John Franco (Part One) Italian / American Mets Hall of Fame Pitcher (1990 - 1998)

John Anthony Franco was born September 17, 1960, in New York City at Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. 

John is the Italian American son of Mary & James Franco. He had one brother & lived in the Marlboro Houses section off Stillwell Avenue. The family went to Church at Most Precious Blood on 47th St & would be more involved in the Italian Bensonhurst area of the late 1950's.

Their father known as Jim a New York City Dept. of Sanitation worker. Franco would often wear his fathers orange NYDS T-shirt under his uniform jersey in honor of his father.

In 1987, Jim Franco suffered a heart attack behind the wheel of his sanitation truck, passing away six months before his retirement. A year earlier John's mother had passed away to cancer.

Mets Fan: As a boy in Brooklyn, John idolized the 1969 Mets. He then imagined he was Tug McGraw when he pitched in his back yard to his brother.

During his college days Franco wanted to quit school to make money, at the time he had no car & was taking the train from Brooklyn to Queens. 

His father gave him some tough talk along with some encouragement changing his mind. From then on, his determination got him to the big leagues. He was a little guy with a tough talking, fierce pitching attitude. He didn't come at hitters with blazing fastballs but a dropping screwball much like his idol Tug McGraw.

Baseball High School: Franco attended the famous Lafayette High School, in the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn. The school has produced famous baseball alumni including Sandy Koufax, Bob & Ken Aspromonte, Pete Falcone, Fred Wilpon, Al Ferrara, Danny Baez & Luis Lopez. Other famous non-sports alumni include Paul Sorvino, Vic Damone, Larry King & artist Peter Maxx.

St. John's University: Franco then attended St. John’s University where he became one of the team's star pitchers. He would pitch two no hitters there for the Red Men. 

One of his teammates & good friends on the team was future Mets pitcher & A.L. Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola. 

Franco also became close with legendary St. John's basketball coach Lou Carnesecca, who also became a mentor to the young Franco.

In the 1979 North East regional finals, the surprising Red Men went up against the mighty Nebraska team. The Nebraska coach was talking a lot in the papers, saying how they would roll over St. Johns & move on to the College World Series. 

No Hitter: John Franco started the game went out & pitched a no hitter upsetting the Nebraska team.

The five foot ten left hander was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, in the fifth round. 

In 1983, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Rafael Landestoy. 

In 1983 at AAA Indianapolis, he was 6-10 with a 4.85 ERA. 

MLB Debut: In 1984 Franco made the Reds staff out of Spring Training. He debuted two weeks into the season pitching the 8th inning in a game against the Braves in Atlanta. On April 27th, Franco earned his first career save, coming at San Francisco pitching two scoreless innings.

In his 1984 rookie year he was 6-2 with four saves & a 2.61 ERA. He struck out 55 batters in 79 innings in 54 appearances. 

In 1985 he kept improving thru the season, finishing at 12-2 with 12 saves a 2.18 ERA. He eventually took over as the Reds closer replacing Ted Power.

By 1986 he became one of the league’s top firemen relief pitchers making his first All Star team. Franco saved 29 games that year (5th in the league) going 6-6 with a 2.94 ERA making 74 appearances. 

In 1987 he made his second straight All-Star team & began a string of five straight season saving 30 or more games. He saved 32 games & led the league finishing off 60 games posting a 8-5 record with a 2.52 ERA.

Relief Man of the Year Award: In 1988 he led the league for the first time in saves, with a career high 39. He won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, posting a career low 1.57 ERA. He went 6-6 finishing off the most games in the NL once again (61) making 70 appearances overall. Franco received votes for the league's MVP coming in 12th in that category. By now he was one of the most popular players in Cincinnati.

In 1989 He posted his highest ERA (3.12) in Cincinnati, saving 32 games going 4-8 striking out 60 batters in 80 innings pitched over 60 appearances. The Reds hard throwing Ron Dibble went 10-5 that year with 141 strike outs in just 99 innings pitched & posted a 2.09 ERA. 

In Franco's last four seasons at Riverfront Stadium, the Reds finished in second place each year.

Mets Career: Franco always had a desire to return home to pitch in New York. In December 1989 the Reds decided to part ways with him, as he was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for Randy Myers. 

Randy Myers would join Rob Dibble & Norm Charlton in the Reds bullpen, becoming known as the Nasty Boys. In 1990 they would lead Lou Pinella’s Reds to a surprising World Series win over the mighty Bash Brothers & the Oakland A’s.

At Shea Stadium, the Italian American local guy quickly became a fan favorite. He was a team leader on the mound, in the clubhouse & off the field as well. He was so popular he would get voted the third Team Captain in franchise history. Franco would lead many different charities works & causes around the city.

