Larry Parrish was born in Winter Haven, Florida and his love for the game of baseball began there as well. His love for the game, and his great skill, led him to a stellar playing career as a Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played for the Montreal Expos (1974-81), Texas Rangers (1982-88) and the Boston Red Sox (1988).  His love for the game did not end when he stopped playing; however he is currently  the manager for the Toledo Mud Hens, the Triple AAA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and has enjoyed a successful coaching career as well.   

Parrish possesses many highlights in his career consisting of being a two-time All-Star in 1979 and 1987 and on July 3, 1978, Parrish hit three home-runs in one game.  He tied the all time MLB record set by Jim Northrup in 1968 by hitting three grand slams in a week on July 4th, 7th, and 10th 1982.  He has compiled four career 3-HR games.  He is also one of eight players to hit three home runs in a game in both leagues putting him on a list of names like Babe Ruth, Johnny Mize, Dave Kingman, Cory Snyder, Darnell Coles, Claudell Washington and Darryl Strawberry who were the others to do it.   

Parrish made his debut in 1974 at the age of 20, becoming one of the most feared hitters in the 1970’s and 80s, as he belted 20 or more home runs five times during his major league career. In 1979 Parrish was awarded Expos Player of the Year honors after hitting .307 with 30 homers and 82 RBI. Additionally, he ranks ninth on the Rangers’ all-time home run list (149) and eighth in RBI (522). He closed out his career by joining the Red Sox during the stretch run of the 1988 season, in which the team would win the American League East Division title. Parrish was a career .263 hitter with 256 home runs and 992 RBI in 1,891 games. In 13 career playoff games, he batted .182 with no home runs and 3 RBI’s. 

In 1992, Parrish started his managerial career as the Manager of Niagara Falls in the New York-Penn League and won the League Championship in 1993.  Parrish served as Detroit’s interim skipper in September of 1998, before being hired as the club’s manager for the 1999 season.  He garnered league manager of the year honors in 2005, in addition to being named the minor league manager of the year by The Sporting News magazine. 

Parrish attended Seminole (FL) Junior College. In high school he played baseball, basketball, and football.  He earned all-conference honors in both baseball and basketball at Haines City High School in 1971.  Currently, Parrish resides in Ft. Gaines, GA during the off-season and has three children; Jessica (26), Josh (22), and Amanda (18) and two grandchildren; Morgan and Bailey.