Lance Parrish
Encyclopedia
Lance Michael Parrish, aka "Big Wheel",(born June 15, 1956 in Clairton, Pennsylvania
) is an American
former professional
baseball
player. He played in Major League Baseball
as a catcher
for the Detroit Tigers
(1977–1986), Philadelphia Phillies
(1987–1988), California Angels
(1989–1992), Seattle Mariners
(1992), Cleveland Indians
(1993), Pittsburgh Pirates
(1994), and the Toronto Blue Jays
(1995). He was regarded as one of the best catchers in the 1980s, for both his offensive and defensive play.
by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 1974 Major League Baseball draft
. While playing for the Lakeland Tigers
in the minor leagues
, he was converted to a catcher. He reached the major leagues in 1977
on a part time basis, and by 1979
he had replaced Milt May
as the team's regular catcher. In 1979, he also played winter baseball in Puerto Rico with the Mayaguez Indians. Parrish hit for a .286 batting average
along with 24 home run
s and 82 runs batted in during the 1980
season to earn his first American League All-Star
team berth, as well as winning his first Silver Slugger Award.
Parrish's most productive offensive season was 1982
when he posted a .284 batting average
with 32 home run
s and 87 runs batted in, winning another Silver Slugger Award in the process. He followed that in 1983
with 27 home runs and 114 runs batted in, earning his third Silver Slugger Award, as well as winning his first Gold Glove Award
. Parrish was an integral member of the world championship-winning 1984
Detroit Tigers team. Batting as the clean-up hitter
, he produced 33 home runs and 98 runs batted in, adding another Silver Slugger Award as well as a second Gold Glove Award to his credentials. He also caught Jack Morris
' no-hitter
on April 7 of that season. The Tigers led the American League Eastern Division
season from start to finish, then defeated the Kansas City Royals
in the 1984 American League Championship Series
, before winning the 1984 World Series
against the San Diego Padres
.
After ten years with the Tigers, Parrish signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent
before the 1987
season. The Phillies made their slogan for the season "Lance us a Pennant." He quickly fell out of favor with the Philadelphia fans and media in his second season there as a result of poor offensive output, ranking near the bottom of full time major league players in 1988 with a .215 batting average. Afterwards, he played three seasons and parts of a fourth with the California Angels before ending his career with short stints for the Mariners, Indians, Pirates and Blue Jays. Parrish was also with the Los Angeles Dodgers
in spring training 1993, but he failed to make the squad as rookie Mike Piazza
's performance showed the club that Piazza was ready to be a starting major-league catcher. Parrish also signed to return to the Tigers in 1994, but his contract was purchased by the Pirates before he ever got back to the majors with Detroit. He signed with the Royals in 1995 but was traded to Toronto before he appeared in any major league games with Kansas City. He signed once again with Pittsburgh in 1996, but did not make the team.
, accumulating 1782 hits
in 7067 at bats for a .252 career batting average along with 324 home runs and 1070 runs batted in. Parrish was an eight-time All-Star
(1980, 1982–86, 1988, 1990), and he won three Gold Glove Awards (1983–85). Parish was a six-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award which is awarded annually to the best offensive
player at each position
. In , he established the American League
record for home runs by a catcher (32), surpassing the previous mark set by Yogi Berra
and Gus Triandos
, then surpassed his own mark two years later with 33. Parrish ranks fifth in Major League history in home runs as a catcher with 299, 10th among catchers in total bases
with 3113, and 11th in runs batted in with 1070. He led American League catchers twice in baserunners caught stealing
, once in assists
and once in caught stealing percentage. Parrish finished second in fielding percentage
four times and ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage.
during the 1996 season. From 1997-98, he was a coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Double-A team, the San Antonio Missions
. From 1999 to 2001 he was part of the Detroit Tigers
major league coaching staff as a third-base coach, bullpen coach and bench coach.
Parrish spent the 2002 season as a broadcaster, working as the color commentator
for Tigers games on Detroit's WKBD
station. The following season, he returned to the Tigers dugout when former teammate Alan Trammell
became the manager
of the Tigers. Parrish remained on Trammell's staff through the 2005
season when they were both dismissed.
He became a minor league Manager with the Ogden Raptors
, the Dodgers rookie level team, for the 2006 season. The team finished 37-39. On November 20, 2006 he was hired to manage the Great Lakes Loons
in Single-A ball during their debut season. His contract was not renewed following the season.
