Dave Parker, owner of two batting titles, a Most Valuable Player Award, and two World Series rings, has died. He was 74 years old and had suffered from Parkinson’s Disease in recent years. Parker was scheduled to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27. Along with Dick Allen, he was elected by the Classic Baseball Era Committee last December. Now both will be inducted posthumously.

Two-Time Batting Champion, MVP Dave Parker Has Died

Parker played in the major leagues for 19 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1973-83), Cincinnati Reds (1984-87), Oakland Athletics (1988-89), Milwaukee Brewers (1990), California Angels (1991), and Toronto Blue Jays (1991). For his career, he hit .290/.339/.471, 339 HR, 1,493 RBI, and 121 OPS+ while stealing 154 bases. Parker was at his best as a Pirate, winning two consecutive National League batting titles in 1977 and 1978, the NL MVP Award in 1978, and three Gold Glove Awards for his play in right field. He was a seven-time All-Star, including in 1979 when he was MVP of the All-Star Game. He was on World Series winners with Pittsburgh in 1979 and Oakland in 1989.

We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Dave Parker. A legendary Pirate, Parker spent 11 years in a Pirates uniform, winning 2 batting titles, an MVP award and a World Series Championship in 1979. The Cobra was part of the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame… pic.twitter.com/UuikGxw6dI — Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 28, 2025

At six-foot-five, 235 pounds in his playing days, Parker was an imposing figure. He was called up to make his major league debut with Pittsburgh on July 12, 1973. When he entered the clubhouse in San Diego on that day, Pirates shortstop Dal Maxvill said, “I don’t know what he does or who he is, but I’m glad he’s on our side.”

Parker was considered the best all-around player in the game from 1975-79. In those years, he hit .321/.377/.532, 114 HR, and 490 RBI, stealing 84 bases, and accumulating 31.1 of his 40.1 career WAR. Parker had 72 outfield assists and was worth 42 Fielding Runs Above Average. (Defensive Runs Saved were not available in those ancient times.) He also committed 66 errors during that period. He led the NL in outfield errors in 1975 and the majors in 1976-79. That’s because Parker played right field like a madman. He tried to make plays nobody else would try. As a result, he led the NL in putouts in four of those seasons. Baserunners who dared challenge the arm of Parker frequently died on the bases.

The Cobra

Nothing typified Parker’s approach to the game like the night of June 30, 1978, against the New York Mets at Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates bullpen had squandered a 3-2 lead and surrendered four runs in the top of the ninth. Parker’s one-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth inning brought the Pirates within a run at 6-5. The next batter, Bill Robinson, hit a fly ball to shallow right field. Parker tagged and sprinted toward home. Mets right fielder Joel Youngblood fired a strike to catcher John Stearns, beating Parker to the plate by several feet. Parker, a high school football star in Cincinnati, lowered his shoulder and collided with Stearns, damn near knocking him into next week.

I was there, in a seat high above first base. I swear I could feel the collision in my seat. Stearns miraculously hung on to the ball. The Mets had a victory, and Parker had a broken cheekbone. It didn’t slow down the player known as “the Cobra.” Parker remained in the lineup the rest of the season. First, he tried a hockey goalie mask. Later, he switched to a specially designed batting helmet with a face mask.

Controversy

Parker’s time in Pittsburgh wasn’t without controversy. The steel mills were closing, and folks who were out of work couldn’t relate to a brash Black man who had become baseball’s first million-dollar player. He had objects thrown at him from the stands, including a battery. An accumulation of injuries due to his reckless play over the years had taken their toll, too. From 1981-83, he hit just .272/.310/.430 and wasn’t the same outfielder. By then, it had become time to move on.

Once his career in Pittsburgh had died, there were flashes of the old Parker. Rejuvenated in his hometown, in 1985, the Cobra hit .312/.365/.551, 42 HR, and an NL-leading 125 RBI for the Reds. With the A’s in 1989, he complemented the “Bash Brothers” well, hitting .264/.308/.432, 22 HR, and 97 RBI, en route to his second World Series ring. During this period, his reputation took a hit when he was embroiled in baseball’s cocaine scandal in 1987. He owned up to his mistake and returned to Pittsburgh often in retirement, being welcomed as a conquering hero each time.

Our Loss That Dave Parker Died

Parker’s book, Cobra: A Life of Baseball and Brotherhood, is one of the best books written by an athlete that this writer has ever read. It concentrated on his time with the Pirates and Reds. At the end of the book, he promised there would be a sequel, beginning with his time with the A’s. When Parker learned of his Hall of Fame selection, he told the MLB Network, “I’ve been holding this speech for 15 years.” Our loss that we won’t get to read that second book or hear that speech.

Main Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

PITTSBURGH — Dave Parker, a hard-hitting outfielder who was set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame next month, has died, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced Saturday. He was 74.

