Former Mets hurler John Franco, one of baseball’s all-time great relief pitchers, will meet and great fans at Dan Rooney’s Sports Bar at Empire City Casino on Friday night, September 30, when the Mets play the Phillies in what is expected to be a pivotal game in the National League wildcard race.
The Brooklyn native who ranks fifth on the all-time saves list with 424 and is first among lefties, will be on hand from 7-9 p.m. to pose for pictures and sign autographs for the first 100 fans, and then watch the game with Mets zealots.
Food and drink specials will be on the menu, and fans will have a perfect view of the game on Dan Rooney’s large-screen TVs.
During a 21-year major league career with the Mets, Reds and Astros, Franco appeared in 1,119 games in his career to rank third all-time, and first in National League history. He played college baseball at St. John’s University before being drafted by the LA Dodgers in 1981. He was traded to the Reds in 1983 and was called up to the big leagues the following year. The four-time All Star and three-time NL saves leader, Franco was honored with the National League Relief Man award twice. He became the third Mets captain in history, from 2001-2004, and was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 2012.