19 Facts About John Franco

1.

John Anthony Franco was born on September 17,1960 and is an American former professional baseball player.

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2.

John Franco played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed relief pitcher between 1984 and 2005.

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3.

John Franco ended his 22-year career with one final season with the Houston Astros.

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4.

John Franco's 1,119 career games pitched is a National League record, and ranks fourth in major league history.

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5.

John Franco was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 2012.

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6.

John Franco, who is of Italian heritage, grew up in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn.

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7.

John Franco's father, Jim Franco, was a New York City Department of Sanitation worker who encouraged his son's baseball aspirations; Franco honored his father by wearing an orange Sanitation Department work-shirt under his jersey.

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8.

John Franco graduated from Lafayette High School in Brooklyn and St John Franco's University in Queens, where he pitched two no-hitters in his freshman year.

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9.

John Franco is married to his high school sweetheart, Rose, whom he has known since he was 17.

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10.

John Franco was originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 8,1981, in the 5th round of the amateur draft.

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11.

John Franco helped the Reds finish second four seasons in a row.

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12.

John Franco remained with the Mets organization until the end of the 2004 season.

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13.

John Franco led the league in saves for the 1988,1990, and 1994 seasons.

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14.

John Franco reached the postseason for the first time in 1999 and the World Series in 2000.

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15.

On July 1,2005, John Franco was designated for assignment, and he was released, which proved to be the end of his baseball career.

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16.

John Franco appeared on the television show Pros vs Joes during season three.

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17.

John Franco was inducted into the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

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18.

John Franco was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

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19.

On March 29,2009, Franco threw the ceremonial first pitch in the first game played on Citi Field, a Big East college game between St John's and Georgetown.

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