Freddy Parent

Who was Freddy Parent?

Frederick Alfred Parent was a professional baseball player. He played all or part of eleven seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1899 and 1911, for the St. Louis Perfectos, Boston Americans and Chicago White Sox, primarily as a shortstop. Parent batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Biddeford, Maine.

Listed at 5 ft 7 in, 154 lb., Parent was known primarily for his fielding skills, but he also was a solid hitter and an intelligent baserunner. Twice he hit .300, including a career-high .306 in 1901, and led American League in at bats in 1902. He broke up three no-hit bids, as he got his club's only hits in these games. At shortstop, his fine defensive plays saved four no-hitters, including Cy Young's perfect game. He also was a member of the Boston team who clinched in 1903 the first World Championship in major league history.

In a 12-season career, Parent was a .262 hitter with 20 home runs and 471 RBI in 1327 games, including 180 doubles, 74 triples, 633 runs and 184 stolen bases. In eight WS games, he hit .290 with eight runs and four RBI.

In the fall of 1960, Parent appeared on the television program I've Got A Secret alongside Pittsburgh Pirate Tommy Leach, as a commemoration of participating in the first World Series in 1903.