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1983 Topps Traded Julio Franco! Very interesting!
DeutscherGeist
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This is a special card, but not costly by any means. I feel this card is overlooked by some and may have some due in the future. His case is unique.
The man is in excellent physical shape, keeps his head straight, works hard and he has raw baseball talent. Those are elements of a good long career and something fans can appreciate. He has an easy going attitude and very casual and calm in interviews. He does not sweat the small stuff, but stays focused and always gives his best effort. He is adaptable and can get along with any teammate. He is a club house leader by example. His no stress attitude rubs off on others. He does not worry, but when he comes to bat, his skills and experience are put to the test and he is focused enough to get the hit he needs. Very good hitters are patient and adaptable just like J Franco. He knows how to focus and that brings him success.
He played in Japan for 3 years as a first baseman and won the equivalent to the Gold Glove award there. he has done well everywhere he has been--every team, every country.
Had he stayed in the USA for those years, we might have been looking at a ball player really close to 3000 hits.
I think people in Japan would like the above mentioned baseball card so they can cherish those memories of a great first baseman that came as a visitor from abroad to play a few seasons. Franco has international appeal. I am wondering how much more popular he will get.
The man is in excellent physical shape, keeps his head straight, works hard and he has raw baseball talent. Those are elements of a good long career and something fans can appreciate. He has an easy going attitude and very casual and calm in interviews. He does not sweat the small stuff, but stays focused and always gives his best effort. He is adaptable and can get along with any teammate. He is a club house leader by example. His no stress attitude rubs off on others. He does not worry, but when he comes to bat, his skills and experience are put to the test and he is focused enough to get the hit he needs. Very good hitters are patient and adaptable just like J Franco. He knows how to focus and that brings him success.
He played in Japan for 3 years as a first baseman and won the equivalent to the Gold Glove award there. he has done well everywhere he has been--every team, every country.
Had he stayed in the USA for those years, we might have been looking at a ball player really close to 3000 hits.
I think people in Japan would like the above mentioned baseball card so they can cherish those memories of a great first baseman that came as a visitor from abroad to play a few seasons. Franco has international appeal. I am wondering how much more popular he will get.
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BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
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Perhaps someone could start collecting: Great Players over 40. You would collect the rookie and the last card (Topps - to see all the years and stats).
Not sure what the exact qualifications would be, but I'd think you'd have to have played 20 or more seasons and showed productivity in your 40s. Hmmm, maybe this would look too much like the Hall of Fame list....maybe not...
Someone break it down with a list and note whether they are in the hall of fame.
The key is what becomes significant to do after 40???
Erik
I like this idea of 40+ guys... call it the Fine Wine Set. Players who put up meaningful stats after age 40 (no hangers on please). Some vintage candidates could be:
Nolan Ryan
Hoyt Wilhelm
Warren Spahn
Rickey Henderson
Dave Winfield
Tommy John
Phil Niekro
Ty Cobb
Carlton Fisk
Who else?
<< <i>Who else? >>
Theres a bunch of Hall Of Famers that played to 40 and beyond.
Many of the Hall Of Famers had built up a ton of hits, HR's or wins, so to do that you need many seasons.
I thought of 3 guys right away, and all easily exceeded 40 years of age before retiring.
Cap Anson - (1st player to amss 3000 hits) played 27 seasons til age 45
Yaz - Seemed to play forever, played 23 season til age 44
Eddie Collins (another 3000 hit guy) played 25 seasons til age 43
and I'm sure there are many more HOF'ers to join the list...jay
Website: http://www.qualitycards.com
Anson and Collins are good examples, but Yaz (and I liked him) was really just a hanger on from 1980 to 1983... I can't recall anything he did of significance beyond achieving milestones toward the end... I'd group him in with hangers-on like Pete Rose, Steve Carlton, Jesse Orosco, Gary Carter, and Tony Perez.
Hey, I think the poster child for the 40+ set has to be 42-year-old rookie Satchel Paige!!
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
you guys did enjoy this post afterall. That's nice. We started from Julio Franco and now are talking about guys still going strong in their 40's.
