till hes 50

And the way he is going he just might do it.

 

The man is incredible. I wish him a successful year.

I have always like him.

 

Did you know he uses the heaviest bat in baseball?

Wow, he was a skinny mofo.

 

 

'Roids.

nah, if he took steroids he wouldn't still be playing

He says he wants to play till hes 50

 

 

it wouldnt surprise me if he already reached it....

 

:mischief

I wouldn't put it past him to play until he is 57 years of age. I've seen people at that age (my uncle), who keep in good shape with the protein shakes and all that good stuff and can have the immune system of a 30 years old (my uncle 60 YRS old). Julio Franco will play into his late fifties people, no ball player wants to retire, it's what they love, especially one from a dominican background, they live for baseball.

I hope he lasts until he is 50, that would be unreal.

Franco is a great player who truly loves playing the game. I hope he can play until he's 50. He's certainly worked hard to earn it.

so today he stole a base on Mike Matheny

Its a shame he had to play a few years in Japan and Mexico because if not he could have have being making a push for 3000 and the HOF

I have always like him.

 

Did you know he uses the heaviest bat in baseball?

Its incredible to think the bat speed he has at his age. Using the heaviest bat in baseball and arguably the most difficult stance. He is just amazing. And he should be a HOFer.

And he should be a HOFer.

 

 

No, he shouldn't.

 

He's not even that close really. If you asked me to name the top 50 players of my lifetime, he wouldn't even make the list.

 

It's awesome he's still playing, but don't get carried away.