Parrish has two sons in professional baseball. His oldest son, David Parrish, was selected in the first round of the 2000 amateur draft by the New York Yankees, and is now playing in the Texas Rangers organization. He also has a daughter, Ashley Parrish Hunt, who resides in Northwest Ohio.
Clairton, Pennsylvania
Clairton is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Monongahela River. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. The population was 6,796 at the 2010 census. Under Pennsylvania legal classifications for local governments, Clairton is considered a third-class city...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1977–1986), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1987–1988), California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(1989–1992), Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(1992), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1993), Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1994), and the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
(1995). He was regarded as one of the best catchers in the 1980s, for both his offensive and defensive play.
Major League career
Parrish was drafted as a third basemanThird baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 1974 Major League Baseball draft
1974 Major League Baseball draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :With the number one pick of the June regular phase, San Diego tabbed infielder Bill Almon from Brown University, one of six shortstops selected in round one...
. While playing for the Lakeland Tigers
Lakeland Tigers
The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a minor league baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida.Home games are played at Joker Marchant Stadium; opened in 1966 and renovated in 2003. The park, which also doubles as the Detroit Tigers spring training home, seats 8,500 fans...
in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, he was converted to a catcher. He reached the major leagues in 1977
1977 Detroit Tigers season
The 1977 Detroit Tigers finished in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 74-88, 26 games behind the New York Yankees. They were outscored by their opponents 751 to 714...
on a part time basis, and by 1979
1979 Detroit Tigers season
The 1979 Detroit Tigers finished in fifth place in the American League East with a record of 85-76, 18 games behind the Orioles. They outscored their opponents 770 to 738. The Tigers drew 1,630,929 fans to Tiger Stadium in 1979, ranking 7th of the 14 teams in the American League. The season is...
he had replaced Milt May
Milt May
Milton Scott May is a former professional baseball player and coach who played in the Major Leagues from to for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and San Francisco Giants. May was a catcher who hit for a fairly high batting average during the era in which...
as the team's regular catcher. In 1979, he also played winter baseball in Puerto Rico with the Mayaguez Indians. Parrish hit for a .286 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
along with 24 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 82 runs batted in during the 1980
1980 Detroit Tigers season
The 1980 Detroit Tigers finished in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 84-78, 19 games behind the Yankees. They outscored their opponents 830 to 757...
season to earn his first American League All-Star
1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 51st midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 8, 1980 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, home of the Los...
team berth, as well as winning his first Silver Slugger Award.
Parrish's most productive offensive season was 1982
1982 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers finished in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 83-79 , 12 games behind the Brewers. The Tigers outscored their opponents 729 to 685...
when he posted a .284 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 32 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 87 runs batted in, winning another Silver Slugger Award in the process. He followed that in 1983
1983 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers finished in second place in the American League East with a record of 92-70 , six games behind the Orioles. The Tigers outscored their opponents 789 to 679...
with 27 home runs and 114 runs batted in, earning his third Silver Slugger Award, as well as winning his first Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
. Parrish was an integral member of the world championship-winning 1984
1984 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series, defeating the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1. The season was their 84th since they entered the American League in 1901 and their fourth World Series championship. Detroit relief pitcher Willie Hernandez won the Cy Young Award and was chosen as the...
Detroit Tigers team. Batting as the clean-up hitter
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
, he produced 33 home runs and 98 runs batted in, adding another Silver Slugger Award as well as a second Gold Glove Award to his credentials. He also caught Jack Morris
Jack Morris
John Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career...
' no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
on April 7 of that season. The Tigers led the American League Eastern Division
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
season from start to finish, then defeated the Kansas City Royals
1984 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 1st in the American League West with a record of 84 wins and 78 losses.- Offseason :* October 17, 1983: Eric Rasmussen was released by the Royals....
in the 1984 American League Championship Series
1984 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 2, 1984 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriGame 1 was a blowout in Kansas City, as Jack Morris pitched seven innings and allowed a single run, with Willie Hernandez pitching the final two innings. The Tigers scored eight runs...
, before winning the 1984 World Series
1984 World Series
The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
against the San Diego Padres
1984 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* October 21, 1983: Sandy Alomar, Jr. was signed by the Padres as an amateur free agent.* December 6, 1983: Joe Pittman and a player to be named later were traded by the Padres to the San Francisco Giants for Champ Summers...
.
