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John Franco began his collegiate baseball career at St. John’s University in 1979. He quickly earned the role of #2 starter, pitching behind ace Frank Viola. Viola dominated from the mound with a 26-2 record and a 1.67 ERA, becoming the program’s all-time winningest pitcher.

Franco impressed early. As a freshman, he tossed two no-hitters. He added a third in 1981 during his junior season. From 1979 to 1981, Franco and Viola formed a powerful one-two punch for the Redmen.

The duo led St. John’s to the College World Series during their sophomore year. Their performances helped lift the program onto the national stage.

Franco pitched with grit and relied on control and movement. Viola overpowered hitters with a strong fastball and sharp changeup. Together, they became one of the most effective collegiate tandems in the country.

Their college paths diverged after 1981, but fate brought them back together. In 1989, both Franco and Viola were reunited in New York with the Mets.

Shown here is a ticket to Game 7 of the 1987 World Series. Viola won that clincher with an 8-inning performance in which he scattered six hits and gave up two runs. His Game 1 eight-inning win bookended a performance that made him the World Series MVP.

Notice Viola’s signature and inscription, “’87 MVP” on the ticket.

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John Franco is one of the most beloved Mets of all time. The longest-serving pitcher in team history, his 14 years in a Mets uniform are surpassed only by first baseman Ed Kranepool.

A Brooklyn native, Franco holds the Mets career record for saves and appearances. Pitching for New York each year of the 1990s, Franco was named the greatest reliever of the decade by Bleacher Report. During the run he averaged 26.8 saves per season and twice led the NL in the category.

The left-hander originally broke in with Cincinnati in 1984. He pitched six highly-effective seasons with the Reds. His boldest campaign came in 1988 when he put up career bests in appearances (61), saves (39), ERA (1.57), and ERA+ (230). The next year he broke Clay Carroll’s Reds franchise mark for career saves. Three times Franco represented Cincinnati in the All Star Game.

In December, 1989 the Reds dealt the lefty-hander to the Mets. A New Yorker, born and bred, Franco continued to flourish. His first season in the Big Apple was an All Star campaign. It marked his fourth selection in five years. Franco topped the Senior Circuit in saves and ended the year with a 2.54 ERA. He followed that up with his fifth career 30-win season in 1991.

After elbow issues limited him in ’92 and ’93, Franco rebounded to lead the NL in saves in ’94. Only July 16th, he recorded his 20th save of the season. It was also his 108th as a Met which pushed him past Jesse Orosco for the franchise lead. Each of the rest of his 168 saves extended the record he still holds today.

On April 29, 1996 the southpaw became the 8th reliever in big league history to record 300 saves. Twelve days later the Mets held “John Franco Day” in honor of the achievement. In the fifth inning of the contest a bench-clearing brawl erupted. Franco and eight other players were ejected.

In 1997 and ’98, Franco put up 36 and 38 saves, respectively. Then in 1999 he helped the Mets reach the National League Championship Series. The team followed that up with a pennant-winning season in 2000. In 15 postseason appearances Franco pitched to a stingy 1.88 earned run average.

In 2001 the Mets named Franco their third team captain in franchise history, following Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter. Despite the honor, Franco would remember the year for something else – the tragedy of 9/11. When the events shook his city and country, New Yorker Franco took action.

In 2021 he recalled the events to NJ.com. “When we went down to Ground Zero, I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do. And to see the looks on the firemen’s faces and the rescue workers’ faces, how tired and how their faces are full of dirt, and you can see the whites of their teeth. They were very, very tired, but when they’d seen us, they were they were happy to see us. It made me feel that this is where we belonged at the time, just to say hello, say thank you, hand out our hats and shirts, and to see the efforts that they put in.”

At season’s end Franco received the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in honor of his character and integrity on and off the field.

His 2002 season was a tough one for Franco. A torn ulnar collateral ligament resulted in Tommy John surgery and washed the year away. Despite his advanced baseball age of 41, Franco fought back and returned to the Mets in 2003. On August 24 that year he recorded his 424th and final major league save.

Franco pitched one more season in New York before finishing his career at age 44 with the Houston Astros in 2005. The southpaw left the game with the second-most saves in baseball history behind only Lee Smith. Franco remains #1 on the list among left-handers.

In 2012 the Mets inducted Franco into their team Hall of Fame.

Shown here is a Strat-O-Matic card from 2000 autographed by John Franco. Bucknell University math major Hal Richman originated the Strat-O-Matic game in 1961. Advertised in Sports Illustrated and sold out of Richman’s basement, Strat-O-Matic gave its players the ability to make managerial decisions based on MLB statistics.

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In 1998, the Mets made a major move by acquiring star catcher Mike Piazza. John Franco, the team’s veteran closer, welcomed him with open arms. Franco had worn number 31 since reaching the majors 15 years earlier, but he knew the number meant more to Piazza. Without hesitation, he gave it up.

Franco didn’t stop with the jersey. Understanding the challenges of joining a new team in May, he stepped up again. Piazza had just landed in New York and hadn’t found a place to live yet. Franco, a proud native New Yorker, offered something more personal than directions or advice. He invited Piazza to stay at his house.

The gesture surprised the slugger, who expected to figure things out on his own. But Franco saw beyond baseball. He wanted Piazza to settle in comfortably, without distractions. For a few days, as the Mets wrapped up their homestand, Piazza lived in the guest room of a teammate who barely knew him.

That short stay made a lasting impression. It showed how much Franco valued team chemistry and personal kindness. It also helped Piazza feel at home quickly in a high-pressure city.

Franco’s actions went far beyond the game. He sacrificed something personal and opened his home to a newcomer. That hospitality helped spark a relationship that strengthened the Mets’ clubhouse and defined leadership in quiet, generous ways.

In New York’s intense sports world, Franco reminded everyone that small acts off the field can make the biggest difference.

Shown here is an 8×10 photo signed by Piazza as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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John Franco’s 424th and final career save came on August 24th, 2003. When he left the game at age 44, the left-hander was second all-time on the career saves list. Only Lee Smith (478) had more.

Though Franco still holds the MLB record for career saves by a lefty, he has slipped to fifth overall. Unanimous Cooperstown selection Mariano Rivera (652 saves) holds the top spot. Changeup artist Trevor Hoffman is second with 601. Smith is third and Francisco Rodriguez is fourth with 437.

Shown here is Smith’s contract with Topps Chewing Gum dated June 23, 1987. That night Smith’s Cubs faced the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Chicago’s closer entered the 4-1 contest with two on and two out in the bottom of the 9th. Kevin McReynolds stepped to the plate representing the tying run. Smith reared back and blew a fastball past the swinging New York left fielder for the game’s final out. The save was Smith’s 20th of the season and the 164th of his career.