Former Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish has been elected to the International League's Hall of Fame, the league announced Tuesday.
The winningest manager in Toledo professional baseball history with 569 victories, Parrish served as the Mud Hens manager for a record eight seasons, highlighted by back-to-back Governors' Cup championships in 2005 and 2006. Parrish ranks fifth among all-time Toledo managers in winning percentage (.508) with his career record of 569-551.
Parrish first managed the Mud Hens in 1994, when he took over for Joe Sparks and led that team to a 56-62 record. He returned as Toledo's manager in 2003 and led the Mud Hens through 2010 -- missing the 2007 season because of health problems.
In 2005 Parrish led the Hens to an 89-55 record, the best mark in Triple-A baseball, and the franchise's first Governors' Cup title since 1967 (and just the second overall). He was named IL manager of the year and The Sporting News named him minor league manager of the year after that season.
The next season Parrish and the Hens posted a 76-66 record and tied for first in the IL's West Division. After winning a one-game playoff with Indianapolis to earn a playoff berth, Toledo beat Charlotte and Rochester to claim a second straight Governors' Cup.
Parrish, who also managed the Tigers in 1998-99, departed Toledo in 2011 to become hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves, but he rejoined the Detroit organization and next season he will manage the Hi-A West Michigan Whitecaps.
Parrish played 15 seasons in the major leagues with Montreal, Texas and Boston. He hit 256 home runs in his career and was selected to all-star teams in 1979 and 1987.
The two other members of the IL's Class of 2013 are outfielder Mack Jones and third baseman Don Richmond, both of whom will be inducted posthumously.
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