No further details about Parker’s death were immediately available. The Pirates informed the crowd of his death just before the start of their game against the New York Mets and held a moment of silence.

Nicknamed “the Cobra,” the 6-foot-5 Parker made his major league debut in 1973 and played 19 seasons, 11 for the Pirates. He was the NL MVP in 1978, won a World Series with Pittsburgh a year later and then won another championship in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics.

“All of us who grew up in the ’70s remember how special Dave was,” Pirates owner Bob Nutting said in a statement. “He had a big personality and his passing has left a bigger void for all who knew him. Our hearts go out to his wife, Kellye, and his family.”

Parker won NL batting titles in 1977 and ’78. He finished his career as a .290 hitter with 339 homers and 1,493 RBIs. He also played for Cincinnati, Milwaukee, the California Angels and Toronto.

Parker was elected to the Hall of Fame by a special committee in December. The induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, is set for July 27.

“We join the baseball family in remembering Dave Parker. His legacy will be one of courage and leadership, matched only by his outstanding accomplishments on the field,” Hall chairman Jane Forbes Clark said. “His election to the Hall of Fame in December brought great joy to him, his family and all the fans who marveled at his remarkable abilities.”

Born on June 9, 1951, in Grenada, Mississippi, Parker grew up in Cincinnati and was a three-sport star at Courter Tech High School.

After playing for Pittsburgh from 1973 to 1983, he signed with his hometown Reds and spent four seasons with the club. In 1985 he led the NL with 125 RBIs and was second in the MVP voting.

“He was such a big dude at a time when there weren’t that many ‘6-foot-5, 230-pound, dynamic defender, batting champion with power’ guys,” Hall of Famer and Reds teammate Barry Larkin said. “Everything about him was impressive.”

In a statement, the Reds said: “Dave was a towering figure on the field, in the clubhouse and in the Cincinnati community, where his baseball journey began, playing on the fields near his home and going to games at Crosley Field. Dave’s impact on the game and this franchise will never be forgotten.”

Parker was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012.

He told reporters that he burst into tears upon learning of his selection to the Hall of Fame.

“Yeah, I cried,” Parker said after receiving the news. “It only took a few minutes, because I don’t cry.”

Parker homered for the A’s in the 1989 World Series opener and took credit for helping the Bash Brothers of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire take the title with a four-game sweep of San Francisco.

“All of us throughout the game are deeply saddened by this loss,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “We will remember the Cobra forever, especially as his name soon officially joins the legends of our national pastime.”

Parker was a seven-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove right fielder, and when he retired after the 1991 season, he was one of only five players with at least 500 doubles, 300 homers, 150 stolen bases and 2,700 hits.

“I was a five-tool player. I could do them all,” Parker said after his Hall selection. “I never trotted to first base. I don’t know if people noticed that, but I ran hard on every play.”

We are deeply saddened by the passing of 2025 Hall of Fame electee Dave Parker.

«The Cobra» was one of the fiercest hitters of his generation. The two-time batting champion and 1978 NL MVP won two World Series rings, one with the Pirates in 1979 and one with the A’s in 1989.

A 7-time All-Star with a cannon for an arm, Parker won 3 Gold Glove Awards as well as 3 Silver Sluggers. He was a lifetime .290 hitter with 339 home runs and 1,493 RBI in a 19-year career with the Pirates, Reds, A’s, Brewers, Angels, and Blue Jays.

Over the last several years, Parker bravely battled Parkinson’s disease. He was elected to the Hall of Fame last December by the Classic Baseball Era Committee and will be inducted next month in Cooperstown.

Parker was 74.

Dave Parker, the legendary Hall of Famer and former National League MVP, has passed away at 74, as announced by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, Parker played for six teams, with notable success at the Pirates, where he became a celebrated player. His impressive career stats include two World Series championships, seven All-Star selections, and two NL batting titles. Parker was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in December, a recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport.

Parker had a career batting average of .290 with 2,712 hits and 339 home runs.

He won the NL MVP in 1979 with a .334 batting average and 117 RBIs.

Parker led MLB with 72 outfield assists from 1975-1979.

Despite his stellar career, Parker struggled for Hall of Fame recognition during his eligibility, likely due to his involvement in the 1985 drug trials and substance use, which overshadowed his achievements. His Hall of Fame ballot performance saw him max out at just 24% of votes.

Horse four of Parker’s final four MLB seasons were primarily as a designated hitter due to knee injuries.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012 and worked to raise awareness through his foundation.

Following Parker’s passing, a celebration of his life and career is planned for his induction ceremony at Cooperstown on July 27, where fans and family will honor his legacy and contributions to baseball.

Dave Parker’s passing marks the end of an era for baseball, but his legacy as a fierce competitor and advocate for health awareness will resonate. His recent Hall of Fame induction serves as a testament to his lasting impact on the sport.