STL MLB Player of the Week #12

This week’s STL player hails from across the river in ESTL. ESTL is still going through deindustrialization resulting in a steep decline of this blue-collar city. I am 46 years old and when I was very young my parents would take me to get my haircut at my Uncle Nick’s barbershop on Main Street. I don’t think I could do so now.

I digress, James “Salty” Parker was born in ESTL on July 8^th, 1912 and he died on July 27^th, 1992 in Houston. Salty was a shortstop with the Tigers. He had a brief MLB career and played with the Tigers from August 13, 1936 through September 16, 1936.  Salty was in 11 games, had 25 at bats, a .280 BA, scored 6 runs, had 7 hits, and drove in 4 runs with a OBP of .333. On December 2, 1936 he was traded by Indianapolis American Association to the Tigers along with one other player as a “player to be named later” for Dizzy Trout.

Following his major league career he became a minor league manager with a team in the DR. He also was a coach for the SF Giants (1958-1961), the Indians (1962), Angels of Where Ever (1964-1966 and 1973-74), Astros (1968-72). Salty briefly managed the Mets for 11 games in 1967 and one game for the Astros in 1972. Following his career as a coach he became a scout in the Houston area for the Angels of Where Ever. Salty was a also a coach for the Mariners’ Bellingham Mariners in 1987 and a coach in the Karl Young League and this is from the Astros Daily:

 "He was great for the Karl Young League. Salty would help anybody who asked him. He was one of the few people in baseball I knew who would never say a bad thing about anybody -- even if they couldn't field or play a lick."

Even though he had a short career as a player he has several cards as a coach with several teams including 1960 Topps #469 Giants Coaches, 1973 Topps #276 Angels Coaches, 1974 Topps #276 California Angle Coaches, and 1987 Seattle Mariners Bellingham Mariners 1987 team issue.