Photographs by Herb Scharfman / Los Angeles Times

March 4, 1966: Wes Parker works out in Vero Beach.

The Dodgers were winning and feeling upbeat. Wes Parker was trying to stay realistic.

Parker, the slick-fielding first baseman who spent his career with
the Dodgers, was off to a great start offensively. He had three hits in
a 7-6 victory over Philadelphia to raise his average to .328. The
Times' John Wiebusch asked about his chances of making the All-Star
game in July.

"The competition is Richie Allen, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda and
Joe Torre," Parker said. "I'm not packing any bags. This team has a
chance to win it all' I don't have much of a chance at all."

Parker finished the season at .278 after time off in July for an
appendectomy. He bounced back in 1970 to hit .319 and drive in 111 runs
playing in 161 games. Parker was more than dependable at first, winning
Gold Gloves in six of his seasons with the Dodgers.

This being 1969, there were some timely references that no longer
seem so timely. Wiebusch referred to Parker as "the prince of the Mod
Squad." Maybe he thought Parker had a future in television. He had some
credits during and after his playing days, including at least one
episode of "The Brady Bunch."

–Keith Thursby