Mets sign Julio Franco-MLB's oldest active player

JULIO Franco, Major League Baseball's oldest active player at 47 and one of the newest New York Mets, wonders why everyone makes such a big deal about his age. As if hitting a Roger Clemens fastball or fielding a hot smash off the bat of Barry Bonds is routine for someone ready for their midlife crisis.

Can't he just buy a Ferrari, get some hair plugs and call it a career like most men his age? How does he keep playing?

He looks like he's in better shape than players half his age, and only two years ago, Franco batted .309 for the Braves, with six home runs and 57 runs batted in in 125 games.
His average dipped to .274 last season — Franco's lowest in five years in Atlanta — and there was some talk that age might finally be catching up with him.

But Mets general manager Omar Minaya was determined to sign Franco, so when the Braves wouldn't budge on a one-year deal, he quickly offered two years guaranteed at $2 million.

Franco's chance now is to become the oldest player to hit a home run in the major leagues (pitcher Jack Quinn was 46 years 357 days when he homered for the Philadelphia Athletics on June 27, 1930).