Lance Parrish was six time All-Star, won three Gold Gloves as a catcher and was voted four times the top American League's top slugging catcher. Parrish joined the Detroit Tigers in 1977 and provided top offensive numbers but struggled defensively. In 1979, he led the AL in passed balls with 21 and also led the league with 17 in 1980. The Tigers hired former catcher Bill Freehan to work with Parrish and immediately Lance became a All-Star catcher. In the All-Star game of 1982, Parrish threw out three NL base runners attempting to steal. In 1982, Parrish hit 32 home runs, batted .284 with 87 RBI's. He won Gold Gloves in 1983 thru 1985 and in the World Series of 1984 powered a homer in the final game to help the Tigers win the World Title. As a free agent in 1987, Lance signed with the Phillies and was traded to the Angels in October of 1988. Lance Parrish's career stats: .253 batting average, 291 D, 317 HR's, 1032 RBI's in 1878 games, slugging pct .445. |