Born: (1956-06-15) June 15, 1956 (age 68) Clairton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 5, 1977, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
September 23, 1995, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
Batting average
.252
Home runs
324
Runs batted in
1,070
Teams
Detroit Tigers (1977–1986)
Philadelphia Phillies (1987–1988)
California Angels (1989–1992)
Seattle Mariners (1992)
Cleveland Indians (1993)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1994)
Toronto Blue Jays (1995)
Career highlights and awards
8× All-Star (1980, 1982–1986, 1988, 1990)
World Series champion (1984)
3× Gold Glove Award (1983–1985)
6× Silver Slugger Award (1980, 1982–1984, 1986, 1990)
Lance Michael Parrish (born June 15, 1956), nicknamed "Big Wheel",[1] is an American former baseball catcher who played Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1977 through 1995. Born in Pennsylvania, Parrish grew up in Southern California and excelled in both baseball and football. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1974, and after four years in the minor leagues, he played for the Tigers for a decade from 1977 to 1986. He later played for the Philadelphia Phillies (1987–1988), California Angels (1989–1992), Seattle Mariners (1992), Cleveland Indians (1993), Pittsburgh Pirates (1994), and Toronto Blue Jays (1995).
Parrish helped lead the Tigers to the 1984 World Series championship, was selected as an All-Star eight times (1980, 1982–1986, 1988, 1990), and won six Silver Slugger Awards (1980, 1982–1984, 1986, 1990) and three Gold Glove Awards (1983–1985). Over his 19 MLB seasons, he compiled a .252 batting average with 324 home runs, and 1,070 runs batted in (RBIs). At the time of his retirement, he ranked fourth in major-league history in home runs by a catcher and seventh in games played at the position.
After his playing career, Parrish worked as a catching instructor, coach, manager, and broadcaster. He was a member of the Tigers' coaching staff from 1999 to 2001 and 2003 to 2005. He was the color commentator on Detroit Tigers television broadcasts in 2002. He was also a minor-league manager of the San Antonio Missions (1998), Ogden Raptors (2006), Great Lakes Loons (2007), Erie SeaWolves (2014–2017), and West Michigan Whitecaps (2018–2019).
^George Sipple (April 2, 2007). "Big Wheel keeps turning: Lance Parrish leads Midland's Loons". Detroit Free Press. p. 13C – via Newspapers.com.
Lance Michael Parrish (born June 15, 1956), nicknamed "Big Wheel", is an American former baseball catcher who played Major League Baseball (MLB) from...
Player. Catcher LanceParrish, known as the "Big Wheel", led the team in home runs (33) and RBIs (98) -- and strikeouts (120) as well. Parrish was the starting...
Murphy LanceParrish Ron Guidry N/A 1984 Eddie Murray† Lou Whitaker Buddy Bell Alan Trammell† Dwight Evans Dave Winfield† Dwayne Murphy LanceParrish Ron...
affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In November 2006, the Loons named LanceParrish as the team's first manager since the move to Michigan's Tri-City Area...
Randolph George Brett† Robin Yount† Ben Oglivie Al Oliver Willie Wilson LanceParrish Reggie Jackson† N/A 1981 Cecil Cooper Bobby Grich Carney Lansford Rick...
coming up through the Tigers farm system at the time. Jack Morris, LanceParrish, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker all made their debuts in 1977, and would...
the middle featuring all-stars at each middle position with catcher LanceParrish setting a career high in home runs with 33, the record-setting duo of...
Anthony Castro Brent Clevlen Román Colón Brian Cooper Nate Cornejo Deivi Cruz Lance Davis Casey Fien Michael Fulmer Devon Travis Justin Verlander Pennsylvania...
to death by La Habra police Tod McBride, former NFL defensive back LanceParrish, former MLB catcher Juliana Yendork, triple jumper Gary Zimmerman, former...
due chiefly to the presence of all-star catchers Ozzie Virgil Jr. and LanceParrish. Daulton became the Phillies' full-time catcher in 1989. Throughout...
New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox. As a Tiger, he backed up LanceParrish, and as a Giant, he served as the backup for fellow catcher Bob Brenly...
Jarvis Steve Kemp Lerrin LaGrow Jim Leyland Mike Marshall Jack Morris LanceParrish Albie Pearson Dan Petry Rich Reese Jim Rooker Vern Ruhle Jason Thompson...
1994 to 1999, and a seventh when he tied with Víctor Martínez in 2004. LanceParrish won the American League award six times (1980, 1982–1984, 1986, and...
Hunter Parrish Tharp (born May 13, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He is known for playing the role of Silas Botwin in the Showtime series Weeds...
Pitcher Joaquín Andújar (STL) Ron Guidry (NYY) Catcher Tony Peña (PIT) LanceParrish (DET) First Baseman Keith Hernandez (NYM) Eddie Murray (BAL) Second...
Andrew Miller (2007) 2 x MLB All-Star Phil Nevin (1997) MLB All-Star LanceParrish (1975) 8 x MLB All-Star Dan Petry (1977, 1986) MLB All-Star Rick Porcello...
Saves; GF = Games finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts LanceParrish, AL Silver Slugger Award, catcher Alan Trammell, AL Gold Glove Award...
Bobby Murcer Joe Nathan Phil Nevin Jeff Newman Joe Niekro Dean Palmer LanceParrish Carlos Peña Dick Radatz Mark Redman Fernando Rodney Kenny Rogers Max...
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