Throw in a Long Island Railroad pass and you had the last St. John’s baseball team — back in 1980 — to reach the College World Series.This was a talented team of New Yorkers under head coach Joe Russo that for five consecutive years either advanced to Omaha, Neb., or came within one game of doing so. St. John’s had to win three straight games. John Franco, a Brooklyn native, was traded to the New York Mets on December 6, 1989 by the Cincinnati Reds with Don Brown for Randy Myers and Kip Gross. The best local players don’t flock to St. John’s. John Franco was born on September 17, 1960 in Brooklyn, New York, USA as John Anthony Franco. He ended his 22-year career with one final season with the Houston Astros. This was a veteran team and experienced pitchers like LaCasse and Lee, and walk-on Tommy White filled in well for him.They entered the ECAC New York-New Jersey playoffs that year an overwhelming favorite, the tournament they had won the previous four years. Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats The latest stats, facts, news and notes on John Franco of the Houston New Yorkers, we loved ragging [on each other]. John Franco, Script Department: The Great Escape.
2 either now,’ ” he recalled with a laugh. There were 12 guys from Long Island, six from Brooklyn, two apiece from Staten Island and Queens, and one from The Bronx. Soon, Viola — and his teammates — realized Franco could also talk with his left arm. “The tradition spoke for itself and everybody wanted to be a part of it.“The thing that I remember that was really ingrained in us is that as soon as you got there, not only do we expect to win, we expect to win every game. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! John Anthony Franco (born September 17, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player. Not a cocky guy well under 6 feet tall who loved to talk. The 1980 team was particularly close, because of the bond the players shared having known one another for so long and their on-field proficiency. Draft: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 5th round of the 1981 MLB June Amateur Draft from St. John's University (Queens, NY). “It’s been way too long now.”St. Franco established himself as an All-Star player with the Cincinnati Reds before spending the majority of his career with the New York Mets. See the entire gallery “We had a whole bunch of individuals who loved talking. High School: Lafayette HS (Brooklyn, NY) The older players made Viola and Franco comfortable from the jump, understanding their additions would only improve the program in the present and future. He had never pitched in front of so many people. He was a first baseman who moved to the mound when one of the team’s top pitchers got hurt. John’s rallied for three runs, aided by a few errors and walks, moving on to the Northeast Regional.There was no such drama in the regional that year. When Franco no-hit Nebraska to open the Northeast Regional in Annapolis, Md., and the Johnnies knocked off UConn to advance to the title game in the winner’s bracket, it seemed inevitable. Not only are you not No. He no-hit Adelphi and Siena during the regular season.“Little kid had some talent, boy,” recalled Viola, the program’s all-time leader in wins with 26. That didn’t include right fielder Paul Maruffi, who batted .369 in 1980 and was on the College World Series all-tournament team.“We had that northeast attitude of we’re better than anybody else,” recalled Viola, a three-time All-Star, 1987 World Series MVP and 1988 AL Cy Young Award winner. He had heard about Franco’s talent, but in his mind, he envisioned someone very different. It has to defeat high-caliber teams from the South and West just to get past the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, and even then there is a best-of-three Super Regional that awaits.“Well, how did Stony Brook do it that one year?” is LaCasse’s response, referring to the last local team to reach Omaha, in 2012.