Julio Cesar Franco Robles is a former professional baseball player and coach, born on 23rd August 1958 in Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic. He is best known as the oldest regular position player in MLB history, entering the major leagues in 1982 and last appearing in 2007. Franco also played professional baseball in Japan, and in the Korea Baseball Organization. He achieved above-average hitting statistics during his career and was an All-Star player.
Have you ever wondered how rich Julio Franco is? According to sources, it has been estimated that Julio Franco’s net worth is over $16 million, accumulated through a lucrative and extraordinarily successful career in sports, which spanned 25 years. Since he is still active in the sports industry as a coach, his net worth continues to grow.
Julio Franco Net Worth $16 Million
Although born in Hato Mayor, Julio grew up in Consuelo, San Pedro de Macoris, a municipality east of Santo Domingo. During his schooling at Divine Providence School, he was already assigned to the Rookie-level Butte Copper Kings. Each year, he was promoted by the Philadelphia minor league system, and reached the Class AAA Oklahoma City 89ers in 1982. The same year, Franco debuted in the major league where he played 16 games for the Phillies before being transferred to the Cleveland Indians. In the period from 1986 to 1989, Julio hit an average of over .300 in every season, and won four straight Silver Slugger Awards, and after he switched from shortstop to second base in 1988. During the ‘80s, Julio led the American League in grounding into double plays twice. He was eventually traded to the Texas Rangers and was named to all three of his All-Star teams, winning the All-Star Game MVP Award all three times – in 1989, 1990 and 1991.
After suffering from several knee injuries, Franco decided to become a free agent and signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1993. However, after the 1994-1995 Major League Baseball strike, he signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Pacific League, which led to them having the best season in their history, and Franco winning the Japanese equivalent of the Gold Glove Award. Julio returned to Asia once again in 2000, this time playing for the Samsung Lions of South Korea, but returned to the Mexican League the following year.
In the period from 2004 to 2006, Franco was the oldest player in the major leagues, and the last active player born in the ‘50s. He also became the oldest player ever to hit a grand slam, steal two bases in a game, and pinch-hit a home run.
In March 2009, Franco was hired as the manager of the Gulf Coast League Mets, and led them to their first league championship in 20 years. He also served as the manager of the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League in 2012.
When it comes to his more recent activity, Julio signed as a player-manager for the professional Japanese Independent baseball league in February 2015.
Privately, Franco married Rosa Ivis Trueba in 1991, and the couple has one child. Julio is a very good friend of George W. Bush.