St. John's Teammates Reunited: When he got to the Mets pitching staff he was reunited with his good friend from their St. Johns' college days, Frank Viola, Viola was a fellow New Yorker & the new ace of the Mets staff who would win twenty games (20-12) that season.

Mets Debut- 1990: On April 11th, Franco made his Mets debut at Shea Stadium in the second game of the season. He relieved Viola in the 8th inning & combined in a 3-0 shut out over John Smiley & Pirates, earning his first Mets save. 

First Mets Win: In the month of April, he collected six saves posting a 1.08 ERA. On May 6th, he earned his first Mets win finishing off an extra game against the Astros with the help of Kevin McReynolds Walk off HR off Dave Smith.

On May 6th, he blew his first save giving up an 8th inning HR to the Giants Kevin Bass in San Francisco. He ended the month with eight saves on the season. On June 5th he earned his second win when Tom O'Malley hit a walk off HR off the Expos Dale Mohorcic. He earned another win that month coming in Wrigley Field, then saved five more games to reach 13 before blowing another chance.

On May 22nd with the Mets struggling, two games under .500 & 5.5 games out of first place, the team fired Davey Johnson. Bud Harrelson was given the managers role & the team began to improve. In June they put together an 11-game win streak, with Franco collecting four saves during the streak.

From July 4th thru September 1st, he saved 17 straight games without blowing a save or losing a game. In that time, he gave up six runs in 25 innings in twenty games.

1990 All Star: At the All Star break he was 3-0 with 17 saves & a 2.78 ERA, getting named to the NL All Star squad. He joined Mets teammates Frank Viola & Darryl Strawberry at the Game at Wrigley Field. He pitched a scoreless 9th inning retiring all three batters in the 2-0 NL loss.

From July 17 to August 3rd, Franco did not allow a run in 10.2 innings in eight appearances, collecting six saves. At the end of August Franco notched three saves on the California road trip, reaching 30 saves on August 24th. 

Tying Mets Single Season Save Mark: On September 1st at Shea Stadium, he earned his 31st save of the season, tying Jesse Orosco's club mark set in 1984.  It was a big win over the Giants, putting the Mets into first place, riding a seven-game win streak.  

But then the club lost five straight & fell back, never getting back atop the NL East.

Mets Single Season Save Record: On September 13th, Franco came on in the 8th inning of a 6-3 win over the Pirates at Shea. He stuck out Carmello Martinez to end the game earning his 32nd save of the season breaking Jesse Orosco's old mark set in 1984.

On September 18th the Mets were just a half game back of the Pirates but then they went 8-8 the rest of the way to finish second. In his last four appearances on the season, he blew a save & took two of his three season losses. He gave up six runs in 4.1 innings.

NL Save Leader- Mets Record Setter & Relief Man of the Year: In Franco's first season at Shea, he set the Mets save record & led the NL with 33 saves. He posted a 2.53 ERA going 5-3 with 56 strikeouts &walked 21 in 67 innings in 55 appearances. He won the Rolaids Relief man of the Year Award as well as The Sporting News Fireman of the Year.

1991: In 1991 he started out the season with an Opening Day save, relieving Dwight Gooden in a 2-1 victory over Terry Mulholland & the Philadelphia Phillies. 

On April 12th he took his first loss, coming in extra innings to the Expos. On May 18th, he gave up three runs to the Dodgers taking a loss at Dodger Stadium. By the end of May Franco had his tenth save.

In June he took three more losses, two to the Astros & another in St. Louis as he found himself at
1-6, although he reached 15 saves by July.

From June 26th to August 7th, John settled back in, holding opponents scoreless in12 of 13 games, collecting eight more saves along the way.

In the second half of the season the Mets didn't win too much as the team fell to fifth place on the year. This year Manager Bud Harrelson was fired & Mets coach, Mike Cubbage became the interim manager closing out the season. 

On the dismal year, Franco saved 30 games overall (3rd in the league) going 5-9 with a 2.93 ERA. He struck out 45 batters & walked 18 in 55 innings of work making 52 appearances.

1992: In 1992 Jeff Torborg took over a team of veteran high priced free agents who were either past their prime or just couldn’t adjust in New York. 

Players like Eddie Murray, Bobby Bonilla, Vince Coleman, Bret Saberhagen, Willie Randolph & David Cone as well as former 1986 Mets stars Dwight Gooden, Howard Johnson, & Sid Fernandez only put together 72 wins (72-90) getting called "the worst team money could buy". 

On Top of that there was drama from Spring Training when three players were accused of raping a woman in Florida.  The Vince Coleman firecracker incident in LA injuring a fan & the Bret Saberhagen firehose squirting a reporter all made it a season one wants to forget.

For Franco the year started out great, he did not allow a run thru his first 15 appearances. He began the season at 6-0 with 11 saves made in 12 opportunities. By the time he took his first loss at the end of June his ERA was still 1.44, the first time it had reached one all season.

