Julio Franco had some harsh words about his time with the Mets in an exclusive interview with Vice Sports.
“When I think about New York, the biggest mistake in my life was playing for the Mets,” said Franco.
Bobby Cox knew how to use me. I went to New York and sometimes I’d spend a month on the bench without getting an at-bat.”
“At my age, you bring me in the ninth inning and think I’m going to drive in the winning run? And you were sitting me on the bench for 20 days, 15 days, 30 games without an at-bat? It’s not gonna happen.”
Franco struggled with the Mets in 2007, batting just .200 in 50 at-bats. He was eventually released in July after complaining about his lack of playing time.
At age 55, the former Met is attempting a return to baseball with the Fort Worth Cats of the independent United League as a player/manager.
The three-time All Star holds many major league records including being the oldest player (47) ever to hit a grand slam, the oldest position player in MLB history (48), the oldest player in Major League history to hit a home run (48), and he was the last major league player to wear a batting helmet with no ear flaps.
