Wes Parker
Encyclopedia
Maurice Wesley Parker III (born November 13, 1939 in Evanston, Illinois
) is a former first baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
from to . He also played one season in Japan for the Nankai Hawks
in .
As of 2009, Parker is a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers
organization serving as a representative of the Dodgers Legend Bureau.
award for first base every year from to 1972. He was also part of the Dodgers World Series
team. Parker was a Cincinnati Reds
broadcaster in .
In a game against the New York Mets in May, 1970, Parker hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, and home run in the same game). He was the last Los Angeles Dodger to accomplish that feat until Orlando Hudson did it against the San Francisco Giants on April 13, 2009.
On August 21, 2007, Parker was named to the Major League Baseball
All-time Gold Glove Team, and is the only eligible member of the team who is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame
.http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07234/811341-63.stm
He appeared in episode #17 of The Brady Bunch
, "The Undergraduate" (1/23/70), as the boyfriend of Greg Brady's math teacher, on whom Greg has such a huge crush that he is distracted in his studies. Parker promises Greg two tickets to Opening Day if he scores an "A" on the next test.
Parker worked as a television color analyst for the Cincinnati Reds
(1973), NBC (1978–79), and USA Network
(1980–83).
, but because of a family situation, he transferred to USC and graduated from there.
Wes Parker had a son in 1967 with then girlfriend, Patricia Randall, who was an acting coach and Broadway actress.
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
) is a former first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in 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...
who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
from to . He also played one season in Japan for the Nankai Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
in .
As of 2009, Parker is a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
organization serving as a representative of the Dodgers Legend Bureau.
Playing career
Parker batted a career high of .319 in 1970, joining a small group of players to drive in over 100 runs while hitting 10 homers or less. Known as one of the slickest fielding first basemen of all time, he won the National League Gold Glove AwardGold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
award for first base every year from to 1972. He was also part of the Dodgers World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
team. Parker was a Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
broadcaster in .
In a game against the New York Mets in May, 1970, Parker hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, and home run in the same game). He was the last Los Angeles Dodger to accomplish that feat until Orlando Hudson did it against the San Francisco Giants on April 13, 2009.
On August 21, 2007, Parker was named to the 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...
All-time Gold Glove Team, and is the only eligible member of the team who is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
.http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07234/811341-63.stm
Retirement
In 1972, Parker retired from the Major League Baseball and played in Japanese professional baseball in 1974, which was his last year of baseball career. After the retirement, Wes Parker became an actor and participated in a number of movies.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662696/He appeared in episode #17 of The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
, "The Undergraduate" (1/23/70), as the boyfriend of Greg Brady's math teacher, on whom Greg has such a huge crush that he is distracted in his studies. Parker promises Greg two tickets to Opening Day if he scores an "A" on the next test.
Parker worked as a television color analyst for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1973), NBC (1978–79), and USA Network
The USA Thursday Game of the Week
The USA Thursday Game of the Week is a former television program that broadcast Major League Baseball games on the USA Network.-Background:...
(1980–83).
Personal life
Parker grew up in West Los Angeles. He is the only Major League Baseball player to have attended Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college and a member of the Claremont Colleges located in Claremont, California. The campus is located east of Downtown Los Angeles...
, but because of a family situation, he transferred to USC and graduated from there.
Wes Parker had a son in 1967 with then girlfriend, Patricia Randall, who was an acting coach and Broadway actress.