Ageless wonder Julio Franco enters season at 46

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Julio Franco was hanging out in the Dominican Republic during the offseason, enjoying life with his family. Then that familiar urge struck.

"I got bored," Franco said. "Well, I thought to myself, I might as well start playing a little winter ball."'

So he did. And now, baseball's oldest player is back at spring training with the Atlanta Braves, showing no signs of slowing down -- and preparing to make a bit of history at 46.

Retirement isn't even on the radar for Franco, who wants to play until he's 50. There was nothing in his performance last season that would indicate it's time to trade in his bat for a rocking chair -- Franco batted .309 with six homers and 57 RBIs, sharing first base with a guy young enough to be his son, 25-year-old Adam LaRoche.

"We have to set goals that we think we can reach," Franco said after Monday's workout. "I think that one's reachable."

Surely if he makes it to 50, he'll be ready to do something else, right? Not necessarily.

"We'll see," Franco said, a mischievous look in his eyes. "You never know what might happen."

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, nobody in major league history has been an everyday position player at the age of 46.

Even back in his native country, Franco hears many of the same questions he gets while playing for the Braves.

"How can you still be doing this?"

"What in the world are you doing?"

Franco always gives the same answer: He's playing for a higher power, which decided to use him as a conduit to show that anything is possible. While he grew up in a religious family, the message didn't really take hold until he was 31 -- and already had the reputation as someone who played just as hard off the field as he did on it.

"I never wanted to make a commitment and give myself to God," Franco said. "I made a mistake. I should have done it when I was a little kid. It didn't happen that way, but here I am today, serving the best way I can."

Hitting coach Terry Pendleton, who's two years younger than Franco but retired after the 1998 season, said the secret to his longevity is simple: hand-eye coordination.

"His is better than a lot of 20-year-olds," Pendleton said. "When Julio goes bad, it will be because of his eyes. It's not going to be because of his physical strength. It will be because he can't see."

Franco's conditioning program is the stuff of legend. His narrow waistline and rock-hard stomach meld into wide shoulders and massive biceps. In fact, some skeptics -- former major leaguer Andy Van Slyke among them -- have questioned whether it's possible to maintain such a physique at that age through entirely natural means.

Franco has always laughed off that sort of talk, saying he has no need to use performance-enhancing drugs. And no one can doubt his dedication to the game.

"It is amazing," Pendleton said. "The only other guy I thought could do it was Willie McGee. Even late in his career, he still had great hand-eye coordination, and his body weighed about the same as when he came in."

But McGee was done at 40 after an 18-year career.

Franco just keeps on going.

"It's amazing the great shape he keeps himself in," said Brian Jordan, no spring chicken himself as he approaches his 38th birthday. "He's an inspiration.

Jordan, a former NFL player, still remembers his first encounter with Franco, as a rookie outfielder going through spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals in the early 1990s. Before an exhibition game, Franco walked over with Juan Gonzalez.

"I thought a couple of guys from the Dallas Cowboys were visiting camp. That's the kind of shape they were in," Jordan said. "And Julio is still in the same shape."

LaRoche, who platoons with Franco at first base, picked up some valuable off-the-field lessons as a rookie, things such as preparation and staying sharp mentally, even when you're on the bench.

It doesn't hurt to watch how Franco conducts himself at the plate, either.

"I learned from him that you've got to stay within yourself. Period," LaRoche said. "There's a lot of ways to say that, but basically it comes down to this: Don't try to do more than you can do. Don't try to make something out of nothing. That's the biggest key."

Even Jordan, at this late stage of his career, figures he can glean a lesson or two from Franco.

"He's come to a point where he really knows the game," said Jordan, who still has that football mentality. "He doesn't play like I play, going all out for every ball. You've got to pace yourself. Hopefully I can learn from him."

During batting practice, Franco sits atop a bench behind the cage, focusing in on the ball, studying the little nuances of each hitter, doling out subtle bits of advice.

"Stay through it a little longer," he tells second baseman Marcus Giles.

When Giles lines a pitch to left field, he immediately turns to Franco for validation.

"Better?" Giles asks.

"Better," Franco replies.

But when a rookie pops up two straight pitches off the top of cage, Franco shakes his head in disgust.

"Brutal," he said. "Just brutal."

This all could be leading to a second career for Franco, should he ever give up his first. He wants to become a manager someday, and he's willing to spend a couple of years in the minors if that's what it takes to earn an opportunity.

"I love this game," Franco said. "I think I've got a lot to offer."