But on June 29th he went on the disabled list for the first time in his career. He was out for two months before returning on August 2nd. He picked up where he left off appearing in five games before giving up a run, collecting four more saves in the month. But by the end of August he was on the DL again & done for the season.

Overall, Franco appeared in just 31 games, going 6-2 with 15 saves & a 1.62 ERA. He struck out 20 walked 11 in 33 innings. The Mets were 72-90 finishing up fifth.

1993: In the first two months, Franco only pitched in eight games the first two months of the season, landing on the DL twice with a tender elbow. When he returned, he didn't allow an earned run in his first seven appearances

 By June 20th, Franco was 2-0 with 1.54 ERA, before blowing a save in Pittsburgh & another in Florida a week later. He then saved seven games & earned a win thru the start of August. But then he missed three more weeks of action with another injury. 

Three Straight Losses: On September 4th, he blew an 8th inning save at Wrigley Field giving up an RBI double to Shawon Dunston & RBI single to Sammy Sosa. The next day the Cubs Glenallen Hill hit a walk off HR giving him his second loss to two days. Two days later he lost another game in the bottom of the 9th in Houston, for three straight losses.

On September 25th he cut his left thumb at home & was shut down for the season.

Overall, with the injuries not heling him, he had an off season, posting the worst ERA (5.20) until his final season.  He recorded his lowest save total (10) while serving in a closer's role.

1994: In the strike shortened 1994 season, Franco rebounded, starting out the year with six straight saves in the first six opportunities. From May 17th to June 3rd, he earned six more saves & his first win, coming over the Marlins thanks to Joe Orsulak's Walk off single.

By the All-Star break Franco already had 19 saves with a 2.72 ERA. Two & half runs lower than the previous year.  After the break, he saved eleven of twelve save opportunities & was headed for another good year. 

Unfortunately, the baseball season ended in early August due to the baseball players union strike. Franco finished leading the NL in saves for the third time in his career with 30. He went 1-4 with a 2.70 ERA. He struck out 42 batters & walked 19 in 50 innings in 47 appearances. 

Franco came in 7th in the Cy Young voting & received some votes for the MVP award as well.

1995: When play resumed the next year, the Mets opened up the season in Colorado. On Opening Day at Coors Field, Franco couldn't hold a 9th inning lead, serving up a game tying double to Larry Walker. The Rockies won it on Dante Bichette’s walk off HR off Mike Remlinger in the 14th inning. 

From there John, earned eight saves in ten opportunities thru June. By the All Star break he was 4-1 with 11 saves & a 2.32 ERA.

On July 26th, he worked three innings of relief, from the 8th thru the 10th innings keeping the score tied in St. Louis. It was his longest relief effort since September 1989. The Mets went ahead on Tim Bogar's RBI single, but Doug Henry & Eric Gunderson blew the win in the bottom of the 11th.

From July 30th through the end of the season he converted 18 of 19 save opportunities allowing just four earned runs in 18 innings of work over 21 games. He saved nine straight games on both ends of the blown save. The strong finish earned him the September Rolaids Relief Award, edging Randy Myers.

For the 1995 season, Franco saved 29 games (8th in the league) going 5-3 with a 2.44 ERA in 47 appearances. He struck out 41 batters walked just 17 in 51.1 innings finishing 41 games. He played a superior defense on the mound, posting a perfect .1000 fielding % for the second straight year. The left hander continued being one of the game’s best most durable relievers.

1996: In a poll conducted by Rolaids, he was voted the best left-handed relief pitcher of the past twenty years. 

300th Save: On April 29th, the a12th anniversary of his first MLB save, he reached another milestone. On a foggy night at Shea Stadium, he recorded his 300th career save, in a win over the Montreal Expos. He became the first left hander to reach the 30 save mark.

Brawl on John Franco Day: On Saturday May 11th, the Mets honored him after reaching his 300th save having a John Franco Day. In the bottom of the 1st, Cubs pitcher threw a pitch at Hundley's head. He wasn't happy & pitcher Pete Harnisch didn't like it as neither

The next inning when Foster came to bat, Harnisch hit him on the left elbow. When Harnisch came to bat, there were two men on so Foster couldn't risk putting him on base. The Mets would take a 5-2 lead & when Harnisch came to bat again in the 5th inning, Terry Adams was pitching for the Cubs.

He threw a pitch that went around Harnisch's knee. Cubs' manager Jim Riggleman went out to the mound. During the visit, Pete Harnisch & Cubs catcher Scott Servas, who were friends from their Astros days together, started having words with each other. Harnisch swung a punch around the home plate umpire hitting Servais in the face.

Both benches emptied & fights broke out all over the field. Six-foot-four Mets outfielder Butch Huskey was held back by five Cubs players. Mets coach Steve Swisher went at it with the Cubs manager Riggleman. 

