Wes Parker | |
---|---|
First baseman | |
Born: Evanston, Illinois, U.S. | November 13, 1939|
Batted: Switch Threw: Left | |
Professional debut | |
MLB: April 19, 1964, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
NPB: April 6, 1974, for the Nankai Hawks | |
Last appearance | |
MLB: October 1, 1972, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
NPB: September 28, 1974, for the Nankai Hawks | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .267 |
Home runs | 64 |
Runs batted in | 470 |
NPB statistics | |
Batting average | .301 |
Home runs | 14 |
Runs batted in | 59 |
Stats at Baseball Reference | |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Maurice Wesley Parker III (born November 13,1939) is an American former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1964 to 1972. He also played one season in Japan for the Nankai Hawks in 1974. [1]
As of 2009,Parker has been a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization serving as a representative of the Dodgers Legend Bureau. [2]
Parker was part of the Dodgers' 1965 and 1966 World Series teams. Known as one of the slickest fielding first basemen of all time,he won the National League Gold Glove Award for first base every year from 1967 to 1972. [3] In 1970,Parker posted a career high batting average of .319 and performed the unusual feat of driving in over 100 runs in a season while hitting no more than 10 home runs.
In a game against the New York Mets on May 7,1970,Parker hit for the cycle. [4] [5] He was the last Los Angeles Dodger to accomplish that feat until Orlando Hudson did so against the San Francisco Giants on April 13,2009.
On August 21,2007,Parker was voted the best defensive first baseman in baseball since the inception of the Gold Glove award in 1957,and named to the Major League Baseball All-time Gold Glove Team. He is the only member of the team who is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame (Parker is not eligible to enter the Hall of Fame as a player because he played in only nine seasons,one fewer than the minimum required for consideration). [6]
Parker is the only Dodger to have received the All-Time Gold Glove Team award. [6]
After Sunday home games in the final years of his career,Parker would hit fly balls to local kids outside Dodger Stadium,then drive as many as would fit into his car for ice cream and sodas. He said that he enjoyed his interactions with the kids more than he did playing the games for which he was paid. [7]
In nine seasons and 1,288 games played,Parker compiled a .267 batting average (1110-4157),with 548 runs scored,64 home runs,470 RBI,532 walks,.351 on-base percentage and .375 slugging percentage. In 11 World Series games (1965 and '66) he hit .278 (10-36). At 1,108 games at first base,his primary position,his fielding percentage was .996. He also played at all three outfield positions. [8]
Major League Baseball had its first ever work stoppage with a strike at the beginning of the 1972 season,which lasted 13 days. The player representatives voted 47–0,with one abstention,in favor of the strike. The abstention was Parker,who felt a deep appreciation for everything the Dodgers had done for him. [9]
Parker retired from Major League Baseball after the 1972 season. He worked as a television color analyst for the Cincinnati Reds in 1973. [1]
In 1974,he signed with the Nankai Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League. He would win the Diamond Glove Award as the best defensive first baseman in the Pacific League (the award is now called the Golden Glove),making him one of only four players to win Gold Gloves in both MLB and NPB. [1]
Parker subsequently pursued an acting career,and appeared in a number of television roles in the 1970s. His most famous role came in episode #17 of The Brady Bunch ,"The Undergraduate" (January 23,1970),as the fiancée of Greg Brady's math teacher,on whom Greg has such a huge crush that it distracts him from his studies. Parker promises Greg two tickets to opening day if he earns an A in the class. [7] [5] Parker eventually gave up acting,saying it did not fit his introverted personality. [7]
Parker also was a baseball broadcaster for NBC in 1978–79 and for USA Network in 1980–83. [1]
Born in Evanston,Illinois,Parker grew up in West Los Angeles,in the affluent neighborhood of Brentwood. His mother was Mary (nee Joslyn),and his father was Maurice Wesley Parker Jr.,president of the Parker Manufacturing Company and son of Maurice W. Parker Sr. Parker had an older sister named Celia and a younger brother named Lyn. [1]
He attended Claremont Men's College,transferred to USC,graduating from USC with a B.A. in history. [10]
Beginning in 2001,Parker began as a volunteer teacher of a weekly sports class at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles. [7]
Parker served as a voice of faith for the ministry of television preacher Dr. Gene Scott. During a 1982 broadcast (index number S-1086-3),Parker spoke with Scott publicly for over twenty minutes,stating that before coming across Dr. Scott's television program,he had never understood or felt drawn toward Christianity. He explained that it was Scott's intelligent and fact-based approach to teaching that earned his respect and allowed him to build faith. He stated[ citation needed ] that his earlier exposures to Christianity had no effect,because they were mostly based on simplistic platitudes such as "God is love" which he found unconvincing. [11]
Michael Jack Schmidt is an American former professional baseball third baseman who spent his entire 18-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1972 to 1989. Schmidt was a 12-time All-Star and a three-time winner of the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player award (MVP),and he was known for his combination of power hitting and strong defense. As a hitter,he compiled 548 home runs and 1,595 runs batted in (RBIs),and led the NL in home runs eight times and in RBIs four times. As a fielder,Schmidt won the National League Gold Glove Award for third basemen ten times. Schmidt was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995 in his first year of eligibility,and is widely considered to be one of the greatest third basemen in baseball history.
