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2 Career Accomplishments (through 2003) 3 Background 4 Playing Career 5 Legacy |
John Franco was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1960, the son of a New York City sanitation worker. He 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.
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. In 1989, he 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. Franco 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, and has not made any public comments about his future thereafter.
Franco has solidified his position as one of the greatest relief pitchers of all time, but the Baseball Hall of Fame has historically snubbed relievers. His statistics are hall-worthy, but his position and lack of postseason success will count against him. Whatever the hall's decision, 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.
Basic Information
Career Accomplishments (through 2003)
Background
Playing Career
Legacy