MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Parrish Ushers in "New Beginning for Baseball" in Mid-Michigan

Published on January 24, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


Bay City, MI - Lance Parrish made his first public appearance in Mid Michigan as manager of the Great Lakes Loons Tuesday morning. The event was held at the Delta College Planetarium.

"This is a new beginning for baseball in this area," Parrish told the crowd. "I can't tell you how excited I am to be back in Michigan and to be a part of this new franchise."

Parrish, who spent 10 of his 19 Major League seasons with the Detroit Tigers, arrived to Mid-Michigan late Monday night, and spent early Tuesday morning touring Dow Diamond with Loons President and General Manager Paul Barbeau and Greg Kigar, the team's Director of Stadium Operations.

"Of all the minor league ballparks I've been in, I haven't seen anything that equals Dow Diamond," said Parrish. "I think the ballplayers will be a little bit spoiled when they get here. It's a beautiful venue and I'm looking forward to coming back here when it gets warmer and getting things started."

An eight-time all-star, Parrish has been coaching nearly every season since his retirement in 1995. Last season, he managed the Ogden Raptors, a short-season Dodgers affiliate in the Northwest League, where he managed them to a 37-39 record.

"Last season we come up a little bit short," said Parrish. "But we will have some very talented players. Many of (the players from Ogden) will be here this summer, and I'm looking forward to managing them again."

Parrish said he has a good idea of the pool of players the Dodgers will be selecting from to fill the Loons' roster in 2007 and will have some say in the selection, but he won't know the exact makeup of the roster until the season starts.

"Everyone (in the Dodger organization) will have a say in who will be on the Loons' roster," said Parrish. "Our farm director, our roving instructor, everyone will give their input."

As for his goals for the 2007 season, Parrish said, quite simply, he wants to win a Midwest League Championship.

Parrish was joined by Chris Haydock from the Dodgers' Minor League Operations office and Joe Fox, a Mt. Pleasant native who the Dodgers have selected as the Loons' trainer.

"The Dodgers organization has been a great partner from the start of this process," Barbeau told the Bay City audience. "To kickoff our first season with a guy like Lance who is so well known and respected in this area was the icing on the cake."

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