Larry Parrish Tries Luck in Japan

Will Larry Parrish outshine Bob Horner, whose impact on Japanese baseball showed up in a 24 percent increase in his team’s attendance?

Parrish, 35, who played for the Boston Red Sox last season, batted .327 and hit seven home runs in 20 exhibition games for the Yakult Swallows, but matching Horner’s debut won’t be easy.

Horner, who also played for the Central League’s Swallows, hit one homer in his first game in Japan and three in three at-bats the next day. He batted .327 with 31 homers and 73 runs batted in during his one season in Japan, in 1987.

After playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988, Horner retired because of a shoulder injury.

First baseman Parrish has signed a one-year contract with the Swallows for an estimated $746,000.

Some observers predict he will do better than Horner, although one said he should adopt a “Japanese-style” wide stance to boost his home run output.

Weight training and a new diet helped his power hitting, the sports daily Sankei Sports quoted Parrish as saying.

Parrish hit 256 homers and had 992 RBI in 15 years in the major leagues.

The 130-game Japanese season opens Saturday, with the Seibu Lions the defending Pacific League champions.

Since 1952, each of the league’s 12 teams has been allowed two foreign players.

Reportedly, the highest paid is Warren Cromartie, 36, formerly of the Montreal Expos, who is in his sixth season with the Yomiuri Giants. Cromartie receives an estimated $1.44 million. Last season, despite injuries, Cromartie batted .333 with 10 home runs.

The Fukuoka Daiei Hawks are counting on help from newly arrived Willie Upshaw, formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Upshaw, 31, earning an estimated $923,000, went 5-for-5 when the Hawks beat the Hanshin Tigers 14-4 in their final preseason game.

Pat Dodson, formerly of the Boston Red Sox, has joined the Pacific League’s Kintetsu Buffaloes, replacing Ben Oglivie, who quit after hitting 22 homers and batting .311 last season.

Another leading newcomer is Mike Diaz, formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Lotte Orions signed him after discharging Bill Madlock. Dodson reportedly is receiving $269,000 and Diaz $577,000.

Other newcomers include former minor leaguers players Wade Rowdon and Rod Allen, with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp; Cecil Fielder, formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays, with the Tigers; former minor leaguer George Hinshaw, with the Chinuchi Dragons; Guy Hoffman, a former Cincinnati Red, and ex-minor leaguer Todd Brown, with the Orix Braves, and Juan Eichelberger, a former San Diego Padre, with the Swallows.

Returnees include pitcher Bill Gullickson, formerly of the New York Yankees, with the Giants; pitcher Matt Keough, a former Houston Astro, in his third year with the Tigers; former minor leaguers Carlos Ponce, in his fourth year, and Jim Paciorek, in his second with the Yokohama Taiyo Whales; former minor league outfielder Tony Brewer, in his fourth year, outfielder Brian Dayett, Chicago Cubs, in his second year, and first baseman Mike Easler, New York Yankees, in his second year with the Nippon Ham Fighters; Tony Bernazard, Oakland Athletics, second year, Hawks; Ralph Bryant, minor leaguer, second year, Buffaloes; outfielder Ty Van Burkleo, minor leaguer, third year, Lions, and infielder Greg “Boomer” Wells, Minnesota Twins, seventh year, Braves.