Product ID: 020905-107
1984 Fleer Julio Franco Signed Baseball Card.

Born. Aug. 23 - 1961 - San Pedro de Macoris - Dominican Republic. Franco appeared in just 16 games with the NL's Philadelphia Phillies in 1982 and was then traded to the AL's Cleveland Indians. A right-hander - the 6-foot-1 - 190-pound Franco took over as Cleveland's starting shortstop in 1983. The Indians moved him to second base in 1988. After batting over .300 for three straight seasons - from 1986 through 1988 - Franco went to the Texas Rangers. He led the AL with a .341 batting average in 1989. Named the second baseman on The Sporting News AL all-star team from 1989 through 1991 - Franco missed most of the 1992 season with a knee injury and was used entirely as a designated hitter in 1993. He left Texas for the Chicago White Sox in 1994 - was traded back to the Indians the following season - and the Indians sent him to the Milwaukee Brewers during the 1997 season. For the next three years - Franco played in Japan - Korea - and Mexico - with just one major-league at-bat. But late in the 2001 season - the Atlanta Braves bought his contract from the Mexico City Tigers and Franco hit .300 in 25 games down the stretch. He batted .284 the following season as a utility player and pinch-hitter for the Braves.

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