John Franco reached Flushing in December 1989 via a blockbuster trade with the Cincinnati Reds, which exchanged top bullpen pitchers and brought the Brooklyn native back home in exchange for Randy Myers. A proud Brooklynite who excelled at St. John's University in Queens, Franco took on a significant high-pressure role as the team's closer and worked out of the pen for 14 years.
Franco quickly gained the loyalty of local fans by delivering an impressive debut in the 1990 season, during which he led the National League with 33 saves and was awarded the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year. His performance peaked even further during the strike-shortened 1994 season, where he again led the junior circuit with 30 saves and posted a remarkable 2.70 ERA, finishing seventh in the NL Cy Young Award voting. As a consistent professional, he kept fans engaged with his signature circle changeup and strong determination to eliminate scoring threats.
Beyond just the baseline save numbers, Franco achieved a historic leadership milestone within the organization. On May 4, 2001, he received the uncommon honor of becoming the third official team captain in Mets history, highlighting his significant clubhouse presence and deep community ties. He played a key role during the 2000 Subway Series, notably earning the win out of the bullpen in Game 3 to secure the Mets' only victory in that memorable Fall Classic. Although he later stepped down from the primary closer role to Armando Benítez, he seamlessly transitioned into a top-tier high-leverage setup man, finishing his Queens career as the franchise’s all-time leader in both saves (276) and games pitched (695).
After the 2004 season, Franco departed for the Houston Astros as a free agent for one final season.
Franco was inducted into their franchise Hall of Fame in 2012.
Comments powered by CComment