Salty Parker

Major League Baseball infielder, coach, and manager

What is Salty Parker known for?

Francis James "Salty" Parker, born on July 8, 1912, in East St. Louis, Illinois, was an impressive force in the realm of baseball. He was an infielder, manager, and a coach, contributing to the sport for over 60 years. Salty's baseball journey started in his early years, where he played baseball for four years at Granite City High School, in Granite City, Illinois, before pursuing a professional career.

Salty began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues, playing for teams like the Moline Plowboys, Beaumont Exporters, and Toledo Mud Hens between 1930 and 1936. His major league baseball debut came as an infielder for the Detroit Tigers in the 1936 season. However, an unfortunate shoulder injury in 1937 didn't stop him, and he continued playing in the minor leagues with teams like Indianapolis Indians, Tulsa Oilers, and Montreal Royals.

Yet, his contributions to baseball weren't limited to playing. He managed several minor league teams, including the Shreveport Sports, Temple Eagles, Tyler Tigers, El Dorado Oilers, Danville Leafs, Dallas Eagles, and Cedar Rapids Giants. He also coached, scouted, or instructed for a number of major league teams like the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, Houston Astros, California Angels, and Seattle Mariners.

Notably, Salty also had brief stints as the interim manager of the Mets for the final 11 games of the 1967 season and the Astros for one game in 1972. Acknowledging his significant contributions to the sport, he was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Sadly, Salty passed away on July 27, 1992, in Houston, Texas.

As well as being a sportsman, he was also a versatile athlete in his early life. During his high school years, apart from playing baseball, he played as a quarterback in the football team, forward on the basketball team, and even participated in track events. His athletic abilities earned him all-conference honors in both basketball and football. He was indeed an embodiment of dedication and passion towards sports, with his legacy casting a long shadow over baseball history.