Former Mud Hens Manager Elected into the IL Hall of Fame - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Former Mud Hens Manager Elected into the IL Hall of Fame

TOLEDO - Former Toledo Mud Hens Manager Larry Parrish will be one of three men inducted into the International League Hall of Fame.   The IL announced today along with Parrish that former outfielder Mack Jones (posthumously) and third baseman Don Richmond (posthumously) will be members of the Class of 2013. The three men were elected by a vote of living Hall of Famers, longtime executives, broadcasters, and members of the media.

The winningest manager in Toledo Mud Hens history, Larry Parrish, earns induction just three years removed from his last game in the International League.

"I couldn't be more happy and proud for Larry to receive this honor," says Joe Napoli, president and general manager of the Toledo Mud Hens.   "He is a great teacher to his players.   Larry has an unflappable personality making him very easy to work with.  He is a guy who loves baseball as well as talking and sharing stories about the sport.  He wholeheartedly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame."

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.

Former outfielder Mack Jones 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.  Jones 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.

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.  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. He passed away in 1981.

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.

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.