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- Francisco became the youngest
player to pitch in the World Series since Don Gullett appeared for the
Cincinnati Reds in 1970.
- After coming to the U.S.
in 1999 speaking little English, Francisco is now fluent.
- Disney’s asking price
for the Angels went up after the team's World Series title. Francisco's
emergence also upped the ante for a prospective buyer. The club's promotions
director, Robert Alvarado, says if K-Rod’s for real, it puts the
franchise’s Latino marketing plan at least two years ahead of
schedule.
- Francisco’s locker
neighbor, Tim Salmon, played in 1388 regular-season games before making
it to the post-season. Francisco’s pre-series resume was 5 and
1/3 innings.
- Technically, Francisco
is still eligible to win Rookie of the Year honors in 2003. The last
athlete
to play a key role in his team's world championship—then win top
rookie honors the following year—was Ken Dryden of the Montreal
Canadiens.
- Francisco is engaged to
Andrea Harvey and has two daughters, Destiny and Adriana. He also has
a son, Frandeiker, who lives in Macaro with his mother.
- When Francisco
returned to Caracas after the World Series, his mother showed up
and tried to
embrace him. Francisco just turned away.
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Don Gullett, 1979 O-Pee-Chee

Tim Salmon, 1992 Bowman
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