One wouldn't think that this would be classified as "news," necessarily, but we still find it noteworthy, and kind of sad: Julio Franco has officially announced his retirement.

Well, we think so, anyway; the story has only been reported by the official site of the Mexican League, where Franco had been peddling his wares. And it's all in Spanish. We tried translating it through Babelfish, but that wasn't much help.

This Wednesday at the end of the second game of the series of Tigers in front of Oil tankers, the Dominican Frank Julio definitively announced to the feline director his retirement to him like active player.

After analyzing the situation with the family, the Dominican one ends a trajectory of 26 years like player in where it harvested I title of batting with the Rangers of Texas, more valuable player of American Liga in the 90, three star games and two titles of batting in Mexico.

We think that's probably a retirement story, though we're not sure what the "feline" part has to do with anything.

Anyway, he will be missed, and we will be quite disappointed if he doesn't try a comeback in five years.

Julio Franco anunció su retiro [Mexican League]

5:01 PM on Fri May 2 2008
By Leitch
6,019 views
50 comments

Comments

7-8 Deville at 05:11 PM on 05/02/08
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Needs more sour cream.
Yellow Tail Swine at 05:11 PM on 05/02/08
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I'm not going to lie, I figured he was going to die before he retired.

Wow.
pr0FF3ss0r_j3rkwh3at at 05:12 PM on 05/02/08
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decision of retirement from the baseball of professionals saddens a professor of the jerkwheats
Juancho at 05:12 PM on 05/02/08
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Julio, let's crack open your finest vintage, shall we?
The Teufel Shuffle at 05:12 PM on 05/02/08
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My good buddy met Julio Franco at the Flushing Pitch & Putt on the day the Mets cut him last year. Franco paid for his foursome with a hundred dollar bill and walked off dejectedly to hit golf balls 60 yards. He said Franco looked older than Phil Rizzuto.
Yellow Tail Swine at 05:12 PM on 05/02/08
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and I think they should start up More Valuable Player awards for guys like Eckstein, who are scrappy.
muggsybogues at 05:13 PM on 05/02/08
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bad I feel for this run man go forever play Braves Mets now.
André Roussimoff at 05:14 PM on 05/02/08
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By "feline director" you mean the chick who dresses up her cats, right?
MurrayHewitt at 05:16 PM on 05/02/08
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People make fun of him because he's old, but we all forget how good of a player he once was. I mean, how many people on Earth can claim they've harvested a batting title?
Spectacular Sam at 05:17 PM on 05/02/08
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Jesus, a Barbaro message board is easier to navigate than those 2 paragraphs.
J-No at 05:18 PM on 05/02/08
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Tips cap.
McCroskey at 05:19 PM on 05/02/08
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And with that, every player from SportsTalk Baseball for the Sega Genesis has finally retired. I think.
MattinglysSideburns at 05:19 PM on 05/02/08
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Did Emmitt Smith write this?
Fugees-and-Funyuns at 05:19 PM on 05/02/08
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Frank Julio? Is the translator dyslexic?
Whitey Fisk at 05:19 PM on 05/02/08
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Quitter.
HebrewHammer at 05:19 PM on 05/02/08
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They play in front of Oil tankers in the Mexican League? Boy, what goes on south of the border?
A Pimp Named DaveR at 05:20 PM on 05/02/08
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I always get the Dominican Frank Julio and the Italian Frank Julio confused.....
iantenna at 05:20 PM on 05/02/08
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henceforth he will be know as "the dominican one"
sir_pantsalot at 05:22 PM on 05/02/08
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Who here did not try and have their little league picture taken using Franco's batting stance?
Paul Zuvella at 05:24 PM on 05/02/08
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So, are the Tigers guarding the oil tankers? Why are they in front of them?
Delmon Young 2 L Bong Rip at 05:25 PM on 05/02/08
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He displays many love explosion by way of buster of slumpa.
sir_pantsalot at 05:27 PM on 05/02/08
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announced to the feline director his retirement to him like active player.
sir_pantsalot at 05:27 PM on 05/02/08
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@sir_pantsalot:
Maybe he will still play but he will just be less active.
I Party With 33765-183 at 05:27 PM on 05/02/08
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It was the biggest monster I ever seen.
Detective Bunk at 05:28 PM on 05/02/08
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Somewhere Yostal breaks down crying with that abuse of the English language.
Jefferson Short Bus at 05:28 PM on 05/02/08
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That was the most retirement announcement ever.
Sandburgh at 05:28 PM on 05/02/08
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He was once traded for Jerry Koosman. Jerry Koosman! The guy was on the '69 Mets.
Crookednose at 05:32 PM on 05/02/08
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I always figured Marvin Harrison would kill somebody before Julio Franco quit.
Weed Against Speed at 05:35 PM on 05/02/08
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I think Feline Director is the polite term for a pimp.
Matt_T at 05:35 PM on 05/02/08
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This is sad.

