Francisco Named Topps' All-Star

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2007

Bisons’ Ben Francisco Named to Topps’ Triple-A All-Star Team
Outfielder Hit .318 for the Bisons in 2007

Minor League Baseball announced that Buffalo Bisons’ outfielder Ben Francisco has been named to the Topps’ Triple-A All-Star Team. After each season, the best performances in each Minor League Baseball classification are honored by the Topps Company of New York, NY, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball.

Francisco, 26, played 95 games with the Bisons in 2007 and led the International League with a .318 (120-377) batting average. He was the Bisons’ first batting champion since Mark Ryal hit .334 in 1990 in the American Association. It was Buffalo’s first batting title in the International League since 1961 when Ted Savage hit .325 on his way to being named the IL’s Most Valuable Player.

Francisco was also named an International League post season All-Star in 2007. The outfielder hit .319 in 19 games in April, earning his first ever Major League promotion. He returned to Buffalo on May 4 and put together a 19-game hit streak from May 9-June 7 where he hit .423 (33-78). He spent a month with the Cleveland Indians, June 22-July 28, before being optioned down to the Bisons for August. In his third stint with the Herd, he had a 15-game hit streak from August 2-16 (.381, 24-63) to take command of the IL batting charts.

Francisco’s 120 hits with the Bisons were second on the team only to Ryan Mulhern (138). His 40 multi-hit games were T1st (Mulhern) while 41 of his hits went for extra bases (27 doubles, 2 triples, 12 home runs). Francisco hit .343 (60-175) in front of Buffalo fans at Dunn Tire Park.

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