Thu, Aug 28 2008
|
|
Published May 11, 2008 12:43 am - I took it personally when Julio Franco announced his retirement a week and a half ago in Mexico. Sheldon Ocker, on the Tribe: Julio always makes things interesting If Franco has indeed wrapped up his career, he will be missed SHELDON OCKER Akron Beacon Journal I took it personally when Julio Franco announced his retirement a week and a half ago in Mexico.
Everyone knows Julio’s story by now. His last season in the big leagues was 2007, when he played for the New York Mets at age 49, one year short of his goal. I guess he’s not going to make it, inasmuch as his 50th birthday is Aug. 23. I suppose a team might ask him to make a token appearance as a way to capitalize on the promotional value of his situation, but if Julio didn’t believe that he could compete, that is contribute, I don’t think he would cooperate, knowing it was a sham. On the other hand, when Julio retired, he was still producing for his Mexican League club, the Quintana Roo Tigres, for whom he was batting .250 with 15 RBI in 128 at-bats. He even had three steals in four attempts, tying two others for third on the team. “It was the hardest decisions of my life,” Julio told a Mexican reporter. “I always said I would be the first one to know the exact moment... I understand that my time has passed, and that great men and athletes know when to say enough.” A little background Julio played 23 years in the big leagues with the Indians, Phillies, Rangers, White Sox, Braves, Rays and Brewers, in addition to the Mets. In addition, he played in Japan, Korea and for two teams in Mexico. The Hall of Fame probably won’t come calling to ask which team’s cap will adorn his plaque. If his career had played out a little differently, Julio would be an inductee as early as 2013. He amassed 2,586 major-league hits, drove in 1,194 runs, scored another 1,285 and stole 281 bases, succeeding 72 percent of the time. Not bad for a guy who was a middle infielder for most of his career. But those numbers are unlikely to get him into the Hall. If he had avoided taking his skills to three foreign countries — where he collected 790 hits — it is almost certain he would have surpassed 3,000 major-league hits, 1,500 RBI and 1,600 runs. Julio was selected for three All-Star Games, won five Silver Slugger Awards and captured the 1991 American League batting title, one of four top 10 finishes. He was among the top 10 in on-base percentage and hits four and five times, respectively, ending his career with a .298 batting average, even though he played semi-regularly into his mid-forties. If Julio has regrets about the improbability of him taking his son, Joshua Cesar, to see his Hall of Fame plaque, he hasn’t expressed them. Wild and crazy days Julio talks about being a great man. Certainly, he has become wiser and developed an air of dignity I never would have imagined when he was young. When he came to the Indians as a 23-year-old (he said 21), Julio was wild and carefree. Money was something to give away to friends, or people he thought were friends. He was easily scammed. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Sports section
GV’s Oscar earns best-of-week honors A Don McCormack column: Former area coaches off to good starts |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
© 2007, Ashtabula Star Beacon P.O. Box 2100, Ashtabula OH 44005-2100 (440) 998-2323, Send news tips and feedback |
Popular Business directory links - Ashtabula Apartments | Ashtabula Attorneys | Ashtabula Auto Dealers | Ashtabula Auto Parts | Ashtabula Auto Repair | Ashtabula Beauty Salons | Ashtabula Car Rental | Ashtabula Dentists | Ashtabula Doctors | Ashtabula Flowers | Ashtabula Hotels | Ashtabula Insurance | Ashtabula Loans | Ashtabula Mortgages | Ashtabula Movers | Ashtabula Pizza | Ashtabula Realtors | Ashtabula Restaurants | Ashtabula Storage | Ashtabula Tax Preparation | Ashtabula Travel | Ashtabula Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |