Whitecaps hire Parrish as manager

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (WOOD) - A former manager of the Detroit Tigers will now lead the West Michigan Whitecaps.

The Midwest League team announced Tuesday it has hired Larry Parrish as its new manager.

Parrish will replace Ernie Young whose contract was not renewed, as the Whitecaps finished this season with a record of 72-68. Young was 142-137 during his two seasons with the Whitecaps.

The 58-year-old Parrish is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played with the Montreal Expos (1974–81), Texas Rangers (1982–88) and Boston Red Sox (1988). He also played two seasons in Japan (1989-1990).

Parrish had an MLB career .263 batting average with 256 home runs and 992 RBI.

After retiring, Parrish became a full-time coach within the Detroit Tigers organization. In 1992, he was named the manager for the Single-A Niagara Falls of the New York-Penn League, and won the league championship in 1993.

In 1995, he was named the roving hitting instructor for the Tigers minor league system. In 1996, he was the manager of the Double-A Jacksonville Suns, where he won another league championship the same year.

Parrish then served as bench coach under Tigers manager Buddy Bell for the 1997 season and part of the 1998 season before Bell was fired. Parrish was promoted as the replacement, and managed the Tigers from 1998-1999, compiling an 82-104 record, through their final season at Tiger Stadium.

Phil Garner replaced Parrish for the 2000 season.

Parrish remained in the Tigers organization as a scout from 2000–2002. In 2003, he became the manager for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens of the International League.

In 2005, Parrish managed the Mud Hens to the International League title and named the Minor League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News. The Mud Hens repeated as champions the following year.

After the 2010 season, Parrish became the hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves for only the 2011 season.