Mark Parent, baseball player, 1986-1998

Mark Parent

Born: 9/16/1961 in Ashland, OR, USA

MLB Debut: 1986-09-20 | Final Game: 1998-09-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'5" | Weight: 215 lbs

Full name: Mark Alan Parent

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Biography

Mark Parent, born in 1961, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher and utility player from 1986 to 1998. Throughout his career, Parent played in a total of 474 games, where he showcased his skills behind the plate and contributed offensively. He recorded 279 hits, including 53 home runs, and drove in 168 runs, finishing with a batting average of .214. Known for his defensive prowess, Parent was a reliable backstop during his time, often called upon for his ability to manage pitchers and handle the rigors of the game. Playing primarily during the late 1980s and the 1990s, Parent was part of an era characterized by the emergence of powerful hitters and the evolution of the catcher’s role. Despite not having overwhelming offensive numbers, Parent's contributions were significant in the context of his teams, as he played for several franchises, including the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres. His career, while not filled with the accolades that some of his contemporaries achieved, was marked by resilience and a dedication to the game, making him a respected figure in the clubhouse and among fans. Parent retired from professional baseball in 1998, leaving behind a legacy as a steady and dependable player in the competitive landscape of Major League Baseball.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
474 1303 112 279 50 0 53 168 3 98 319 0.214 0.268 0.375 0.642 -2777.2

Career AVG .214 vs. league average .262 across their career seasons — 18.2% below league average.

Career OBP .268 vs. league average .330 across their career seasons — 18.8% below league average.

Career SLG .375 vs. league average .402 across their career seasons — 6.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.642 vs. league average 0.732 across their career seasons — 12.2% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1986 SDP NL 8 14 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0.143 — — — — 0.0
1987 SDP NL 12 25 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 9 0.080 — — — — 0.0
1988 SDP NL 41 118 9 23 3 0 6 15 0 6 23 0.195 .254 (-23%) .317 (-27%) .377 (-1%) .695 (-13%) -297.9
1989 SDP NL 52 141 12 27 4 0 7 21 1 8 34 0.191 .254 (-25%) .319 (-28%) .375 (-2%) .694 (-14%) -418.9
1990 SDP NL 65 189 13 42 11 0 3 16 1 16 29 0.222 .257 (-14%) .324 (-13%) .385 (-15%) .710 (-14%) -468.2
1991 TEX AL 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1992 BAL AL 17 34 4 8 1 0 2 4 0 3 7 0.235 — — — — 0.0
1993 BAL AL 22 54 7 14 2 0 4 12 0 3 14 0.259 .265 (-2%) .332 (-12%) .403 (+29%) .735 (+10%) 64.5
1994 CHC NL 44 99 8 26 4 0 3 16 0 13 24 0.263 .269 (-3%) .338 (+3%) .424 (-7%) .763 (-3%) -34.1
1995 PIT NL 69 233 25 54 9 0 15 33 0 23 62 0.232 .266 (-13%) .337 (-11%) .417 (+11%) .755 (+1%) 9.7
1995 CHC NL 12 32 5 8 2 0 3 5 0 3 7 0.250 — — — — 9.7
1996 DET AL 38 104 13 25 6 0 7 17 0 3 27 0.240 .269 (-11%) .340 (-24%) .426 (+17%) .767 (-1%) -80.0
1996 BAL AL 18 33 4 6 1 0 2 6 0 2 10 0.182 — — — — -80.0
1997 PHI NL 39 113 4 17 3 0 0 8 0 7 39 0.150 .266 (-44%) .336 (-41%) .419 (-58%) .756 (-50%) -1021.8
1998 PHI NL 34 113 7 25 4 0 1 13 1 10 30 0.221 .266 (-17%) .335 (-17%) .420 (-33%) .755 (-26%) -530.5

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
6 11 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.182

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1996 ALCS BAL 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.167
1996 ALDS1 BAL 4 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.200

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 2 0 6 0 0 0
C 427 365 2262 196 25 28

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1986 SDN C 3 3 16 0 2 0
1987 SDN C 10 4 36 3 0 0
1988 SDN C 36 33 203 15 3 3
1989 SDN 1B 1 0 5 0 0 0
1989 SDN C 41 36 241 17 0 2
1990 SDN C 60 55 324 31 3 6
1991 TEX C 3 0 5 0 0 0
1992 BAL C 16 11 73 7 1 1
1993 BAL C 21 15 83 5 1 0
1994 CHN C 37 30 184 21 5 3
1995 PIT C 67 63 364 39 4 1
1995 CHN C 10 8 66 5 0 0
1996 DET 1B 1 0 1 0 0 0
1996 DET C 33 29 158 14 1 4
1996 BAL C 18 11 73 3 1 1
1997 PHI C 38 35 225 21 1 2
1998 PHI C 34 32 211 15 3 5

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 427
First Base 2
Designated Hitter 1

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1998 PHI NL $400,000
1997 PHI NL $400,000
1996 BAL AL $109,000
1996 DET AL $500,000
1995 PIT NL $330,000
1994 CHN NL $260,000
1993 BAL AL $215,000
1992 BAL AL $180,000
1991 TEX AL $280,000
1990 SDN NL $190,000
1989 SDN NL $100,000
1988 SDN NL $65,000
Total Career Earnings $3,029,000