Dave Parker dies at 74: Baseball Hall of Famer and seven-time All-Star played nearly two decades in the majors

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Dave Parker, the seven-time All-Star and former National League MVP who was recently elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, has died at age 74, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Saturday. 

Parker spent parts of 19 seasons as a player in Major League Baseball. Eleven of those seasons came with the Pirates, who first drafted him in 1970 out of Courter High School in Cincinnati. Over those almost two decades in the majors, Parker tallied 2,712 hits; 339 home runs; 526 doubles; 1,493 RBI; 154 stolen bases, three Silver Sluggers, and a pair of batting titles. 

Nicknamed “Cobra” in part for his powerful throwing arm in right field, Parker was more than “just” one of the premier offensive threats of his era. Indeed, he won three straight Gold Gloves during his prime years with the Pirates. Indeed, one of Parker’s most famous highlights was his 9-2 assist to cut down Brian Downing during the 1979 All-Star Game, of which Parker was named MVP: 

Parker was also a two-time World Series champion. He batted .345 during the Pirates’ seven-game triumph over the Orioles in 1979, and he was also a key member of the Oakland A’s team that won it all a decade later in 1989. Parker retired from playing following the 1991 season.

He was an inaugural member of the Pirates’ Hall of Fame. Although it seemed a plaque in Cooperstown would elude him after 15 failed bids on the BBWAA ballot and three more on Era Committee ballot, Parker was finally elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in December of last year. In July, Parker will be inducted alongside Dick Allen, Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner. Allen and now Parker will be inducted posthumously.