PITTSBURGH — Dave Parker, the powerful outfielder known as “The Cobra” who was set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame next month, has passed away at age 74, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced Saturday.
Details surrounding his death have not yet been disclosed. The Pirates informed fans of the news just prior to Saturday’s game against the New York Mets, followed by a moment of silence in his memory.
Standing 6-foot-5, Parker broke into the major leagues in 1973 and went on to play 19 seasons—11 of them with the Pirates. He earned National League MVP honors in 1978, won a World Series with Pittsburgh in 1979, and captured another title with the Oakland Athletics in 1989.
Parker claimed back-to-back NL batting titles in 1977 and 1978, finishing his career with a .290 batting average, 339 home runs, and 1,493 RBIs. In addition to Pittsburgh and Oakland, he also played for Cincinnati, Milwaukee, the California Angels, and Toronto.
He was elected to the Hall of Fame by a special committee in December, with his induction ceremony scheduled for July 27 in Cooperstown, New York.
“Dave Parker’s legacy is one of strength and leadership, matched by his extraordinary achievements on the field,” said Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark. “His induction brought immense pride to his family and all those who admired his incredible talents.”
Born on June 9, 1951, in Grenada, Mississippi, Parker was raised in Cincinnati, where he was a standout in three sports at Courter Tech High School. After his decade-long tenure with the Pirates, he joined the hometown Reds for four seasons, leading the league with 125 RBIs in 1985 and finishing as MVP runner-up.
“He was a physical force unlike most in his era—6-foot-5, 230 pounds, with elite defense, power, and batting skills,” said Hall of Famer and former Reds teammate Barry Larkin. “Everything about him was remarkable.”
Parker revealed in 2012 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He was emotional upon learning of his Hall of Fame selection.
“I cried,” Parker admitted at the time. “It didn’t take long—because I don’t cry.”
He hit a home run for Oakland in Game 1 of the 1989 World Series and proudly said he played a key role in leading the Bash Brothers—Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire—to a championship sweep over San Francisco.
A seven-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, Parker proudly described his game during his Hall of Fame announcement.
“I was a five-tool player—I could do everything,” he said. “I never jogged to first base. I ran hard every time. I don’t know if people noticed that—but I did.”
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