The Mets Rico Brogna was pinned to a wall in the dugout & caught a punch to the cheek. Even fans around the Cubs dugout had words with the Chicago Players.

As the bullpens emptied out John Franco was caught up in the whole mess. He later emerged with a gash on his face claiming he never threw a punch. But the umpires saw it differently, as he was one of nine ejections in the game.

Quotes- John Franco: "I'm too old to be doing that kind of stuff. I could have been out there in
the 9th".

Rico Brogna won the game with a walk off HR.

From May 26th to June 25th, Franco didn't allow a run in 11.2 innings over a 12-game span, collecting nine saves along the way.

Double header Save & Win: On July 30th in a doubleheader sweep over the Pirates at Shea,
Franco earned the save in the first game. In the night cap he struck out three Pirates in the top of the 12th inning, holding the 3-3 tie. Todd Hundley won the game with a walk off HR off Jon Lieber in the bottom frame giving Franco his third season victory.

He had 19 saves by the All-Star break and only nine more in the second half. The Mets won just 29 games after the All-Star break, with Franco saving nine games in 12 opportunities. He did pitch well, putting up a 1.78 ERA in his 23 second half games, giving up just one HR in 25.1 innings. 

That season the Mets finished fourth 71-91. Dallas Green was fired in August & the Bobby Valentine era began as things would improve in the next few years. 

The 1996 season was highlighted by Todd Hundley setting a Mets franchise record with 41 HRs. Among the Mets pitchers, Franco had the season that stood out the most, collecting 28 saves going 4-3 with a 1.83 ERA. He struck out 48 & walked 21 in 54 innings.

1997: This was Bobby Valetines first full season as manager, the Mets improved to their first winning season in six seasons winning 88 games. Franco was now 38 years old as he went into the season as the Mets closer for the eighth straight season.

In the second game of the season, at San Diego Tony Gwynn ruined Franco's save opportunity with a 9th inning single. The Mets lost the game in extra innings. 

From April 3rd to May 17th, he pitched 17.2 scoreless innings over 16 games, striking out 18 batters, collecting 12 saves in the 16 games.

First Subway Series: In the first inter league regular season subway series played, the Mets took
the first game in the Bronx, then dropped the next game. In the third game, the score was tied into the bottom of the 10th inning, when Greg McMichael put two men on, Boby Valentine brought in John Franco. Tino Martinez then hit a walk off single, with McMichael taking the loss.

In his next appearance, Franco gave up a bottom of the 9th inning, three run HR to the Pirates Dale Sveum blowing a three-run lead. Tee Mets would win it on Jason Hardtke's Walk off single. 

Trivia: In two seasons with the Mets Hardtke played in 49 games batting .230. By the All Star break he had twenty saves.

Over the next two months, from June 20th to August 27th, Franco was 3-0 with 15 saves, taking no losses or no blown saves.

Mets Single Season Save Record: On September 1st, Franco came on in the 9th inning preserving a combined shut out over Toronto with Jason Isringhausen, Greg McMichael & Mel Rojas. The save was his 34th of the season, passing his own record set in 1990.

All Time NL Saves Leader: On the year he saved 36 games (4th in the league). He was now the all-time National League Saves leader. On the year he went 5-3 with a 2.55 ERA striking out 53 batters in 60 innings making 59 appearances.

1998: As the Mets would drastically improve this year & there was a new excitement in New York. The Mets had added Turk Wendell last August & over the winter brought in Dennis Cook to solidify the bullpen around Franco. 

John saved five games before taking his first loss & then blowing a save. From May 16th to July 2nd, Franco pitched 16.1 consecutive scoreless innings collecting 11 saves. In that time opponents hit just .200 against him.

Switching Uniform Numbers to #45: That season when the Mets acquired Mike Piazza, Franco gave up his uniform #31 to Piazza & took over uniform #45. The Mets early seventies fireman Tug McGraw had worn the number in his hey-day.

Most Carrer Appearances by a Mets Pitcher: On June 19th, Franco made his 402nd Mets career appearance, passing Tom Seaver for the most all time.

On July 10th & July 15th, he gave up three runs in back-to-back games, then on July 31st gave up three more to the Dodgers, raising his season ERA to 4.35. He slowly brough it down thru August, nailing down nine of eleven save chances.

On August 29th, in Los Angeles, Franco notched his 30th save of the season in an extra inning 5-4 win over the Dodgers. It was his second straight thirty save season.

Mets Single Season Save Record: On September 14th in Houston, Franco came on in the bottom of the 13th inning after the Mets had put up three runs. He got the save to reach 37 on the season, setting the new Mets mark, passing his own record. He would finish with 38 on the year.

Franco collected a Mets record 38 saves (5th most in the league) but posted his worst career record at 0-8. In 61 appearances, he struck out 59 batters & walked 29 (second highest total in his career) in 64 innings finishing 54 games.