#169) HARRY PARKER

Harry Parker was traded along with Jim Beauchamp, Chuck Taylor, and Tom Coulter by the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Mets in exchange for Art Shamsky, Rich Folkers, Jim Bibby, and Charlie Hudson on October 18, 1971. It would take a season in the minor-leagues before he would make his Mets' debut on April 15, 1973. Parker would post a 4-0 record in his first four starts for New York and tie a then team record shared with Ray Sadecki and later Terry Leach. That mark was broken on June 23, 2010, when pitcher R.A. Dickey started his Mets' career at 6-0.

Harry's best year with New York came that first season and found him pitching for the 1973 National League Championship team. Compiling a record of 8-4 and a nice 3.35 ERA. Parker was effective as both a starter and reliever and that versatility added five saves to his line. 

He would pitch two more seasons for the Mets before they sold his contract to the St. Louis Cardinals on August 4, 1975.

Harry Parker died on May 29, 2012 in Richmond, Virginia at the young age of 64.

I created Harry Parker's card in the set from an index card that was purchased from the John Leptich Collection in 2013.