Harry Parker: 1973 N.L. Champion Mets Relief Pitcher (1972 - 1975)

Harry William Parker was born on September 14, 1947, in Highland Park, Illinois. The six-foot three right hander was drafted in the fourth round of the 1965 draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 1967 at A ball Modesto Parker was 12-5 with a 2.80 ERA. He moved up the ranks of the minor leagues the next two years & in 1970 was 8-6 at AAA Tulsa when he made it to the big leagues. 

MLB Career: Parker made his debut at St. Louis on August 8th starting against the Montreal Expos allowing six runs over 5,1 innings. Two days later he earned his first career win pitching in relief against the San Diego Padres. Parker made seven appearances on the year.

In 1971 he was back at AAA Tulsa going 11-12 making a brief four game appearances in St. Louis that June. He only pitched 11 games in his first two seasons going 1-1 with 11 strike outs with a 5.11 ERA in 27 innings pitched. He showed great promise as a young pitcher and was sought after by the Mets.

Mets Career:  In October 1971 Parker was traded along with Jim Beauchamp, Chuck Taylor and Tom Coulter to the New York Mets in exchange for Art Shamsky, pitchers Rich Folkers, Jim Bibby and Charlie Hudson.

Parker spent the 1972 season at AAA Tidewater leading the Tides staff going 14-9 with a 2.61 ERA. 

1973 Mets Pennant Season: For the 1973 Mets pennant team, Parker became an important part of coach Rube Walkers pitching staff.

He began the season as a starter eventually filling in Jon Matlack’s spot when he went on the DL after being hit in the face with a line drive. 

On April 15th, Parker made his Mets debut, starting a game at Philadelphia facing the Phillies Jim Lonborg. Parker pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out six. In the 8th inning gave up a run allowing an RBI single to Deron Johnson, earning the 2-1 victory led by John Milner's two run HR. 

On April 21st, he won his second start as well pitching seven scoreless innings over the Expos at Shea Stadium, striking out seven. Tug McGraw came on to pitch two scoreless innings in the combined three hit shutout. 

Parker remained in the starting rotation, beating the Pirates for his third win. On May 16th he gave up three runs for the second straight start but still earned a win over the Expos to get to 4-0.  

On June 26th, Parker made his first relief appearance, coming in to relieve Jim McAndrew down 3-2 to the Giants at Shea, in the 6th inning. Ed Kranepool hit a two run HR & Felix Millan added another run putting New York ahead. He pitched into the 9th inning, when he put two men on & Phil Hennigan came on for the save. Parker earned the win getting to an impressive 5-0 with a 2.98 ERA. 

Parker made two more starts but lost both decisions. The Mets bullpen needed help, as Tug McGraw was struggling having trouble getting outs. With a strong starting rotation already, Parker was put in the bullpen to compensate for McGraw's problems.

Parker shifted into the reliever role quickly having a fine month of July, earning a win & three saves in nine appearances. On July 9th, he came into a tied game with Houston in the 9th inning. Parker pitched three scoreless innings, striking out four, earning the win when Felix Millan won it with a 12th innings walk off single.

Tug McGraw eventually settled down by the end of the August & regained his fireman’s role, Parker became what is known today as the set-up man the rest of the way. That term nor closer, was not yet used in 1973.

In the final two months of the year, he was 2-2 with two saves & one hold to his credit. Both his wins came against the Cardinals in long relief stints, where he pitched a total of seven scoreless innings in the two games.

On August 17th, he took a loss to the Reds at Shea Stadium when Hal King hit a 10th inning pinch hit HR off him. On September 26th, he took a loss to the Expos ending the Mets seven game win streak, keeping them atop the NL Easy by a half game. It was his last appearance of the regular season. The Mets clinched the NL East on the final day after three rain outs in Chicago.

Parker finished the regular season 8-4 with five saves and a 3.35 ERA. In 38 games, he made nine starts, pitched 96 innings, striking out 63 batters, walking 36 & allowing 79 hits.
                      

1973 Post Season- NLCS: In the 1973 post season Parker had a few bad breaks & some hard luck. In the NLCS win over the Reds he appeared in one game.

In Game #4 of the NLCS at Shea Stadium, he came in relief after George Stone & Tug McGraw had held the Cincinnati Reds to just one run over eleven innings. 