Jacob Nelson Fox was an American professional baseball player. Fox was one of the best second basemen of all time,and the third-most difficult hitter to strike out in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. Fox played in the big leagues from 1947 through 1965 and spent the majority of his career as a member of the Chicago White Sox;his career was bookended by multi-year stints for the Philadelphia Athletics and,later,the Houston Astros.
Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo,nicknamed "Indio",is a Venezuelan former professional baseball second baseman,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics (1973–1974),Chicago Cubs,Philadelphia Phillies (1979–1982),Cleveland Indians (1983),Montreal Expos (1983),San Francisco Giants (1984–1985),and Cincinnati Reds (1989). A four-time All-Star,he was the Phillies' starting second baseman when the franchise won its first World Series Championship in 1980. He was known as one of the best fielding second basemen of his era,with a strong throwing arm.
Robin Mark Ventura is an American former professional baseball third baseman and manager. Ventura played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox,New York Mets,New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was also the manager for the White Sox for five seasons. The White Sox selected Ventura with the tenth overall pick in the 1988 amateur draft from Oklahoma State University (OSU). He is a six-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner,two-time MLB All-Star selection and a National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee.
Robert Frank Knoop is an American former Major League Baseball second baseman and coach. In his nine-year MLB career,he appeared in 1,153 games as a member of the Los Angeles / California Angels (1964–69),Chicago White Sox (1969–70) and Kansas City Royals (1971–72). He threw and batted right-handed,stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).
Robert Anthony Grich is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles (1970–1976) and the California Angels (1977–1986). In 1981,Grich led the American League in home runs and won a Silver Slugger Award. A six-time All-Star,he also excelled as a defensive player,winning four consecutive Gold Glove Awards between 1973 and 1976.
Frank James Malzone was an American Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Boston Red Sox (1955–65) and California Angels (1966).
Scott Bruce Rolen is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies,St. Louis Cardinals,Toronto Blue Jays,and Cincinnati Reds from 1996 to 2012.
Ronald Ray Fairly was an American professional baseball player and television sports presenter. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and right fielder from 1958 to 1978,most prominently as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers,with whom he was a member of three World Series winning teams. Fairly was also a two-time All-Star.
John Junior Roseboro was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1957 until 1970,most prominently as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. A four-time All-Star player,Roseboro is considered one of the best defensive catchers of the 1960s,winning two Gold Glove Awards. He was the Dodgers' starting catcher in four World Series with the Dodgers winning three of those.
Plácido Enrique Polanco is a Dominican-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals,Philadelphia Phillies,Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins. He was a second baseman,third baseman,and shortstop. He was twice voted to start in Major League Baseball All-Star Games:in 2007,and again in 2011. Polanco retired with the highest all-time career fielding percentage for second basemen at 99.27% and the highest all-time career fielding percentage for third basemen at 98.34% which still appear to be records.
Adrián BeltréPérez is a Dominican former professional baseball third baseman. During his career,Beltréplayed for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Seattle Mariners,Boston Red Sox,and Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is regarded as one of the greatest third basemen of all time.
Kenton Lloyd Boyer was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman,coach and manager who played with the St. Louis Cardinals,New York Mets,Chicago White Sox,and Los Angeles Dodgers for 15 seasons,1955 through 1969.
Orlando Thill Hudson is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball from 2002 to 2012 with the Toronto Blue Jays,Arizona Diamondbacks,Los Angeles Dodgers,Minnesota Twins,San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. Hudson was known for his fielding abilities,and for making spectacular lunging catches and diving stabs at grounders. His defensive talents were recognized in 2005,when he won his first American League Gold Glove Award while with the Toronto Blue Jays.
David Earl Lopes is an American former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He batted and threw right-handed. He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Oakland Athletics,Chicago Cubs,and Houston Astros;he managed the Milwaukee Brewers.
Charles Lenard Neal was an American professional baseball player,a second baseman and shortstop who had an eight-season career (1956–1963) in Major League Baseball.
Richard Joseph Tracewski,nicknamed "Trixie",is an American former baseball player,coach,and manager. During his playing career,he was an infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball,appearing in 614 games over eight seasons,from 1962 to 1969.
The 1967 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 78th season for the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB),their 10th season in Los Angeles,California,and their 5th season playing their home games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles California. It marked the end of one of the franchise's most successful eras. One season after losing the World Series to the Baltimore Orioles,the Dodgers declined to a record of 73–89,and finished ahead of only the Houston Astros and the New York Mets in the National League race,28+1⁄2 games behind the NL and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. It was the Dodgers' worst record since the war-affected 1944 season,and their worst peacetime record since 1937. The Dodgers would not return to the postseason until 1974.
Nolan James Arenado is an American professional baseball third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Arenado is widely recognized as one of the best defensive third basemen of all time. He is the only infielder to win the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in each of his first ten MLB seasons. He made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2013 and was traded to the Cardinals before the 2021 season.
James Brian Dozier is an American former professional baseball second baseman. The Minnesota Twins selected Dozier in the eighth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2012 and he played in MLB for the Twins,Los Angeles Dodgers,Washington Nationals and New York Mets. Dozier was an All-Star in 2015,and won a Gold Glove Award in 2017.