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Syracuse Mets

IL Announces Hall of Fame Class, Former Syracuse Slugger Mack Jones to be Inducted

January 29, 2013 - International League (IL1)
Syracuse Mets News Release


The International League announced today that former outfielder Mack Jones (posthumously), manager Larry Parrish, and third baseman Don Richmond (posthumously) will be inducted into the circuit's Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2013. The three men were elected to the IL Hall by a vote of living Hall of Famers, longtime executives, broadcasters, and members of the media.

Members of the Class of 2013 have been added to the International League Hall of Fame plaque display. The inductees or their families will be presented with "The Curtain Call" statue during individual enshrinement ceremonies to take place during the coming season. The IL Hall of Fame plaque display does not have a permanent home, but rather serves as a traveling testament to the storied legacy of the International League.

Former outfielder Mack Jones hit .316 over two seasons with Toronto, but he will be long-remembered in Syracuse for his 1964 campaign, one of the greatest in franchise history. As an IL All-Star, Jones led the League in home runs, RBI, and runs scored, and his totals for triples, total bases, runs, and RBI remain Syracuse single-season records. The popular slugger went on to a Major League career in which he played over 1,000 games with the Braves, Reds, and Expos. Jones passed away in 2004.

The winningest manager in the history of the Toledo Mud Hens, Larry Parrish, earns induction just three years removed from his last game in the International League. The former big league All-Star served as the Mud Hens manager for a record eight seasons, highlighted by back-to-back Governors' Cup championships in 2005 and 2006. Parrish departed Toledo in 2011 to become hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves, but he rejoined the Detroit organization for the 2013 season where he'll be skipper of the Class-A West Michigan Whitecaps.

Rounding out the Class of 2013 is two-time IL Batting Champion Don Richmond. After putting his baseball career on hold to serve in World War II, Richmond played for five International League teams in the decade that followed. His most memorable stop came in Rochester, where over five seasons he won two batting crowns, two All-Star nods, and led the Red Wings to two Pennants. Richmond retired in 1957 with a .315 lifetime average in the IL. He passed away in 1981.

The IL Hall of Fame, established in 1947, was dormant from 1964 until the League's 125th Anniversary season in 2008. Following a three-year transition period (2008-10) in which a total of 50 individuals were inducted after having been selected by a committee, the Class of 2013 was the third chosen by what will continue to serve as the annual election process. Each year the top three vote-getters who also receive a vote on the majority of ballots returned will be elected.

Complete statistical data and biographical information on all 110 members of the IL Hall of Fame, along with a copy of the International League Hall of Fame policies, procedures, and guidelines are available at www.ILBaseball.com.

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