{{Short description|American baseball player (1895–1978)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Slicker Parks |image=Slicker Parks.png |caption=Vernon H. "Slicker" Parks, captain of Michigan's 1920 baseball team |position=Pitcher |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{birth date|1895|11|10}} |birth_place=Dallas, Michigan, U.S. |death_date={{death date and age|1978|2|21|1895|11|10}} |death_place=Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=July 11 |debutyear=1921 |debutteam=Detroit Tigers |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=September 4 |finalyear=1921 |finalteam=Detroit Tigers |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Win–loss record |stat1value=3-2 |stat2label=Earned run average |stat2value=5.68 |stat3label=Strikeouts |stat3value=10 |teams= *Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|1921}}) }}
'''Vernon Henry "Slicker" Parks''' (November 10, 1895 – February 21, 1978) was an American baseball player. He played Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers in 1921 and also played college baseball for the Michigan Wolverines baseball team (1919–1920) and minor league baseball for the Portland Beavers (1920), Seattle Indians (1922), Syracuse Stars (1922–1925), Jersey City Skeeters (1926–1927), and seven other teams from 1926 to 1932.
==Early life== Parks was born in Fowler, Clinton County, Michigan, in November 1895.<ref>Draft Registration Card for Vernon Henry Parks dated May 21, 1917. Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 [database on-line]. Registration Location: Washtenaw County, Michigan; Roll: 1682904; Draft Board: 0.</ref> At the time of the 1900 Census, Parks was living with his grandparents, Jacob and Anne Drake, his parents Henry Albert and Eloise Parks in Dallas Township, Michigan. Both his father and grandfather were identified as farmers in the Census record.<ref>Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Census Place: Dallas, Clinton, Michigan; Roll: T623_707; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 6.</ref> In 1910, he was living with his parents and brothers, Glen and Leon, in Greenbush Township, Clinton County, Michigan. His father was identified as a farmer working his own farm.<ref>Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Census Place: Greenbush, Clinton, Michigan; Roll: T624_643; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0010; Image: 844; FHL Number: 1374656.</ref>
==University of Michigan== Parks attended the University of Michigan, where he played college baseball for the Wolverines' Big Ten Conference championship teams of 1919 and 1920.<ref>{{cite news|title=This Fellow Some Day May Gain Major League Fame; He's Michigan's Star Moundsman Now|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=June 15, 1919|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1775102872.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+15%2C+1919&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=This+Fellow+Some+Day+May+Gain+Major+League+Fame%3B+He%27s+Michigan%27s+Star+Moundsman+Now&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202181224/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1775102872.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+15,+1919&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=This+Fellow+Some+Day+May+Gain+Major+League+Fame;+He's+Michigan's+Star+Moundsman+Now&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2013}}</ref> He was recognized as the best pitcher in the Big Ten both years.<ref name=Chime/> He was also elected as the captain of the 1920 team and then re-elected as the captain of the 1921 Michigan team. However, he was declared ineligible soon after spring practice in 1921 for having played professional baseball.<ref name=Chime>{{cite news|title=The 'Slicker', The Coach, and The Captain|newspaper=Chimes, Vol. II|page=6|date=May 1921|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WBriAAAAMAAJ}}</ref><ref name=Adler>{{cite book|author=Rich Adler|title=Baseball at the University of Michigan|publisher=Acadia Publishing|year=2004|page=62|isbn=0-7385-3221-5}}</ref> A Chicago newspaper published a photograph of Parks playing for the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League under the name Harold Brooks.<ref name=MA/><ref>{{cite news|title='SLICKER' PARKS IS IDENTIFIED AS 'PRO' BALL STAR|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune|author=Frank Smith|date=March 19, 1921|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/363456782.html?dids=363456782:363456782&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+19%2C+1921&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=%27SLICKER%27+PARKS+IS+IDENTIFIED+AS+%27PRO%27+BALL+STAR&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201025123/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/363456782.html?dids=363456782:363456782&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+19,+1921&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc='SLICKER'+PARKS+IS+IDENTIFIED+AS+'PRO'+BALL+STAR&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> After the exposure, Parks resigned from the team and from the captaincy.<ref name=MA>{{cite news|title=Athletics|newspaper=The Michigan Alumnus, Vol. 27|page=443|date=April 1921|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tR_iAAAAMAAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SLICKER PARKS PLEADS GUILTY, TO JOIN TIGERS: Michigan Captain Admits Playing With Portland Team of Pacific Coast League; VAN BOVEN MADE CAPT; Former Wolverine Star Will Play for Detroit After June, Is Announcement|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=March 22, 1921|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1778710892.