100 Greatest Red Sox >> #86 Freddy Parent

Freddy Parent, SS, (1901-1907)

986 g, 1051 h, 129 sb, 519 r, .273 avg, .310 obp, .361 slg

Born on November 25, 1875 in Biddeford, ME, Freddy Parent was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on July 14, 1899, with the St. Louis Perfectos (Cardinals). When early baseball history was being made, this 5'5" Maine native was often around. In 1901 at the age of 25, Parent became the shortstop for the Boston Americans (Red Sox).

In the 1903 inaugural World Series, Parent was still the team's starting shortstop. He scored the first run in the deciding 8th game of the 1903 World Series, won the by Boston 3-0 over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boston won the AL pennant again in 1904, but the NL Champion NY Giants refused to play the World Series, denying Parent a chance at a 2nd championship. Parent played for Boston through 1907, then was traded to Chicago. He finshed up his career with the White Sox from 1908-1911.

In 986 games with the Red Sox, Parent batted 3846 times(24th most), amassed 1051 hits (tied with Jimmy Foxx for 25th best), including 63 triples (11th best). He scored 519 runs and finished with a Red Sox batting average of .273. Nearly 100 years after he played, Parent still ranks 6th among all time Red Sox stolen base leaders with 129 steals. Parent passed away in 1972 at the age of 96. At the time he had been the last surviving member of the first modern World Series.

Player biography written by jecarney