Dave Parker, known affectionately as “The Cobra,” was one such legend. The Hall of Fame outfielder dazzled baseball fans with his extraordinary talent and charisma throughout 19 unforgettable seasons in the big leagues. At his peak with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the late 1970s, Parker was counted among the very best the game had to offer.
Sadly, Parker passed away on Saturday, June 26, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 74.
Throughout his remarkable career, Parker captured the 1978 National League MVP Award, claimed two World Series championships, an impressive ten years apart, and notched back-to-back NL batting titles. His outstanding performance earned him three Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger awards, along with seven All-Star selections and the coveted ’79 All-Star Game MVP Award. He also made history by winning MLB’s inaugural Home Run Derby in 1985.
Known as an intimidating force in the outfield, Parker amassed 2,712 career hits with a .290 batting average, smashed 339 home runs, and drove in 1,493 runs over an 18-year career from 1973 to 1991.
On April 15, 2021, Parker joined Jordan Buscarini on KOAL’s Drive Time Sports. During his time on the show, he discussed his book, “Cobra: A Life of Baseball and Brotherhood,” as well as his entertaining career.
