On May 14th, 1984 Roger Clemens made his Major League Debut in Cleveland. Julio Franco was the Indians shorstop that game and went 1-for-4.
This also raises the question of has a hitter and pitcher ever faced each other in the Majors more than 23 years after their initial meeting?
WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Jose Valentin just did it, and it actually worked out because Lugo dropped the throw from the pitcher, but that's the fourth time I've see it happen in these playoffs (and I'm pretty sure the other three were all Nick Punto). How does this still happen? Even Joe Morgan pointed out that it was dumb! JOE FREAKING MORGAN!!!
If I were Ron Gardenhire, I'd leave Punto in Minnesota for the trip to Oakland, just to beat it into his head that he probably cost the team at least one baserunner and increased the chance of injuring himself three times in two games. Of course, Gardenhire probably appreciates that kind of "hustle" in a "scrappy" player like Punto, but that's another story.
By the way Julio Franco just beat out a double-play ball, allowing a run to score. That's amazing.
On May 15th, 1984, when I we were 5 years old (well, Sully you were 6), the Cleveland Indians were facing the Boston Red Sox. On that day, Julio Franco went 1-for-4 against Roger Clemens.
In his career, Franco batted .209 against Clemens in 91 at bats. That's not so bad, actually. Better than Manny (.190), Nomar (.190), Johnny Damon (.189), Jeter (.188), Willie Randolph (.186), Bernie (.178), Tino (.154), O'Neill (.152), Cliff Floyd (.150), Ichiro (.100), JT Snow (.073), Varitek (.071), Cecil Fielder (.043) and so many others. (in case anybody was wonder, David Ortiz was a hair better than Franco at .211)
Some of the best against Clemens include Alan Trammell (.364) and Lou Whitaker (.338), as well as Don Mattingly (.311), Carlos Delgado (.324), Ken Griffey, Jr. (.329), Eddie Murray (.350), Trot Nixon (.367), Alex Rodriguez (.375), Jim Thome (.417), and Gary Sheffield (.533).
Julio Franco was on deck to pinch hit for the pitcher when Kaz Matsui took a called third strike for the third out of the inning. Franco got ejected for arguing balls and strikes. I don't remember ever seeing a player who wasn't in the dugout (or the bullpen) or on the field ejected for arguing before. I guess when you're that old you get to make a lot of firsts.
...Mike Witt pitched the 11th perfect game in baseball history. Mike Witt is younger than Julio Franco.
