PITTSBURGH — Dave Parker, a hard-hitting outfielder who was set to be inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame subsequent month, has died, the Pittsburgh Pirates introduced Saturday. He was 74.
No additional particulars about Parker’s dying have been instantly out there. The Pirates knowledgeable the gang of his dying simply earlier than the beginning of their sport towards the New York Mets and held a second of silence.
Nicknamed “the Cobra,” the 6-foot-5 Parker made his main league debut in 1973 and performed 19 seasons, 11 for the Pirates. He was the NL MVP in 1978, gained a World Sequence with Pittsburgh a 12 months later after which gained one other championship in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics.
“All of us who grew up within the ’70s keep in mind how particular Dave was,” Pirates proprietor Bob Nutting mentioned in a press release. “He had a giant persona and his passing has left an even bigger void for all who knew him. Our hearts exit to his spouse, Kellye, and his household.”
Parker gained NL batting titles in 1977 and ’78. He completed his profession as a .290 hitter with 339 homers and 1,493 RBIs. He additionally performed for Cincinnati, Milwaukee, the California Angels and Toronto.
Parker was elected to the Corridor of Fame by a particular committee in December. The induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, is ready for July 27.
“We be part of the baseball household in remembering Dave Parker. His legacy might be one in every of braveness and management, matched solely by his excellent accomplishments on the sector,” Corridor chairman Jane Forbes Clark mentioned. “His election to the Corridor of Fame in December introduced nice pleasure to him, his household and all of the followers who marveled at his exceptional talents.”
Born on June 9, 1951 in Grenada, Mississippi, Parker grew up in Cincinnati and was a three-sport star at Courter Tech Excessive Faculty.
After taking part in for Pittsburgh from 1973-83, he signed together with his hometown Reds and spent 4 seasons with the membership. In 1985 he led the NL with 125 RBIs and was second within the MVP voting.
“He was such a giant dude at a time when there weren’t that many ‘6-foot-5, 230-pound, dynamic defender, batting champion with energy’ guys,” Corridor of Famer and Reds teammate Barry Larkin mentioned. “Every thing about him was spectacular.”
In a press release, the Reds mentioned: “Dave was a towering determine on the sector, within the clubhouse and within the Cincinnati group, the place his baseball journey started, taking part in on the fields close to his dwelling and going to video games at Crosley Subject. Dave’s influence on the sport and this franchise won’t ever be forgotten.”
Parker was identified with Parkinson’s illness in 2012.
He instructed reporters that he burst into tears upon studying of his choice to the Corridor of Fame.
“Yeah, I cried,” Parker mentioned after receiving the information. “It solely took a couple of minutes, as a result of I do not cry.”
Parker homered for the A’s within the 1989 World Sequence opener and took credit score for serving to the Bash Brothers of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire take the title with a four-game sweep of San Francisco.
“All of us all through the sport are deeply saddened by this loss,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred mentioned in a press release. “We’ll keep in mind the Cobra ceaselessly, particularly as his identify quickly formally joins the legends of our nationwide pastime.”
Pirates veteran and 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen paid tribute to Parker after Pittsburgh beat the New York Mets 9-2.
“He needed to be like Superman to folks when he was taking part in,” McCutchen mentioned. “He was bigger than life on the sector and had a larger-than-life persona, too.”
Parker was a seven-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove proper fielder, and when he retired after the 1991 season, he was one in every of solely 5 gamers with at the least 500 doubles, 300 homers, 150 stolen bases and a couple of,700 hits.
“I used to be a five-tool participant. I may do all of them,” Parker mentioned after his Corridor choice. “I by no means trotted to first base. I do not know if folks observed that, however I ran onerous on each play.”
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