In the top of the 12th, Parker then surrendered a HR to Pete Rose. This came on the day after the legendary brawl between Bud Harrelson & Rose. At the time Rose was public enemy number one in New York.

Al Michaels the Reds broadcaster at the time said when he asked Rose what he was thinking when he rounded first base, Rose replied Sparky Anderson needs to get a left hander up with Rusty Staub leading off the bottom of the inning.

Parker took the loss, but the Mets went on to win Game #5 7 advance to the World Series.

1973 World Series: In the 1973 World Series loss to the Oakland A's, Harry made three appearances. He first appeared in the Game #2 twelve inning marathon in Oakland, pitching a scoreless 4th inning.

In Game #3 at Shea Stadium Parker entered a 2-2 tie game in the 11th inning. The game started out in a classic matchup between two of the game's best pitchers: Tom Seaver & Catfish Hunter. 

With one out, Parker walked Oakland pinch hitter Ted Kubiak. He then struck out Angel Mangual, but the ball sailed past catcher Jerry Grote, and Kubiak reached second base. Oakland’s rally continued as Bert Campaneris delivered a single to center field scoring Kubiak with what would be the games winning run.

Parker made one more appearance relieving Jon Matlack, pitching 1.1 innings of relief in Game #7.

Overall, in the World Series he appeared in three games, struck out two A’s & did not allow an earned run in 3.1 innings pitched.

After the Pennant: In 1974 Parker began the year with four scoreless relief appearances. On April 23rd, he allowed three runs in a 10-2 loss at San Diego. 

On April 28th he made a start in the second game of a double header against the Giants at Candlestick Park. He gave up three runs but earned the victory in a 6-4 win.

In May, Parker earned two saves, with two holds & two more losses. He was 1-3 but still posted a 2.31 ERA.

In June with the Mets staff in trouble, he found himself in the starting rotation again. From June 7th to June 22nd he lost four straight games, giving up ten earned runs in 22.1 innings with two HRs. 

On July 3rd he pitched into the 9th inning taking a 6-2 win over the Phillies at Shea. On July 8th, Parker pitched eight innings giving up a run to Padres for his second straight win to get to 3-7. Parker then lost three straight decisions, as he gave up five runs to the Padres then six runs to the Pirates falling to 3-10.

Complete Game: On August 12th at Shea Stadium, he went up against the Dodgers, Andy Messersmith who entered the game at 13-3. Parker ended up pitching the only complete game of his career, a one run nine hit performance against that years NL Champion Dodgers. 

But then lost his next two starts giving up four runs each time.

At the end of August, he was back in the bullpen & finished with a hard luck 4-12 season, posting a 3.92 ERA. He struck out 58 7 walked 46 in a career high 131 innings pitched in 40 appearances (16 starts). 

Trivia: In the Mets poor season, Parker's four saves were the most on the team. Five Mets pitchers notched saves on the season with a total of 14 overall.

1975: In the second game of the '75 season, Parker entered a 2-2 tie game in the top of the 11th inning. He allowed a double to the Phillies veteran Tony Taylor taking the loss. 

On April 27th, he earned a win in Montreal when the Mets came back from five runs down with a six-run 7th inning. Later on in June, he earned his second win of the season, also at Montreal as he came on in the 9th of a tied game. Parker pitched three scoreless relief innings as the Mets won it 5-2.

Parker took two losses where he gave up four runs each time, one to the Dodgers & the other to
the Pirates.

On July 20th Parker earned his last Mets save, coming against the Houston Astros at Shea Stadium. 

At the end of July, he was 2-3 with a 4.41 ERA in 18 appearances when the Mets sold his contract to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Post Mets Career: Harry appeared in only 17 more games over the next two seasons going 0-1 pitching in St. Louis & with the Cleveland Indians.

Career Stats: Parker finished his six-year career going 15-21 with 12 saves 172 strike outs 128 walks and a 3.85 ERA in 315 innings in 124 appearances.

Family: Harry's brother Jack Parker was a onetime infielder in the Cleveland Indians' organization.

Passing: In August of 2012 there were reports that Harry Parker had passed away but there was little information found to prove this as truth. Eventually Parkers nephew confirmed he had indeed passed away a few months earlier. He was just 64 years old.