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Posts tagged as “Julio Franco”

Julio Franco

1983-88
  • Originally signed with Phillies out of the Dominican Republic in 1978.
  • Acquired from the Phillies in December 1982 in exchange for Von Hayes, along with Jay Baller, Manny Trillo, George Vukovich and Jerry Willard.
  • Debuted with Phillies in 1982 but was rookie eligible in 1983 and finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting behind the White Sox’s Ron Kittle, who would later be Franco’s teammate in Cleveland in 1988.
  • Began his career as a shortstop but switch to second base in 1988 to accommodate rookie Jay Bell.
  • Won Silver Slugger at second base in 1988.
  • Traded to Texas in December 1988 in exchange for for Jerry Browne, Oddibe McDowell and Pete O’Brien.
  • Never made an All-Star team with Cleveland but appeared in three straight for Texas immediately after being traded.
  • Spent the 1995 season in Japan and then returned to Cleveland on a two-year contract in 1996. Signed to be the everyday first baseman after Paul Sorrento left via free agency and Eddie Murray was no longer playing in the field.
  • Wore No. 14 during his first tenure with Cleveland but switched to No. 23 during his second stint because 14 was retired for Larry Doby in 1994.
  • Delivered two walk-off hits in 1996, the only of his Cleveland career, including a home run against Milwaukee.
  • Began 1997 as the DH, as Jim Thome was moved to first base to accommodate Matt Williams at third. Eventually lost his job when Brian Giles emerged as the everyday left fielder, pushing David Justice to DH.
  • Released by the Indians in August 1997.
  • Oldest player on the 1997 Indians (38 years old) and still played for another decade.
  • Played second most games for Cleveland in the 1980s (898), just one fewer than Brook Jacoby.
  • Led team in hits (1,051) during the 1980s. Also led team in batting average during the decade (.295) among players with at least 200 games played,
  • First player from the Dominican Republic to play 1,000 career games for Cleveland (later joined by Jose Ramirez, Carlos Santana).
  • One of three players who played for Cleveland in the 1980s who later appeared in a postseason game for the team (also Albert Belle, Doug Jones).

Andres Gimenez from 2-hole

October 30, 2024

There have been 144 players in franchise history with at least 200 PA from the two-hole in the lineup in a single season.

‘s .309 OBP this year ranked 120th.

It was still an improvement from (.306 last year and .308 the year before).

  • Worst OBP from two-hole (min 200 PA): .241, , 1991
  • Best OBP from two-hole (min 200 PA): .444, , 1996

Tyler Freeman’s double plays

October 22, 2024

Tyler Freeman grounded into 15 double plays in 2024. That’s not an unheard-of amount by any means, but what makes it unique is he had more double plays than doubles.

Freeman’s 14 doubles are the seventh most by a Cleveland hitter to finish with more GIDPs than doubles.

Here’s the leaderboard:

The most doubles by a Cleveland hitter to double his doubles with double plays is seven by in 1965 (7 doubles, 15 GIDP)