Guide Note:

Julio Franco is a former Major League infielder who played for eight teams during his 23-season career. Franco holds many records as a result of his age, including being the oldest baseball player to hit a home run and the oldest player to hit a grand slam.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: August 23, 1958
2. Birthplace: San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
3. Oldest regular position player in MLB History
4. Three-time All-Star
5. Oldest player to hit a Grand Slam

A native of the Dominican Republic, Franco made his Major League debut in 1982 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Throughout his career, Franco was an above average hitter and renowned base-stealer. He won the American League batting title in 1991 while with the Texas Rangers, hitting .341 for the season. While on the Rangers, Franco played in three all-star games, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1990 contest.

In 2001, Franco began playing for the Atlanta Braves at the age of 42, and he was already in his 20th season. For the previous three seasons, Franco had played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, but the aging batsman quickly re-adapted to life in the Major Leagues. Franco would play for the Braves until 2005, after which, at the age of 47, he signed a two-year contract with the New York Mets. With the Mets, Franco broke many of baseball's records concerning oldest player, including some he had set himself. In 2007, Franco struggled, was released by the Mets, re-signed with the Braves, and retired at the end of the year.