December 27, 200718 yr DECEMBER 27TH JULIO ON THE GO 1994: Julio Franco’s tenure with the White Sox officially came to an end when the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League announced that they had signed him as well as fellow former big leaguers Pete Incaviglia and Eric Hillman. Franco spent one wildly but strike-shortened season with the White Sox in 1994. The native of Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic hit .319 with 20 home runs and 98 RBIs in just 112 games as the White Sox designated hitter. At 35, Franco also posted a .406 on-base percentage and a .510 slugging percentage as the Sox went 67-46 and were atop the American League Central when the players walked off the job in August. Instead of waiting for the work stoppage (which promised to go on for a long time) to end, Franco went to Japan where he spent 1995 and hit .306 for Chiba Lotte. His absence would leave a whole in the Sox lineup around Frank Thomas they would never really consistently replace until Albert Belle arrived in 1997.
December 27, 200718 yr Can you imagine the spin that KW would have put on that 1994/95 offseason if he had been the GM then? "Well, we don't have our 2nd best hitter in Franco anymore but, we sure got a solid replacement in Sabo!"
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.