Really, what does age mean if you are fit and trim and have no ailments? Who cares if J Franco is 45, if he can still play, he will play....there are no objections to that. Maybe he can play 4 more years and reach the 3000 hit plateau....if his health holds out and he wants to come back, a team will always be interested. This is a rare case, I admit, but who says that J Franco is not the very few that can pull it off? It will be fun to watch.
Can we add John Franco to the list?
BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
<< <i>I'd group him in with hangers-on like Pete Rose, Steve Carlton, Jesse Orosco, Gary Carter, and Tony Perez. >>
When Rose turned 40 just a few games into the 1981 season he finished that year .325, 73 runs and 140 hits in a short season. I believe that qualifies for
<< <i>meaningful stats after age 40 >>
.
He then when on to play a couple of decent seasons after that collecting 293 hits and batting around .260 in the next 2 years.
54 Red Hearts
and now 64 Stand ups
I would say that Hank Aaron had a meaningful stat after 40
Vic
J Franco certainly does have many hits, but 3500 combined Janpanese and MLB? I got to look at the stats myself, but the Japanese league is no push over....its not like minor league baseball. Here in the USA, the top Negro Leaguers are recognized and put in the HOF for their excellence. Will Franco's Japanese stats count against him? 3000 hits is automatic, but I guess it must be qualified to say that 3000 hits in the MLB is automatic entry to Cooperstown. In this era of globalization, that kind of mentality that only MLB stats count is very ethnocentric. It is as if Franco hit a bunch of gofer balls in Japan. Maybe if we already count Negro League stats, we can count the few years of Japanese League on players who spent most of their career in MLB.
BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
jes my $.02
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
As for the Hall. The writers & veterans committee voters can consider anything they as an individual deem material to making a decision. That being said, a parallel to the Negro leagues isn't entirely accurate. Franco was NOT denied the opportunity to play in MLB as were the Negro League players, so the comparison is apples to oranges. I personally think the HOF is a long shot for Franco. That being said, he is an amazing talent. I would wager he is older than his reported age. He is a pleasure to watch, and can still rake.
A lifetime 300 hitter with 2400+ hits is a VERY VERY solid career! What is even more amazing is his journey through the defensive spectrum. He played 715 games at SS and 663 at 2b as compared to 366 at DH and 319 at 1b. That's impressive.
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BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
Reggie Jackson had a 18 HR, 92 BB season at age 40.
Paul Molitor had over 300 hits in 2 seasons after reaching 40.
Lou Brock hit .304 with 21 SB in the season when he turned 40.
Don Sutton had 2 15-win seasons after turning 40.
Gaylord Perry had 5 seasons as a regular starter after turning 40.
Red Faber had 3 seasons as a regular starter after turning 40.
Carlton didn't just hang on. He started 32 games at age 41.
Grover Cleveland Alexander won 21 games at age 40.
Eddie Plank won 16 games at age 40.
Bob Boone caught 129 games in a season at age 41.
Jesse Orosco went 4-1 with 7 saves in 69 games at age 41.
Dennis Eckersley had 95 saves in 3 seasons after turning 40.
Kent Tekulve led the NL in games pitched at age 40.
I would say that each of these players would qualify.
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
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Hough's stats after turning 40 are very impressive - including appearing in the top 10 in innings pitched and starts (multiple times for starts).
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
If i had them i would grade them. it could be a hot card if the braves stay in the race this year and he is a big part of it.
Media will grab onto the 45 almost 46 years old story and still playing at this level is amazing. then those cards will hit beckett guide and wham they go up!!
I could wrong but i would grade them.
I am sure many out there can appreciate J Franco and he is a fun player to watch and very team oriented. I am also sure many of you would pay $12 for a PSA 9 of his rookie card too.
He could become very popular in the media as they follow up on the feats of this wonderful player. He does not have to get 100RBI, but if he continues to play as solid as he is now, people are interested and curious to see a player at this age still able to perform at a high level and not just hanging on. A player does not need big stats to be popular.
BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee