Dave Parker death: Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder known as 'the Cobra,' dies at 74 after Parkinson's disease: Pittsburgh Pirates
Share this @internewscast.com

PITTSBURGH — Dave Parker, a renowned power-hitting outfielder scheduled for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame next month, has passed away, as announced by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. He was 74.

Details regarding Parker’s death were not immediately disclosed. The Pirates communicated the news to the audience just before their game against the New York Mets, followed by a moment of silence in his honor.

Nicknamed “the Cobra,” Parker, who stood at 6-foot-5, debuted in the major leagues in 1973, playing for 19 seasons, with 11 of those being with the Pirates. He was the NL MVP in 1978, won a World Series with Pittsburgh in the following year, and secured another championship with the Oakland Athletics in 1989.

“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 1973-83, 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.”

Pirates veteran and 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen paid tribute to Parker after Pittsburgh beat the New York Mets 9-2.

“He had to be like Superman to people when he was playing,” McCutchen said. “He was larger than life on the field and had a larger-than-life personality, too.”

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.”

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Former security guard at US Embassy overseas is convicted of spying for Russia and Iran

Ex-US Embassy Security Guard Found Guilty of Espionage for Russia and Iran

A former guard employed at the United States Embassy in Norway has…
Evacuees detail harrowing scenes of flooding in coastal Alaska villages as airlift continues

Alaska Coastal Villages Face Devastating Floods: Evacuees Share Harrowing Survival Stories Amid Ongoing Airlift Operations

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — It felt like an earthquake had hit as…
US military seized survivors after Caribbean drone strike on suspected drug smuggling boat: report

US Military Apprehends Survivors Following Caribbean Drone Strike on Alleged Drug Smuggling Vessel

The U.S. military has apprehended survivors following a drone strike on a…
44,000 NordicTrack rowing machines recalled after reports of fires

Massive Recall: NordicTrack Rowing Machines Pulled from Market Due to Fire Hazard Concerns

A widespread recall has been announced for tens of thousands of NordicTrack…
DOJ brings first Antifa-related terrorism charges in Texas ICE attack

Texas Attack: DOJ Files Landmark Terrorism Charges Linked to Antifa

EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: A federal grand jury has formally charged two individuals…
New details revealed in murder of retired college professor, suspect accused of stabbing woman seven times

Shocking Developments: Suspect in Retired Professor’s Murder Accused of Brutal Seven-Time Stabbing

During a court session on Wednesday, authorities disclosed further insights into the…

US Military Drone Targets Drug ‘Submersible’ in Caribbean, Resulting in Survivors, Official Reports

A U.S. military drone targeted a vessel suspected of drug smuggling in…
1st in-country transmission of new mpox strain confirmed in US

First U.S. Transmission of New Mpox Strain Sparks Health Alert

Previously, all six identified cases of this mpox variant in the United…
Disney magic lifting spirits at La Rabida Children's Hospital on South Promontory Drive in Jackson Park, Chicago

Disney Brings Joy to Young Patients at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago

CHICAGO — At La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago, superheroes and beloved…
Zohran Mamdani offers up word salad on how he will pay for $10B in socialist freebies without new taxes

Zohran Mamdani Proposes Innovative Funding Strategy for $10B Socialist Initiatives Without Raising Taxes

Zohran Mamdani remained tight-lipped when questioned about funding his ambitious $10 billion…
Iran’s execution rate tops 1,000 this year as death row inmates launch hunger strike

Iran Surpasses 1,000 Executions in 2023 Amid Hunger Strike by Death Row Inmates

The United Nations has characterized Iran’s current rate of capital punishment as…
Video shows gunman ‘lying in wait’ to ambush businessman outside estate as police hunt shooter: prosecutor

Prosecutor Highlights Chilling Footage of Gunman Ambushing Businessman Outside Estate as Police Intensify Search for Suspect

Macomb County, Michigan, is currently on high alert as authorities intensify their…