May 4, 2008
Julio Franco has finally retired
The last man to play before helmets were manditory,sixty-four year old Julio Franco, a contemporary of Abner Doubleday, has finally hung up his spikes.
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.