JOHN FRANCO
First Year on Ballot
PLAYING CAREER: Cincinnati Reds (1984–1989), New York Mets (1990–2004) and Houston Astros (2005)
ACHIEVEMENTS: Career record of 90-87 and a 2.89 ERA. Fourth all-time in saves (second when he retired) with 424…the most for any left-handed pitcher. Led National League in saves three times. Saved 28-or-more games in eleven seasons. Four-time All-Star (1986-87, 1989 and 1990) with a postseason record of 2-0 and a 1.88 ERA in 15 appearances.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON TWITTER:
@johnmcusick: The homeless man talking about James Franco in our coffee shop was, it turns out, John Malkovich. (NOTE: I know that this isn’t actually about JOHN Franco, but c’mon…it’s a good tweet!)
HOVG THOUGHTS: Here’s the rub with Franco, while I believe he is most certainly Hall-worthy…I can’t put him in until Lee Smith gets his number punched. Franco compiled a huge number of saves over his 21 year career. His 424 saves rank him fourth all-time behind Trevor Hoffman, Mariano Rivera and, you guessed it…Smith. He is also fourth in games finished, was a four time All-Star and twice brought home the Rolaids Relief Man Award. A quiet closer, he compiled a 90-87 record (decent considering his role…by comparison, Hoffman’s career mark is 61-75) and a 2.89 ERA.
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