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Julio Franco spent 23 seasons in the Major Leagues and retired in 2008 at age 49. The three-time All-Star and former league batting champion apparently hasn’t reached his fulfillment of America’s pastime – Franco has announced he’ll be making a professional baseball comeback at the age of 55.

The United Baseball League’s Fort Worth Cats have announced that former Major Leaguer, Julio Franco, will be making several appearances with the them this season – all 55 years of him.

Franco has played for nine different MLB clubs over the course of 23 seasons. Last playing in 2007, Franco set several age records for Major League Baseball. The oldest non-pitcher to play regularly, the oldest to hit a home run (at 48) and the second oldest player to steal a base. If there is a player out there that could still defy Father Time, Franco is it. The Fort Worth Cats’ will have Franco in their lineup during their first week of their home games, starting Tuesday, May 20^th and finishing up on Wednesday, May 28^th.

The ‘Cats have toyed with the idea having former Major Leaguers, well passed their primes, suit up for them. Just last season, a 48-year-old Jose Canseco made the squad. While the idea is a mere publicity stunt for six-time league, there is chance Franco can be productive for the ‘Cats, whom had the best record in the UBL last year. Franco, a three-time all-star, former All-Star Game MVP and American League batting champion isn’t swinging lumber like he used to, but in the last 15 games of his MLB career, he collected 10 hits – at age 48. We’ll have to pull up the league stats and see just how well a 55-year-old man can do on the diamond. I just hope I’m still able to get to the ballpark on my own to even watch a game when I’m 55. Heck, I’m sore after going 0-5 in slow-pitch softball.