Unless Julio Franco suddenly starts to feel his age, expect to see him play in his 25th major-league season in '07 -- at age 49. John Iacono/SI

By Mitch Getz

Turning 48 is not a big deal in most careers. Unless you're a professional athlete. For golfers, it means getting ready for the Senior Tour. For tennis players, it means finding a doubles partner. But for Julio César Robles Franco, it simply meant another season of major league baseball.

Franco is my Sportsman of the Year because he plays for the love of the game. In a sport that too often celebrates youth and hefty paychecks, the "San Pedro Elder Statesman" has set an example for his younger counterparts. He reminds us what a sportsman should be: someone with passion for the game that transcends age. No, he doesn't make peanuts (his salary was $1 million last season), but Franco could have easily retired and become a coach or a broadcaster.

Instead, he chose to keep playing because, frankly, he still can. Franco's 24-year professional career has spanned nine major league teams and includes seasons in Japan, South Korea, Mexico and his native Dominican Republic. As a bench player and part-time first baseman for the New York Mets this past season, he caught throws from David Wright and José Reyes, neither of whom were born when he was a rookie in 1982. Franco made his mark this season as a reliable veteran for a division championship team. In 95 games, he batted .273, hit two home runs, drove in 26 runs and stole six bases.

Still, it was hard for Franco to escape the "grandpa" jokes when everything he did went into the record book. He became the oldest player to hit a home run and the oldest to steal two bases in one game. He's probably also the oldest to wave at his family from the on-deck circle, but who's keeping track?

Franco's image as a baseball folk hero continues to grow the longer he plays. Kids will continue to emulate his unusual batting stance as I once did -- the bat perched high above the head, waving it back and forth like a light saber. Perhaps adults will copy his peculiar diet to stay healthy. Franco regularly cooks up to 20 egg whites for a protein breakfast and drinks liquid concoctions of vegetables like beets, cauliflower and broccoli. Are you that dedicated to your job?

So unless commissioner Bud Selig forms a senior baseball league, count on seeing this sportsman compete a little longer with the boys of summer. He turns 49 next August 23.