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Manager Larry Parrish became the all-time winningest manager in Toledo professional baseball history July 6 as the Mud Hens defeated Columbus, 9-4. The win was No. 541 for Parrish, passing Cal Ermer (manager for Toledo 1978-85).
On July 24, Parrish will be recognized as such in a pre-game ceremony prior to the game versus Buffalo. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the pre-game presentation scheduled for approximately 6:40 p.m.
Also, the team will recognize hitting coach Leon “Bull” Durham and athletic trainer Matt Rankin for their dedication and service to the team as both are celebrating their 10th season with Toledo.
Parrish is in his seventh season as Mud Hens manager. The 56-year-old led the club to Governors’ Cup championships in 2005 and 2006 and was named the 2005 Sporting News Manager of the Year. Parrish has guided the Hens to a 541-522 record (.509) since 2003 and currently ranks second in Toledo history in games managed at 1,063 (Ermer – 1,115).
This is Parrish’s 13th season overall as a manager. He has a career record of 745-727. Along with his Governors’ Cup titles with Toledo, Parrish led Single-A Niagara Falls to a New York-Penn League championship in 1993 and the Double-A Jacksonville Suns to the 1996 Southern League championship. He managed 185 games for the Detroit Tigers from 1998-99, compiling a record of 82-104.
However, the Hens during one stretch lost 11 straight games on the field. Their last victory before the streak began occurred on June 24 at Louisville. The losing skid ties the modern-era record (1965-present) for the most consecutive losses, tying the 1990 and 1999 losing streaks.
Although the Hens have tied the losing streak record, fans continue to support the team in huge numbers. Attendance for the most recent seven-game home stand was 61,940 (8,849 per game) and included five sell-outs.
Additionally, Scarborough Market Research recently released the latest data re-stating that the Toledo Mud Hens are the most popular Minor League Baseball Team in the USA. On a national level, 28 percent of fans that attend Minor League Baseball games indicate that they are very or somewhat interested in Minor League Baseball, with the Hens’ attendees coming in at No. 1 at 36 percent.
Fifth Third Field has sold-out 17 times this season in 42 home dates. Toledo has played in front of sold-out crowds in 15 of the last 25 home games.
So far this season, 317,238 fans have come out to enjoy Mud Hens baseball. That is an average of 7,553 per game in 42 home dates. Toledo has 28 home dates left on this year’s schedule.
Six of Triple-A’s top sluggers, including one Mud Hen, competed in the annual Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby on July 12 at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The derby was held in conjunction with the 2010 Triple-A All-Star Game, a matchup between the top players from the International League and Pacific Coast League that took place at Coca-Cola Park onJuly 14 on MLB Network.
The three players who share the lead in Triple-A Baseball with 22 home runs this season headline the field, including the International League leader Dan Johnson of Durham. Joining him from the IL will be Jeff Frazier of Toledo, who has 15 home runs, and Bowling Green native Andy Tracy of the host Lehigh Valley IronPigs, owner of 12 long balls this season.
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