Lance Parrish Stats & Facts
VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA
Lance Parrish
Position: Catcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-3, 210lb (190cm, 95kg)
Born: June 15, 1956 in Clairton, PA us
Draft: Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st round (16th) of the 1974 MLB June Amateur Draft from Walnut HS (Walnut, CA).
High School: Walnut HS (Walnut, CA)
Debut: September 5, 1977 (13,958th in major league history)
vs. BAL 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: September 23, 1995
vs. BOS 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Full Name: Lance Michael Parrish
Nicknames: Big Wheel
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Nine Players Who Debuted in 1977
Eddie Murray
Lou Whitaker
Alan Trammell
Jack Morris
Lance Parrish
Dale Berra
Bump Wills
Rick Honeycutt
Willie Hernandez
The Lance Parrish Teammate Team
C: Darren Daulton
1B: John Olerud
2B: Lou Whitaker
3B: Mike Schmidt
SS: Alan Trammell
LF: Dave Winfield
CF: Ken Griffey Jr.
RF: Kirk Gibson
DH: Paul Molitor
SP: Jack Morris
SP: Chuck Finley
SP: Dan Petry
SP: Randy Johnson
SP: Kevin Gross
RP: Willie Hernandez
RP: Aurelio Lopez
M: Sparky Anderson
Notable Events and Chronology for Lance Parrish Career
Biography
A onetime bodyguard for singer Tina Turner, Parrish was the Tigers’ sturdy catcher for nine years, and made the AL All-Star squad six times. He was converted from third base to catcher in his second year in the minors, and as a rookie in 1978 he platooned with Milt May in Detroit. Playing full-time in 1979, Parrish hit .276 with 19 HR and 65 RBI, but was struggling defensively. He had an outstanding throwing arm but committed 21 passed balls to lead the AL. In 1980 Parrish widened his batting stance and flattened his swing to produce an All-Star year (.286, 24 HR, 82 RBI), and in 1982 he broke Yogi Berra’s AL record for HR by a catcher with 32 (Carlton Fisk broke his record the following year). Defensively, Parrish improved enough to win three straight Gold Gloves (1983-85). Back problems plagued him in 1985-86, and in 1987 he signed with the Phillies as a free agent. He never adjusted to the NL, however, and after two subpar seasons he began 1989 as Bob Boone’s successor with the Angels
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Best Season, 1982
Though he missed a few weeks with injuries, Parrish blasted 32 home runs – a new AL record for a catcher. Parrish posted a career-high .529 slugging mark and batted .284 – well above his career average. He made the All-Star team and established himself as the finest defensive catcher in the AL.
Awards and Honors
1983 AL Gold Glove
1984 AL Gold Glove
1985 AL Gold Glove
Post-Season Appearances
1984 American League Championship Series
1984 World Series
Factoid
Lance Parrish once served as Tina Turner’s bodyguard.
Where He Played: Catcher: Parrish’s 1,818 games behind the plate ranked sixth at the time of his retirement in 1995, and ranked seventh entering the 2005 season.
Big League Debut: September 5, 1977
Parrish played his first big league game four days before double play duo Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker debuted.
Feats: On September 28, 1982, Parrish hit his 31st home run in a 9-6 win over the Orioles, breaking the American League single-season record for catchers that he had shared with Yogi Berra and Gus Triandos. Since then, the record has been eclipsed by Carlton Fisk and others.
Transactions
Parrish was not signed as a free agent in the off-season of 1986 because Detroit (and several other clubs, it turned out later) were refusing to spend big money on the open market. He was let go to the Phillies in a move that was very unpopular with Tiger fans. The failure to stay in Detroit hurt both the Tigers and Parrish in the long run. Parrish struggled in Philadelphia, never really adapting to National League ball. The Tigers filled his spot with Matt Nokes for a few years but never regained the consistent leadership and power from the catcher spot until Mickey Tettleton arrived in 1991. Had Parrish stayed in Detroit he may have finished his career as a Tiger and hit far more home runs in friendly Tiger Stadium, ultimately helping his Hall of Fame chances. Instead, he will likely remain on the outside and watch Gary Carter enter the Hall of Fame – a contemporary with similar skills.
The Tigers vs. Rickey
Parrish was behind the plate on April 28, 1991, for the Angels, when Rickey Henderson stole his 938th base, tying Lou Brock for the all-time mark. In 1982, Parrish was at home with his wife awaiting the birth of their first child when Henerson stole his 117th base, coming within one of Brock’s single-season record. When he tried to steal third to tie the record, Henderson was thrown out by Bill Fahey, Parrish’s replacement. Prior to the steal attempts, Oakland’s Fred Stanley had been picked off second, setting up the opportunity for Henderson to set the mark at home. Tiger manager Sparky Anderson was incensed at Stanley’s move. “All honor has left this game if Stanley isn’t fined the highest figure ever. If he isn’t, there is no commissioner of baseball,” Sparky said. “He’s discredited this game and he is totally unforgivable. I don’t even want to hear what he has to say.”
Not Helping Reggie
In an article written for Sports Illustrated in September of 2006, Tom Verduci related an incident involving Lance Parrish and Reggie Jackson:
[Jackson] was in the midst of such a horrific strikeout streak that he pleaded to Detroit Tigers catcher Lance Parrish, “Tell me what’s coming, and I promise I’ll take a turn right back into the dugout no matter where I hit it. I just want to look like a pro a little bit.” (Parrish replied, “F— you”; Jackson, to his immense satisfaction, grounded out.)
The Silver Slugger has been awarded in each league since 1980.
All-Star Selections
1980 AL
1982 AL
1983 AL
1984 AL
1985 AL
1986 AL
1988 NL
1990 AL
Replaced
Milt May, a popular veteran receiver, who the Tigers sold to the White Sox early in 1979.
Replaced By
In Detroit, Parrish was replaced by Matt Nookes, who posted great numbers in 1987 (32 homers, .536 SLG). Parrish played the last four years of his career as a part-time catcher. His last starting job was with the Angels in 1991. After a slow start in 1992, the Angels replaced Parrish with Mike Fitzgerald and Ron Tingley.
Best Strength as a Player
Power
Largest Weakness as a Player
Strike-zone judgment.