After ten years with the Tigers, Parrish signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
before the 1987
1987 Philadelphia Phillies season
-Offseason:* October 7, 1986: Tom Gorman was released by the Phillies.* November 16, 1986: Rocky Childress was purchased from the Phillies by the Houston Astros.-Regular season:...
season. The Phillies made their slogan for the season "Lance us a Pennant." He quickly fell out of favor with the Philadelphia fans and media in his second season there as a result of poor offensive output, ranking near the bottom of full time major league players in 1988 with a .215 batting average. Afterwards, he played three seasons and parts of a fourth with the California Angels before ending his career with short stints for the Mariners, Indians, Pirates and Blue Jays. Parrish was also with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in spring training 1993, but he failed to make the squad as rookie Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....
's performance showed the club that Piazza was ready to be a starting major-league catcher. Parrish also signed to return to the Tigers in 1994, but his contract was purchased by the Pirates before he ever got back to the majors with Detroit. He signed with the Royals in 1995 but was traded to Toronto before he appeared in any major league games with Kansas City. He signed once again with Pittsburgh in 1996, but did not make the team.
Career statistics
In a 19 year career, Parrish played in 1988 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1782 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 7067 at bats for a .252 career batting average along with 324 home runs and 1070 runs batted in. Parrish was an eight-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
(1980, 1982–86, 1988, 1990), and he won three Gold Glove Awards (1983–85). Parish was a six-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award which is awarded annually to the best offensive
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
player at each position
Baseball positions
There are 9 fielding positions in baseball. Each position conventionally has an associated number which is used to score putouts...
. In , he established the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
record for home runs by a catcher (32), surpassing the previous mark set by Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
and Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos is a Greek-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball mostly as a catcher but also played as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers of the American League and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros...
, then surpassed his own mark two years later with 33. Parrish ranks fifth in Major League history in home runs as a catcher with 299, 10th among catchers in total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
with 3113, and 11th in runs batted in with 1070. He led American League catchers twice in baserunners caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
, once in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and once in caught stealing percentage. Parrish finished second in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
four times and ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage.
Post-playing career
After retiring he became a roving catching instructor for the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
during the 1996 season. From 1997-98, he was a coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
Double-A team, the San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
. From 1999 to 2001 he was part of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
major league coaching staff as a third-base coach, bullpen coach and bench coach.
Parrish spent the 2002 season as a broadcaster, working as the color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for Tigers games on Detroit's WKBD
WKBD
WKBD-TV, virtual channel 50 , is an owned and operated station of the CW Television Network, based in Detroit, Michigan. The station is owned and operated by the CBS Corporation, and is one-half of a duopoly with sister station WWJ-TV . Its studios and transmitters are located at 11 mile and...
station. The following season, he returned to the Tigers dugout when former teammate Alan Trammell
Alan Trammell
Alan Stuart Trammell is a retired American baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from to . Trammell, nicknamed "Tram", played his entire career with the Tigers, highlighted by a World Series championship in and an American League East division championship in . Although his arm was not...
became the manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Tigers. Parrish remained on Trammell's staff through the 2005
2005 Detroit Tigers season
The 2005 Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Detroit Tigers attempting to win the AL Central.-Offseason:*October 15, 2004: DeWayne Wise was selected off waivers by the Detroit Tigers from the Atlanta Braves....
season when they were both dismissed.
He became a minor league Manager with the Ogden Raptors
Ogden Raptors
The Ogden Raptors are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Ogden, Utah, United States. The club plays at Lindquist Field, whose view beyond the outfield fence was named the best in professional baseball by a staff writer for Grand Slam Enterprises, INC.The Raptors are one of...
, the Dodgers rookie level team, for the 2006 season. The team finished 37-39. On November 20, 2006 he was hired to manage the Great Lakes Loons
Great Lakes Loons
The Great Lakes Loons, based in Midland, Michigan, is a Low Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team plays in the Midwest League and their home park is Dow Diamond, which opened in April 2007.-History:...
in Single-A ball during their debut season. His contract was not renewed following the season.
Parrish has two sons in professional baseball. His oldest son, David Parrish, was selected in the first round of the 2000 amateur draft by the New York Yankees, and is now playing in the Texas Rangers organization. He also has a daughter, Ashley Parrish Hunt, who resides in Northwest Ohio.
See also
- 1984 Detroit Tigers season1984 Detroit Tigers seasonThe Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series, defeating the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1. The season was their 84th since they entered the American League in 1901 and their fourth World Series championship. Detroit relief pitcher Willie Hernandez won the Cy Young Award and was chosen as the...
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBIs