A Legend's Take on a Rising Star: Lance Parrish Celebrates Dillon Dingler's Gold Glove Triumph
Imagine a baseball icon, a three-time Gold Glove winner, and a World Series champion, now sharing his wisdom from the front office. That’s Detroit Tigers legend Lance Parrish, whose insights into the game and its players are as sharp as ever. But here’s where it gets fascinating: Parrish isn’t just reflecting on his own glory days—he’s shining a spotlight on the next generation, particularly catcher Dillon Dingler, who snagged his first AL Gold Glove in 2025. But is Dingler’s success just the beginning, or is he already on track to match Parrish’s legacy?
Parrish, now 69 and a revered ambassador for the Tigers, has seen it all in his 19-year MLB career. Beyond his three Gold Gloves, he’s an eight-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger, boasting a .252 batting average and 324 home runs across 1,988 games. Yet, it’s his ability to spot talent that’s making waves today. When asked about Dingler, Parrish doesn’t hold back: “He’s very deserving. I watched him all year long. He’s developed into one of the premier defensive players.”
But here’s where it gets controversial: Parrish reveals that he advocated for Dingler’s fast-track to the big leagues, suggesting he start in Double-A. “I must have been the only one who thought that,” he admits. Instead, Dingler began in A-ball, but Parrish’s instincts proved right. “Whatever they did, it worked out because he’s there, and he’s done a great job.” This raises the question: Are teams too cautious with young talent, or was the Tigers’ approach to Dingler’s development the right call?
Parrish’s conversation with the Free Press on the Days of Roar podcast (available on Apple and Spotify) is a treasure trove of stories and insights. He reminisces about the origin of his “Big Wheel” nickname, a moniker born from a 1980s This Week in Baseball segment with Mel Allen. “Everybody in the clubhouse just went off, like, ‘Ah, the Big Wheel.’ From then on, that’s all anybody called me.” It’s a reminder of how legends are made—sometimes in the most unexpected ways.
When discussing his former teammates, Parrish doesn’t shy away from bold statements. On Alan Trammell’s role as a special assistant, he says, “The Tigers are lucky that he has lent himself to them in such a big capacity.” And about Lou Whitaker’s Hall of Fame snub? Parrish is baffled. “If Tram’s numbers are good enough to get him in the Hall of Fame, why are Lou’s numbers not good enough?” He points to Whitaker’s impressive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) metrics, arguing, “If that’s the big criteria, why doesn’t anybody give him a second look?” Is the Hall of Fame overlooking Whitaker, or are there other factors at play?
Parrish also dives into the challenges of being a catcher, a position he knows well. “It’s very difficult when you’re not swinging the bat well to push that out of your mind and concentrate on what you’re doing behind the plate.” He praises Dingler and Jake Rogers as “probably the best one-two combination, throwing-wise, in baseball right now.” But he also highlights Rogers’s professionalism in handling his transition from starter to backup, calling him “a very classy guy.”
And this is the part most people miss: Parrish’s reflection on the physical toll of catching. “You take a beating back there. It’s hard on your knees. It’s hard on your back.” Yet, he wouldn’t trade it for anything. “I wouldn’t mind getting on the mound one time,” he jokes, revealing a side of him that still dreams of the game.
As we celebrate 125 seasons of the Tigers with their new book (available at tigers125.pictorialbook.com), Parrish’s words remind us of the heart and grit that define baseball. But here’s the ultimate question: Can Dillon Dingler sustain his Gold Glove-caliber play, and will Lou Whitaker finally get his due in the Hall of Fame?
Let’s keep the conversation going. What do you think? Is Dingler the future of catching, and does Whitaker deserve a spot in Cooperstown? Share your thoughts in the comments—Parrish’s insights are just the beginning of this debate.