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+22%2C+1921&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=SLICKER+PARKS+PLEADS+GUILTY%2C+TO+JOIN+TIGERS&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201072138/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1778710892.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+22,+1921&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=SLICKER+PARKS+PLEADS+GUILTY,+TO+JOIN+TIGERS&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> A student publication defended Parks and advocated a revised definition of the "professional" player, noting that Parks was in need of financial support and "should be allowed to play summer ball so that he may be able to finish his college course."<ref>{{cite news|title=The College Professional|newspaper=Chimes, Vol. II|page=27|date=May 1921|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WBriAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> During his time at the University of Michigan, Parks became a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.<ref>Adams, F.T. "Sigma - University of Michigan" ''Purple Green and Gold.'' April 1921.</ref>
==Professional career== After leaving the Michigan team, Parks signed to play with Bill Niesen's Pyotts in April 1921 and with the Detroit Tigers starting July 1, 1921.<ref>{{cite news|title='Slicker' Parks Will Play With Pyott Nine|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|date=April 3, 1921|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jS5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SmANAAAAIBAJ&pg=3199,7768888&dq=slicker-parks&hl=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='SLICKER' PARKS TO PLAY WITH PYOTTS, THEN WITH TIGERS|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=April 2, 1921|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/363487812.html?dids=363487812:363487812&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+02%2C+1921&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=%27SLICKER%27+PARKS+TO+PLAY+WITH+PYOTTS%2C+THEN+WITH+TIGERS&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715033445/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/363487812.html?dids=363487812:363487812&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+02,+1921&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc='SLICKER'+PARKS+TO+PLAY+WITH+PYOTTS,+THEN+WITH+TIGERS&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2012}}</ref>
Parks played one season, 1921, in Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.<ref>{{cite news|title=WILL RETAIN PITCHER: Detroit Tigers Decide Not to Send Vernon Parks to Minors|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 30, 1921|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1921/08/30/98724627.pdf}}</ref> Playing for Ty Cobb's Tigers in 1921, Slicker Parks appeared in 10 games, one as a starter. He won 3 games and lost 2, giving up 16 earned runs in 25-1/3 innings for an earned run average of 5.68. He had one hit (a single) and one walk in nine at bats for a batting average of .111 and an on-base percentage of .200. He was not charged with any errors and finished his brief career with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Parks married Violet Bradt of Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, in December 1921 at Windsor, Ontario, Canada.<ref>Marriage Certificate for Vernon H. Parks, student at University of Michigan and Violet Bradt. Ancestry.com [on-line database]. Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801–1926.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Slicker' Parks Is Bridegroom|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=January 4, 1922|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1785131922.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+04%2C+1922&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=%27Slicker%27+Parks+Is+Bridegroom&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201022524/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1785131922.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+04,+1922&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc='Slicker'+Parks+Is+Bridegroom&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref>
Although he never returned to the Major Leagues after 1921, Parks continued playing professional baseball through the 1932 season. He played in the minor leagues for the Seattle Indians (1922), Syracuse Stars (1922–1925), Jersey City Skeeters (1926–1927), and seven other teams from 1926 to 1932.<ref name=BRM>{{cite web|title=Slicker Parks Minor League Statistics|publisher=baseball-reference.com|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=parks-001ver}}</ref> In 1926, he won 19 games and lost 14 for Jersey City with a 2.62 earned run average.<ref name=BRM/>
Parks died in Royal Oak, Michigan.<ref name=BR>{{cite web|title=Slicker Parks|publisher=baseball-reference.com|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parkssl01.shtml}}</ref><ref>Death record for Vernon Parks, born November 10, 1895; died February 1978; last residence Royal Oak, Michigan. Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line].</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Baseballstats |br=p/parkssl01 |brm=parks-001ver |retro=P/Pparks101}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parks, Slicker}} Category:1895 births Category:1978 deaths Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Detroit Tigers players Category:Michigan Wolverines baseball players Category:Baseball players from Michigan Category:People from Fowler, Michigan Category:Sportspeople from Clinton County, Michigan Category:20th-century American sportsmen