Slicker Parks
Encyclopedia
Vernon Henry "Slicker" Parks (November 10, 1895 – February 21, 1978) was an American
baseball
player. He played Major League Baseball
player for the Detroit Tigers
in 1921 and also played college baseball
for the Michigan Wolverines baseball
team (1919–1920) and minor league baseball for the Portland Beavers
(1920), Seattle Indians (1922), Syracuse Stars
(1922–1925), Jersey City Skeeters
(1926–1927), and seven other teams from 1926 to 1932.
Parks was born in Fowler
, Clinton County, Michigan
, in November 1895. At the time of the 1900 Census, Parks was living with his grandparents, Jacob and Anne Drake, his parents Henry Albert and Eloise Parks in Dallas Township, Michigan
. Both his father and grandfather were identified as farmers in the Census record. In 1910, he was living with his parents and brothers, Glen and Leon, in Greenbush Township, Clinton County, Michigan
. His father was identified as a farmer working his own farm.
Parks attended the University of Michigan
, where he played college baseball for the Wolverines' Big Ten Conference championship teams of 1919 and 1920. He was recognized as the best pitcher in the Big Ten both years. He was also elected as the captain of the 1920 team and then re-elected as the captain of the 1921 Michigan team. However, he was declared ineligible soon after spring practice in 1921 for having played professional baseball. A Chicago newspaper published a photograph of Parks playing for the Portland Beavers
of the Pacific Coast League
under the name Harold Brooks. After the exposure, Parks resigned from the team and from the captaincy. A student publication defended Parks and advocated a revised definition of the "professional" player, noting that Parks was in need of financial support and "should be allowed to play summer ball so that he may be able to finish his college course." During his time at the University of Michigan, Parks became a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
.
After leaving the Michigan team, Parks signed to play with Bill Niesen's Pyotts in April 1921 and with the Detroit Tigers
starting July 1, 1921.
Parks played one season, 1921, in Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
. Playing for Ty Cobb
's Tigers in 1921, Slicker Parks appeared in 10 games, one as a starter. He won 3 games and lost 2, giving up 16 earned runs in 25-1/3 innings for an earned run average of 5.68. He had one hit (a single) and one walk in nine at bats for a batting average of .111 and an on base percentage of .200. He was not charged with any errors and finished his brief career with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Parks married Violet Bradt of Kingsville, Ontario
, Canada
, in December 1921 at Windsor, Ontario
, Canada.
Although he never returned to the Major Leagues after 1921, Parks continued playing professional baseball through the 1932 season. He played in the minor leagues for the Seattle Indians (1922), Syracuse Stars
(1922–1925), Jersey City Skeeters
(1926–1927), and seven other teams from 1926 to 1932. In 1926, he won 19 games and lost 14 for Jersey City with a 2.62 earned run average
.
Parks died in Royal Oak, Michigan
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
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. He played Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1921 and also played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
for the Michigan Wolverines baseball
Michigan Wolverines baseball
The Michigan Wolverines baseball team represents the University of Michigan in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Michigan athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Big Ten Conference...
team (1919–1920) and minor league baseball for the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
(1920), Seattle Indians (1922), Syracuse Stars
Syracuse Stars
The Syracuse Stars were a minor professional ice hockey team from Syracuse, New York, existing for 10 season from 1930 to 1940. The Stars name had previously been used by sports teams, including several Syracuse Stars baseball teams from the 19th century....
(1922–1925), Jersey City Skeeters
Jersey City Skeeters
The Jersey City Skeeters were a minor league baseball team which operated in Jersey City, New Jersey. The club started in the 1860s and by 1870 joined the National Association of Base Ball Players....
(1926–1927), and seven other teams from 1926 to 1932.
Parks was born in Fowler
Fowler, Michigan
Fowler is a village in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census.- History :Originally called "Dallas", Fowler was created when John Parks settled the area and became its first postmaster in 1849....
, Clinton County, Michigan
Clinton County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
, in November 1895. At the time of the 1900 Census, Parks was living with his grandparents, Jacob and Anne Drake, his parents Henry Albert and Eloise Parks in Dallas Township, Michigan
Dallas Township, Michigan
Dallas Township is a civil township of Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,323 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*Fowler is located within the township on M-21.-Geography:...
. Both his father and grandfather were identified as farmers in the Census record. In 1910, he was living with his parents and brothers, Glen and Leon, in Greenbush Township, Clinton County, Michigan
Greenbush Township, Clinton County, Michigan
Greenbush Township is a civil township of Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,115 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
. His father was identified as a farmer working his own farm.
Parks attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he played college baseball for the Wolverines' Big Ten Conference championship teams of 1919 and 1920. He was recognized as the best pitcher in the Big Ten both years. He was also elected as the captain of the 1920 team and then re-elected as the captain of the 1921 Michigan team. However, he was declared ineligible soon after spring practice in 1921 for having played professional baseball. A Chicago newspaper published a photograph of Parks playing for the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
under the name Harold Brooks. After the exposure, Parks resigned from the team and from the captaincy. A student publication defended Parks and advocated a revised definition of the "professional" player, noting that Parks was in need of financial support and "should be allowed to play summer ball so that he may be able to finish his college course." During his time at the University of Michigan, Parks became a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
.
After leaving the Michigan team, Parks signed to play with Bill Niesen's Pyotts in April 1921 and with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
starting July 1, 1921.
Parks played one season, 1921, in Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Playing for Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
's Tigers in 1921, Slicker Parks appeared in 10 games, one as a starter. He won 3 games and lost 2, giving up 16 earned runs in 25-1/3 innings for an earned run average of 5.68. He had one hit (a single) and one walk in nine at bats for a batting average of .111 and an on base percentage of .200. He was not charged with any errors and finished his brief career with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Parks married Violet Bradt of Kingsville, Ontario
Kingsville, Ontario
The Town of Kingsville is located in Essex County in southwestern Ontario, Canada, and is Canada's southernmost municipality with town status. According to the 2006 census, the population of Kingsville is 20,908.-Geography:...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, in December 1921 at Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Canada.
Although he never returned to the Major Leagues after 1921, Parks continued playing professional baseball through the 1932 season. He played in the minor leagues for the Seattle Indians (1922), Syracuse Stars
Syracuse Stars
The Syracuse Stars were a minor professional ice hockey team from Syracuse, New York, existing for 10 season from 1930 to 1940. The Stars name had previously been used by sports teams, including several Syracuse Stars baseball teams from the 19th century....
(1922–1925), Jersey City Skeeters
Jersey City Skeeters
The Jersey City Skeeters were a minor league baseball team which operated in Jersey City, New Jersey. The club started in the 1860s and by 1870 joined the National Association of Base Ball Players....
(1926–1927), and seven other teams from 1926 to 1932. In 1926, he won 19 games and lost 14 for Jersey City with a 2.62 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
Parks died in Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
.