John Parry

#5 - SS, 3B (profile)

John was an unexpected but welcome contributor to the DRS team. In all the years of pre-season articles being submitted to the agency’s newsletter, John was the only person to ever actually respond to a call for additional players.

John agreed to fill in when the taxmen needed help fielding a full squad, but after a few short weeks was offered full-time status with the club. Initially he started a few games on the pitching mound and played some outfield, but only because he was agreeable and played where the team needed help. It was only later that the team saw he was a natural infielder, and from then on he spent the rest of time at shortstop or third base, positions at which he thrived. As John was a big Baltimore Orioles fan, teammates got to calling him “Brooks” in reference to O’s great Brooks Robinson, who also played the hot corner.

Next to Jerry Zayas, John was probably the most supportive and vocal cheerleader on the DRS bench. There were times he got a little too gung-ho encouraging his teammates – which might have riled some of the opposing players - but he always meant well.

For someone who intended to be a part-timer, John had a solid career with the taxmen. Playing four seasons, 2001 through 2004, John played 67 games, batted a very impressive .581, scored 91 runs, and had 67 RBIs, 24 doubles, 4 triples, and 6 homeruns. John’s .688 batting average in 2002 was one the highest in team history. In a 2003 game against the Rocky Hill Vets, John went 5 for 6, scored 5 runs, and had 4 RBIs and a triple.