I hope he joins the Braves coaching staff
1976 Oakland Raiders at 05:35 PM on 05/02/08
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Damn, when he played his first game I was a 14 year old geek.

Remember that this isn't like a casual Brett Favre retirement... once you pony up to the feline director, that's it. You try to go back on your word to the F.D. and they will kill you, titles of batting be damned.
Jehovahs Witness... at 05:38 PM on 05/02/08
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@McCroskey: Everyone from RBI Baseball, now, too.
thefuseproject at 05:39 PM on 05/02/08
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That reads kind of like the directions to my bike rack...which explains why it's in pieces in my trunk and not actually carrying a bike.
thefuseproject at 05:40 PM on 05/02/08
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Wilbon and Lebatard-ed are going to discuss Buzz's rant when they return from commercial.
Matt_T at 05:43 PM on 05/02/08
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[dugout.progressiveboink.com]
Barry White Stripes,... at 05:43 PM on 05/02/08
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There is more (babelfish'd):

A great one of beisbol goes away, and with the organization of Tigers and her liking always it will be remembered by his pair of seasons batting above of 400, including 437 in the 2001. Also the director of Tigers announces that this Thursday will arrive the Puerto Rican Edwards Guzmán who will take the fourth seat from foreigners of the feline set.

True on that great one of beisbol going away...but a big WTF!? to the rest of it.
jake(ymon) at 05:44 PM on 05/02/08
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PAY RICKEY!
thefuseproject at 05:46 PM on 05/02/08
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And after discussing the Buzz issue, Wilbon lapses into a typically ignorant anti-soccer rant.
Rickey_Fitts at 05:57 PM on 05/02/08
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Can he pitch for the Yankees?
hockalees at 06:12 PM on 05/02/08
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We tried translating it through Babelfish, but that wasn't much help.
Soon the super karate monkey death car would park in my space. But Jimmy has fancy plans... and pants to match. The monkey clown horrible karate round and yummy like cute small baby chick would beat the donkey.
/News Radio'd
Bluenatic at 06:28 PM on 05/02/08
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The good news is that Franco now has more free time to read W.C. Heinz.
Afino at 06:49 PM on 05/02/08
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@Matt_T:

I wouldn't mind.
Barry White Stripes,... at 06:53 PM on 05/02/08
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@hockalees: +1...I just went and spent 22 minutes on youtube watching that episode again.

Has anyone ever noticed Ron Jeremy at the book reading in that one?
heat_fan1 at 07:28 PM on 05/02/08
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@I Party With 33765-183:

HAHA! I cannot stop laughing! Whenever I read or see Julio Franco, I can't help but think of his monster.

And I'm not gay, but ever since that day, I'm not so sure.
KittyLitterKing at 07:40 PM on 05/02/08
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Does this mean Rickey Henderson wins?
Munsoned at 08:44 PM on 05/02/08
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I iz in ur fantasy team...

ruining ur obp
Munsoned at 08:47 PM on 05/02/08
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I iz in ur fntsy team...

hurtin ur chances
suntastic at 12:45 AM on 05/03/08
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Julio will soon write his memoirs about when he tried out for the majors and barely beat out a young Fidel Castro...
RachelRayIsTheDevil at 10:28 AM on 05/03/08
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HGH rocks
MsQuinn at 12:38 PM on 05/03/08
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Good night, father time.