Results tagged “Billy Grabarkewitz” from The Sports Desk
Of all the sports news in the past week, none had bigger implications than this:
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Julio Franco finally called it quits.
The 49-year-old announced his retirement from baseball after a 23-year career in the major leagues and stints in his native Dominican Republic, South Korea, Japan and Mexico. In 2007, he became the oldest player to hit a home run in the majors. ...
Franco last played in the majors in 2007, when he played in 55 games with the New York Mets (40) and the Atlanta Braves (15). He batted .222 with one home run and 16 RBI in 90 at-bats.
Somebody pointed out that when Franco entered the big leagues in 1982, Manny Mota was still active. To take it further: When Mota broke in, Stan Musial was in the league, and when Musial hit the scene, Charley Root and Gabby Hartnett were still going. So Franco was only three generations removed from Babe Ruth's called shot and the Homer in the Gloaming.
The biggest implication of Franco's departure from the scene is that there is no longer a major-league ballplayer as old as me -- or anybody else between the ages of 46 and 49.
Continue reading The meaning of Julio Franco.
About this blog
Kevin Modesti watches sports from a new angle since his promotion from sports columnist to sports editor for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. In his new blog, Modesti not only comments on the big sports stories of the moment-- he talks about what makes them big. Think of it as a conversation with readers about how these stories should be covered.
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