Dave Parker, the imposing outfielder known as “The Cobra” who was set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame next month, died Saturday, June 28 at age 74. The Pittsburgh Pirates announced his death before their game against the New York Mets and held a moment of silence. No further details about Parker’s death were immediately available.
The 6-foot-5 star made his major league debut in 1973 and played 19 seasons, 11 with the Pirates. He was the National League MVP in 1978, won a World Series with Pittsburgh in 1979 and captured another championship in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics. Parker finished his career with a .290 batting average, 339 home runs and 1,493 RBIs.
Parker won consecutive NL batting titles in 1977 and 1978, leading the league with a .338 average, 215 hits and 44 doubles in 1977. His 1978 MVP season included a .334 average with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs. The seven-time All-Star also earned MVP honors at the 1979 All-Star Game and won three Gold Glove awards during his career.
Born June 9, 1951, in Grenada, Mississippi, Parker moved to Cincinnati at age five and became a three-sport athlete at Courter Tech High School. He was a star running back until a knee injury during his senior season ended his football career. The Pirates selected Parker in the 14th round of the 1970 Draft as a high school catcher with a bad knee.
Parker established himself as the Pirates’ regular right fielder by 1975, beginning a six-year run during which he batted .317 with an .891 OPS. His imposing presence and confident personality led teammates to compare him to Muhammad Ali.
In 1979, Parker signed a five-year contract worth more than $5 million, making him the first professional baseball player to average $1 million per season. He was also one of the first professional athletes to wear an earring. The groundbreaking salary drew criticism from some fans, who reportedly threw objects including nuts, bolts and batteries at Parker during games.
Parker’s career was complicated by his cocaine use and involvement in the 1985 Pittsburgh drug trials. He was among 11 players who received suspensions but avoided them by agreeing to donate 10 percent of one year’s salary to drug rehabilitation facilities, perform 100 hours of community service, and submit to drug testing for the remainder of their careers.
After leaving Pittsburgh in 1983, Parker signed with his hometown Cincinnati Reds and spent four seasons there. In 1985, he led the NL with 125 RBIs and finished second in MVP voting. He was traded to Oakland at the end of the 1987 season, where his veteran leadership helped the Athletics reach consecutive World Series in 1988 and 1989.
Parker homered in the 1989 World Series opener against the San Francisco Giants and credited himself with helping the Bash Brothers of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire capture the title in a four-game sweep. The series was notable for being interrupted by the deadly Loma Prieta earthquake.
Following his time with Oakland, Parker played for the Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, and Toronto Blue Jays before retiring after the 1991 season. He later served as a coach for the Angels and St. Louis Cardinals and worked as a hitting instructor for the Pirates.
Parker was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012 and made his condition public in 2013. Despite his impressive statistics and accomplishments, he spent a maximum of 15 years on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot, topping out at 24.5 percent of votes. Many believed his involvement in the drug trials delayed his election to the Hall of Fame.
Parker was finally elected to the Hall of Fame in December 2024 by the Classic Baseball Era Committee, receiving 14 of 16 votes. Upon learning of his selection, Parker told reporters he burst into tears and said, “I’ve been holding this speech in for 15 years.”
Parker will be posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27 in Cooperstown, New York. Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting described Parker as one of the most dominating and intimidating players to ever wear a Pirates uniform, noting his big personality left an even bigger void.
Parker is survived by his wife, Kellye.
