OTD 1989: Mets acquires John Franco

On December 6, 1989, Mets and Reds exchanged left-handed closers, and Mets Randy Myers To the reds John Franco In return.

Myers was very effective in his three full seasons with Mets (five in total). He posted 17-13 records with 56 saves.He is responsible for closing Roger McDowell In 1988, McDowell became Mets’ full-time closer in the middle of the 1989 season when he was traded to the Phillies. At the 1988 LCS, Myers scored two out of three Mets wins.

Myers was known as the “Randall K” because he threw hard and struck out a fair share. It helped that his middle name was “Kirk”. When met, Myers threw 240 innings, hit 264, and walked only 97 batters. Myers was 2.74 ERA and 126 ERA + in New York.

Myers was a little eccentric. He often appeared at baseball stadiums hunting camouflage costumes, reading hunting and bodybuilding magazines and sitting alone in lockers.

Myers was an all-star four times (no one was there while he was at Mets).As red, Myers was part of a light-out bullpen, along with fellow hard throwers Rob Dibble And Norm Charlton.. The trio helped the Reds win the 1990 World Series and was called “The Nasty Boys.”

After spending two seasons in Cincinnati, Myers pitched to the Cubs, Blue Jays, Orioles and Padres. He retired after the 1998 season. Myers led the National League with saves as a cub in 1993 and 1995, and saved the American League with the Orioles in 1997.

Originally from Brooklyn, Franco has a long career in Mets (14 years) and has been honored in the Mets Hall of Fame. His 424 career saves are due to the most left-handed player in baseball history.

As Mets, Franco recorded 276 saves, including the 300th career save in 1996 and the 400th career save in 1999. In 1999, when Mets acquired it, Franco lost a closer role. Armand Benitez.. Franco threw 702.2 innings as Mett, allowed 683 hits and hit 592 batters. His ERA in New York was 3.10 and ERA + was 132.

Franco led the National League with saves in 1988 (39 at Reds), 1990 (33 at Mets) and 1994 (30 at Mets). Franco was a four-time all-star, including the 1990 Mets.

Considering Franco’s Mets career, the 300th and 400th career saves certainly stand out. However, his “Mets Moment” may have occurred in Game 2 of the 2000 NLDS. Mets went down one game and took the lead in Game 2 nine times. They were faced with the prospect of returning to Shea. In the Best of Five series, we will reduce 2 games to 1 game.

Benitez was removed from the game after Mets led the top of the 10th inning and faced one batter in the 10th inning. Franco came to close the game.It all came to face Barry Bonds With two outs and a tie in grand at the base.

Was it a strike? I don’t think so, but I’m glad it was called a strike. Mets put the series together and won NLDS in four games (how is Game 4 performing? Bobby Jones?? ).

Franco retired after being released from the Astros at the age of 44 in 2005 (only two months after his 45th birthday). He has won the Rolaids Relief Award for his 1988 and 1990 performances. He has a career bWAR of 23.4.