Braves History: Ageless wonder announces his retirement after 23 seasons

There have been some absolutely incredible names that have suited up for the Atlanta Braves. Some more notable than others, and for different reasons. It's been great for Braves fans to be exposed to some of the best players in baseball.

Major Leaguers never know how long they'll be around, as it is one of the toughest sports to stick in. However, some find a way to stick around for longer than anyone could have ever expected. Julio Franco was one of those players that seemed to find a way to play for over two decades. He was absolutely an ageless wonder as he played for eight big-league teams, spanning 23 years.

However, like most things, that eventually came to an end. Franco spent six seasons with the Braves, including part of his final season in 2007. He announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on April 30th, 2008.

Braves History: Julio Franco retires from baseball after defying the odds

Franco will always be remembered as the oldest player to hit a home run in the major leagues. He was 49-years-old when he announced his retirement. The Dominican Republic native had a .298/.365/.417 slash line during his career. He also collected 2,586 hits, 173 homers, 281 stolen bases, and 1,194 RBI.

Franco's tenure with the Braves was decent, despite being towards the end of his career. Franco amassed a 2.8 WAR over six seasons in Atlanta, with a .291 average, 354 hits, 62 doubles, 29 homers, and 179 RBI. He was 42 when he started his stint with the Braves.

He has not been inducted in the MLB Hall of Fame, but he was inducted into the Latin American Baseball Hall of Fame in February 2026 alongside another former Brave, Bartolo Colón. There will likely never be another player like Franco again. It's unheard of for a professional baseball player to play until they're almost 50 years old. Braves fans were lucky to have witnessed a rarity.

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