[1] Parker began playing in the minor leagues for the Moline Plowboys (1930–1932), Beaumont Exporters (1933–1934), and Toledo Mud Hens (1935–1936).

He also appeared in 11 games in Major League Baseball as an infielder for the Detroit Tigers during the 1936 season.

He sustained a shoulder injury in 1937, but continued playing in the minor leagues, including stints with the Indianapolis Indians (1937), Tulsa Oilers (1938), and Montreal Royals (1945).

Parker was also the manager for several minor league teams, including the Shreveport Sports (1941–1942, 1946–1951), Temple Eagles (1952–1953), Tyler Tigers (1954), El Dorado Oilers (1955), Danville Leafs (1956), Dallas Eagles (1957), and Cedar Rapids Giants (1976).

Parker was also a coach, scout, or instructor for the San Francisco Giants (1958–1961 and 1977–1985), Cleveland Indians (1962), Pittsburgh Pirates (1963), Los Angeles/California Angels (1964–1967 and 1973–1974), New York Mets (1967), Houston Astros (1968–1972), and Seattle Mariners (1986–1987).

[5][6] He also competed for the track team and received 15 major letters at Granite High School.

[7] Parker began his professional baseball career in 1930 with the Moline Plowboys of the Class D Mississippi Valley League.

[8] In April 1939, Parker was assigned to the Lubbock Hubbers of the West Texas–New Mexico League where he served as a field manager and shortstop.

[4][19] He appeared in 132 games as a player, compiling a .247 batting average and .323 on-base percentage with 51 RBIs and 57 runs scored.

He held the rank of private with the Headquarters Battery, 147th AA Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.

[20] He was given a medical discharge in November 1944 due to a leg injury received previously while playing baseball.

[23] In December 1951, Parker was hired manager of the Temple Eagles of the Big State League.

[25] He also appeared in 23 games as a player in 1952, at age 40,[8] and led the team to a first-place finish in the Big States League.

[28] In January 1955, Parker was hired as manager of the El Dorado Oilers of the Cotton States League.

[30] Parker led the 1955 El Dorado team to a second place finish in the Cotton States League and tied for manager-of-the-year honors.

[31] After the 1955 season, the Giants appointed Parker as the manager of the Class B Danville Leafs of the Carolina League.

[36] In December 1962, Parker was hired as a managerial consultant for the Pittsburgh Pirates' farm clubs.

[39] He served as manager of the Santo Domingo team in the Dominican Republic league during the off-season between the 1966 and 1967 seasons.

On August 26, 1972, he led the Astros to a victory as interim head coach in between the tenures of Harry Walker and Leo Durocher.

[47] Dick Williams took over as the Angels' manager in late June 1974, and Parker was not asked to return to the club for the 1975 season.