Wes Parker
Born: 11/13/1939 in Evanston, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1964-04-19 | Final Game: 1972-10-01
Bats: B | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Maurice Wesley Parker
Biography
Wes Parker was a distinguished first baseman and outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1972. Born in 1939, Parker made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he became known for his sharp defensive skills and consistent hitting. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,288 games, accumulating 1,110 hits, 64 home runs, and 470 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .267. His ability to get on base was complemented by his speed, as he also recorded 60 stolen bases, a notable feat for a player of his position during an era that emphasized power and contact hitting.
Parker's playing style was characterized by a blend of agility and solid fundamentals, which made him a valuable asset to the Dodgers during their competitive years in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He contributed to the team's success in several postseason appearances, including the 1965 World Series, where the Dodgers claimed the championship. Parker's significance in baseball history is marked not only by his individual statistics but also by his role in the Dodgers' storied legacy, making him a respected figure in the game's history. He retired in 1972, leaving behind a career that reflected the evolving nature of baseball during a time of significant change in the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1288 | 4157 | 548 | 1110 | 194 | 32 | 64 | 470 | 60 | 532 | 615 | 0.267 | 0.351 | 0.375 | 0.726 | 6696.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | LAD | NL | 124 | 214 | 29 | 55 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 14 | 45 | 0.257 | -275.4 |
| 1965 | LAD | NL | 154 | 542 | 80 | 129 | 24 | 7 | 8 | 51 | 13 | 75 | 95 | 0.238 | 262.6 |
| 1966 | LAD | NL | 156 | 475 | 67 | 120 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 51 | 7 | 69 | 83 | 0.253 | 934.4 |
| 1967 | LAD | NL | 139 | 413 | 56 | 102 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 10 | 65 | 83 | 0.247 | 780.5 |
| 1968 | LAD | NL | 135 | 468 | 42 | 112 | 22 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 4 | 49 | 87 | 0.239 | -64.5 |
| 1969 | LAD | NL | 132 | 471 | 76 | 131 | 23 | 4 | 13 | 68 | 4 | 56 | 46 | 0.278 | 1180.5 |
| 1970 | LAD | NL | 161 | 614 | 84 | 196 | 47 | 4 | 10 | 111 | 8 | 79 | 70 | 0.319 | 2545.7 |
| 1971 | LAD | NL | 157 | 533 | 69 | 146 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 62 | 6 | 63 | 63 | 0.274 | 448.8 |
| 1972 | LAD | NL | 130 | 427 | 45 | 119 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 59 | 3 | 62 | 43 | 0.279 | 883.5 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 36 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.278 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | WS | LAN | 4 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.231 |
| 1965 | WS | LAN | 7 | 23 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0.304 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1108 | 1009 | 9640 | 695 | 45 | 757 |
| OF | 155 | 94 | 211 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | LAN | 1B | 31 | 28 | 260 | 24 | 4 | 18 |
| 1964 | LAN | OF | 69 | 19 | 66 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | LAN | 1B | 154 | 150 | 1434 | 95 | 5 | 112 |
| 1965 | LAN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | LAN | 1B | 140 | 118 | 1118 | 70 | 9 | 74 |
| 1966 | LAN | OF | 14 | 9 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | LAN | 1B | 112 | 94 | 913 | 68 | 4 | 72 |
| 1967 | LAN | OF | 18 | 15 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | LAN | 1B | 114 | 96 | 939 | 69 | 1 | 74 |
| 1968 | LAN | OF | 28 | 28 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | LAN | 1B | 128 | 125 | 1189 | 79 | 6 | 87 |
| 1969 | LAN | OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | LAN | 1B | 161 | 161 | 1498 | 125 | 7 | 116 |
| 1971 | LAN | 1B | 148 | 127 | 1215 | 97 | 5 | 113 |
| 1971 | LAN | OF | 18 | 18 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1972 | LAN | 1B | 120 | 110 | 1074 | 68 | 4 | 91 |
| 1972 | LAN | OF | 5 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1107 |
| Left Field | 33 |
| Center Field | 52 |
| Right Field | 77 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1972 | Lou Gehrig Memorial Award | |
| 1971 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1970 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1969 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1968 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1967 | Gold Glove | 1B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 5th | 91.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1969 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 30th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |