In the Mets’ 13-0 rout of Washington at RFK Stadium, Julio Franco drives in five runs, tying a career high, to become the oldest major leaguer in history to accomplish the feat. The 48 year-old first baseman, with three hits, falls a triple short of completing the cycle.

Five years and two cities after Frank Robinson, then the vice president in the commissioner’s office in charge of on-field discipline, accepts Bud Selig’s offer to take the MLB-owned Expos’ manager job for just one season, the franchise, now known as the Washington Nationals, will have a new skipper. Jim Bowden, the team’s GM, announces the 71 year-old Hall of Famer will be replaced with the search for a new field boss beginning after tomorrow’s season finale against the Mets at RFK.

Accomplishing the milestone in only 77 gates, the Yankees surpass the four million mark in attendance for the second consecutive year. The Bronx Bombers join the 1991-93 Blue Jays as the only teams in baseball history reach that mark in more than one season.

At Camden Yards, Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons hits a foul ball straight back over the screen that hits a fan in the rib cage. The injured patron is the batter’s wife, Laura. `

With one home game left on the schedule, the Dodgers break their single-season attendance record established in 1982 as the team sells 3,708,723 tickets to its games played in Chavez Ravine. The previous record of 3,608,881 was determined by former National League rules which counted fans by turnstile count.

In Milwaukee’s Miller Park, Barry Bonds hits his 734th career homer, surpassing Hank Aaron, and establishes a new all-time National League home run mark. The historic long ball hit by the unpopular 42 year-old Giants slugger receives little fanfare in the city in which ‘Hammerin’ Hank’, a former player for the Braves and Brewers, is a local legend.

KC skipper Buddy Bell, after a Royals 3-0 loss to the Angels, announces he needs to take a medical leave to treat a growth in his tonsils and will be replaced in the dugout by bench coach Billy Doran. The manager’s wife, Gloria, has also battled tonsil cancer.

Although the team bows to the Blue Jays at the Stadium, the Yankees capture their ninth consecutive AL East title thirty minutes later when the Twins defeat second-place Red Sox. The Bronx Bombers become the second team in the Big Apple this week to pop the champagne as their crosstown rivals, the Mets, clinched the NL East Division two days ago.

In a game against Florida, Julio Franco starts at third base for the Mets, who clinched the NL East flag yesterday. The 48 year-old infielder has not played the hot corner since his rookie year in 1982, marking 24 years between starts at the position.