Julio Franco retirement gets personal

I took it personally when Julio Franco announced his retirement a week and a half ago in Mexico.

[terje]

i always enjoyed watching julio play. thanks for everything.....ju.....ju.....j ulio!!!!!!!!!

[Chuck Heinl]

I always was a big fan of Julio Franco when he was with the tribe. I live in Florida now but what a ballplayer he was when I lived in Akron. To think how long he played in the majors is unthinkable. I wished he could have spent his whole career in Cleveland. He definetely deserve Hall of Fame status.

[washed up]

anybody who spends 50,000 for a watch is a idiot!

[Ohio gambler]

Even in his latter days he looked like he just came out of the gym when he stood at the plate. He was emotional too. As an Indian at one time he hit a Tiger pitcher in the face on a hit ball and I can still see him stooping down at first base in tears of what he may have accidently done while the pitcher was being attended too. And If he wants to buy a $50,000 watch thats his business. Us middle class will take care of the Timexs'. My kids remembered and loved him too. He is a hall of famer in our hearts.

[Old Man Grump]

Julio - thanks for the memories !!!

[baseball very good 2 me]

Julio hit a walk-off homer in extra innings one night. As the crowd poured out of the Jake, people were chanying "JUILO, JULIO" as they walked the streets of downtown Cleveland toward their cars. Beautiful

[Duke for Mayor]

I think he's really 65.

"JULIO"

woof

[dzl]

Very nice article. Thanks for allowing us to add your memories of Julio to ours.

[Ken Blessinger]

Like Minnie Minoso in an earlier era, he had no enemies---just friends and admirers. Wouldn't we all love to go out that way?

[concerned citizen]

THE BRICKSLAYER wrote:

<quoted text>
was the jake even built when he played in cleveland?
the best night ever at old cleveland stadium was 10 cent beer night when billy martin and the texas rangers came to town, man we had a riot that night.

after his initial years, he came back for one year - 1996 i think. jake opened in 95

[Rob]

I remember as a little kid watching Julio play and being one of my favorite players. Whenever I'd play baseball in the backyard, I'd always try to emulate his batting stance with the bat way over my head.

[mike hargrove]

really enjoyed the memories; and i truly hope that for a week or so after august 23rd, julio franco becomes an indian again...i would fly in with my sons from florida for that great event

[JulioF]

There are very few athletes who become as iconic as Julio did in Cleveland.

My memories are too many to mention.

Best Wishes to you, Julio!

[Scott]

Great article about a true one-of-a-kind.

[Dr Doom]

Dear Julio,

Please pull a Roidger Clemens and sign a deal with the Tribe in mid-August, so fans can chant WHO-LEE-O during the 7th inning stretch of an otherwise boring game against Baltimore.

Even if it's one of those fabricated 1 day,$1 deals, it'd be enough to fill the park for that next game.

[Bubba]

washed up wrote:

anybody who spends 50,000 for a watch is a idiot!

You're just jealous you can't.

[billy gildress]

an awesome site: magicmonkeyfla.livejournal.com . cya there!

[billy gildress]

Bubba wrote:

<quoted text>
You're just jealous you can't.

um, actually anyone who spends that much is not only an idiot, but an overpaid, overhyped idiot.

[billy gildress]

all these 'stars 'athletes' are scumbags on steroids. i just wish you pathetic fools would stop making them rich! get a life, instead of living thru scum

[billy gildress]

terje wrote:

i always enjoyed watching julio play. thanks for everything.....ju.....ju.....j ulio!!!!!!!!!

st....st...steroids! find something else to worship besides overpaid bums who hit a ball, you sad no life punk