Remembering the Talent of Former NL MVP Dave Parker
Pictured: 1974 Topps #252 Dave Parker RC
Even on the antiquated TVs of the 1970s and ‘80s, when he went up to bat, Dave Parker looked like one of those kinds of guys you don’t want to mess with, on the field or otherwise. The right fielder was big (6-5, 230), powerful, and had a canon for an arm. We remember the greatness that was of the soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee… “The Cobra”.
Odds stacked against him, Parker was selected in the 14th round of the 1970 MLB Draft, pick No. 324, out of Courter Tech High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. After four years of Minor League action, Parker was called up in July of 1973 to help replace the beloved Roberto Clemente.
After two seasons of little action and very little power, the Pirates made Parker their full-time right fielder watching him blossom in the role. In 1975, Parker hit .308 with 25 home runs knocking in 101.
In 1977, Parker earned his first of seven All-Star selections. In an oddity, the year he won National League MVP (1978), he was not selected as an All-Star. During the ’78 season, Parker uncorked to hit .334 with 30 homers, 12 triples, and 32 doubles showcasing his speed and power. During the ’77 and ’78 seasons, Parker led the NL in hitting. From 1977-79, Parker was awarded three Gold Gloves.
The Pirates had Three Rivers rocking in 1979 with a regular season record of 98-64 clipping the Reds for the NL pennant and downing the Orioles for the franchise’s fifth World Series title. Willie Stargell was named World Series MVP at age 39, being the oldest to win the honor, after hitting .400. Parker hit .345 with 10 hits through 29 at bats with three doubles, four RBIs, and two runs scored through seven games.
Parker played for the Cincinnati Reds (1984-87), and Oakland Athletics (1988-89). With the A’s, Parker won his second World Series ring. Joining the Brewers in 1990, Parker was selected as an All-Star for the last time. In 1990, he hit .289 with 21 dingers and had 92 runs driven in.
Paker called it a career after 19 seasons in 1991 splitting time between the California Angels and Toronto Blue Jays.
The 15-year window for Parker to be elected to the Hall by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America passed with him never receiving more than 24 percent of the votes. In 2024, the Classic Baseball Era Committee put Parker on the ballot for 2025, seeing him receive 87.5 percent of the vote.
Parker finished his career with a .290 BA, 339 HRs, 1,493 RBIs, 2,712 hits, 526 doubles, and 75 triples.
Parker was born on June 9, 1951, in Grenada, Miss., growing up in Cincinnati. In 2012, Parker was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Reports have confirmed Parker passed due to complications from Parkinson’s on June 28, at the age of 74.
In addition to his upcoming HOF induction, “The Cobra” was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds (2014) and Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame (2022).
