Dave Parker, the intimidating outfielder known as “The Cobra,” died Saturday at age 74, just weeks before his scheduled induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Pittsburgh Pirates announced his death before their game against the New York Mets on June 28, 2025, holding a moment of silence in his honor.
No details about the cause of Parker’s death were immediately available, though he had been battling Parkinson’s disease since his 2012 diagnosis. The towering 6-foot-5 right fielder was elected to the Hall of Fame in December 2024 through the Classic Baseball Era Committee, receiving 14 of 16 votes needed for induction.
Parker’s 19-season career spanned from 1973 to 1991, with 11 seasons spent in Pittsburgh, where he became a cornerstone of the franchise. He compiled a .290 batting average with 339 home runs and 1,493 RBIs across 2,712 career hits. The seven-time All-Star won back-to-back National League batting titles in 1977 and 1978, capturing the NL MVP award in 1978 after batting .334 with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs.
Born on June 9, 1951, in Grenada, Mississippi, Parker moved to Cincinnati at the age of five, where he became a three-sport athlete at Courter Tech High School. Initially a football star, his baseball career began after a knee injury ended his football prospects during his senior year of high school. The Pirates selected him in the 14th round of the 1970 draft, taking a chance on the high school catcher with an injured knee.
Parker established himself as a regular by 1975, beginning a six-year run where he batted .317 with an .891 OPS. His imposing physical presence and confident personality made him one of baseball’s most quotable players, with teammates calling him the Muhammad Ali of baseball. He was also a trailblazer off the field, becoming the first professional baseball player to average $1 million per season when he signed a five-year, $5 million contract with Pittsburgh before the 1979 season.
The contract made Parker a lightning rod for criticism from fans who threw nuts, bolts, bats, and batteries at him during games. His groundbreaking salary and his decision to wear an earring made him a polarizing figure, though his on-field performance spoke for itself. He was named MVP of the 1979 All-Star Game and helped lead the Pirates to their World Series championship that same year.
Parker’s career was complicated by his involvement in the 1985 Pittsburgh drug trials, where he testified about cocaine use among professional players. He was among 11 players who received suspensions but avoided serving them by donating 10 percent of one year’s salary to drug rehabilitation facilities, performing 100 hours of community service, and submitting to drug testing for the remainder of their careers.
After leaving Pittsburgh in 1983, Parker signed with his hometown Cincinnati Reds, where he spent four seasons. In 1985, he led the National League with 125 RBIs and finished second in MVP voting. He later played for the Oakland Athletics, where he won his second World Series championship in 1989, helping sweep the San Francisco Giants in a series interrupted by the Loma Prieta earthquake.
Parker also 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. His legacy extended beyond playing, as he became a member of the inaugural Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame class in 2022.
Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting reflected on Parker’s impact, describing him as one of the most dominating and intimidating players ever to wear a Pirates uniform. The organization emphasized his role as a critical part of the 1979 World Series championship team and his status as an All-Star, Gold Glover, batting champion, and National League MVP.
Despite his impressive statistics and accolades, Parker’s Hall of Fame election was delayed for decades. He spent the maximum 15 years on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot, topping out at 24.5 percent of votes, with many believing his involvement in the drug trials affected his candidacy. He also fell short on the Modern Baseball Era ballot in 2019 before finally gaining election through the Classic Baseball Era Committee.
Upon learning of his Hall of Fame selection, Parker said, “I’ve been holding this speech in for 15 years.” He burst into tears upon receiving the news, acknowledging the emotional weight of the long-awaited recognition. The induction ceremony at Cooperstown is scheduled for July 27, where Parker will be posthumously honored alongside the late Dick Allen in the Class of 2025.
Parker is survived by his wife, Kellye, and his family. His death marks the end of an era for Pirates fans who remember his dominant presence during the team’s successful 1970s campaigns.
