Frank Parkinson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Frank Joseph "Parky" Parkinson (March 23, 1895 - July 4, 1960) was an American professional baseball
player.
immigrants , Frank "Parky" Parkinson was born in Dickson City, Pennsylvania
on March 23, 1895. When he was a year old the family moved to Trenton, New Jersey
By the age of 15 he had quit school and was working as a laborer in a car shop. In 1917 when the United States
entered WWI, Parkinson enlisted in the Army. He served 2 years with the 35th Engineers,Company I before he was honorably discharged.
between 1921 and 1924. His first game was April 13, 1921 at the Baker Bowl
in Philadelphia against the New York Giants
. He was a 26 year old rookie, like most men of his generation his career was put on hold while fighting in Europe during World War I
Parkinson was right-handed and primarily played second base, although he was occasionally used as a third baseman and a shortstop. In 378 lifetime games, he had 335 hits and batted .256; his 93 strikeouts in 1922 led the National League
. His total of 562 assists
in 1922 at second base is among the highest all-time for a single season.
After his stint with the Phillies, Parkinson played several years in minor league
s, signing with the Nashville Vols
in 1925 and the Pittsfield Hillies
in 1927-28.
Parkinson's obituary
from The Trenton Evening Times stated that "Parkinson's best day with the Phillies was Labor Day 1922 when he hit two home runs and two doubles to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 7 to 6. He set was then a fielding record with 12 putouts and assists without an error"
A knee injury effectively ended Parkinson's career 1929.
. They had no children and remained married until his death in 1960. Prior to his death he worked for the Trenton Board of Education and remained active in local Minor Leaugue Baseball administration.
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.
Early life
One of seven sons and two daughters born to GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
immigrants , Frank "Parky" Parkinson was born in Dickson City, Pennsylvania
Dickson City, Pennsylvania
Dickson City is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, north of Scranton. Coal mining had been an important industry in the past. Some of the population totals follow: in 1900, 4,948; in 1910, 9,331; in 1920, 11,049; and in 1940, 11,548...
on March 23, 1895. When he was a year old the family moved to Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
By the age of 15 he had quit school and was working as a laborer in a car shop. In 1917 when the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered WWI, Parkinson enlisted in the Army. He served 2 years with the 35th Engineers,Company I before he was honorably discharged.
Professional career
Parkinson played for the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia 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...
between 1921 and 1924. His first game was April 13, 1921 at the Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl is the best-known popular name of a baseball park that formerly stood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Its formal name, painted on its outer wall, was National League Park. It was also initially known as Philadelphia Park or Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds.It was on a small...
in Philadelphia against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was a 26 year old rookie, like most men of his generation his career was put on hold while fighting in Europe during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Parkinson was right-handed and primarily played second base, although he was occasionally used as a third baseman and a shortstop. In 378 lifetime games, he had 335 hits and batted .256; his 93 strikeouts in 1922 led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. His total of 562 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...
in 1922 at second base is among the highest all-time for a single season.
After his stint with the Phillies, Parkinson played several years in minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
s, signing with the Nashville Vols
Nashville Vols
The Nashville Vols were a minor league baseball team based in Nashville, Tennessee from 1901 to 1963; the team was inactive in 1962. Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they were officially named the Nashville Volunteers in 1908 for the state's nickname, The...
in 1925 and the Pittsfield Hillies
Pittsfield Hillies
The Pittsfield Hillies was an Eastern League baseball team from 1919 to 1930. They were League Champions in 1919 and 1921.Their home field was at Wahconah Park, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.-1905:...
in 1927-28.
Parkinson's obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
from The Trenton Evening Times stated that "Parkinson's best day with the Phillies was Labor Day 1922 when he hit two home runs and two doubles to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 7 to 6. He set was then a fielding record with 12 putouts and assists without an error"
A knee injury effectively ended Parkinson's career 1929.
Personal life
Parkinson married Margaret Ferry on October 18, 1924 in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. They had no children and remained married until his death in 1960. Prior to his death he worked for the Trenton Board of Education and remained active in local Minor Leaugue Baseball administration.