Julio Franco, 55, to play ball again

Could you play professional baseball at 55 years old? Julio Franco thinks he can.

The three-time All-Star and 1991 American League batting champion with the Rangers has agreed to join the Fort Worth Cats of the United Baseball League as a player-coach during the club's first homestand.

Franco's first game is scheduled for Tuesday, and the homestand runs through the following Wednesday, May 28.

He played parts of 23 seasons in the big leagues before ending his career at 49 years old. He was an All-Star MVP for the Rangers in 1990 and played for the Phillies, Indians, White Sox, Brewers, Rays, Braves and Mets in addition to Texas.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to play and coach in Fort Worth and reconnect with my friends, former teammates and Texas Rangers staff members," Franco told the Cats' website. "I love Fort Worth and I'm very excited about the opportunity to work with the younger players and entertain the fans."