Major League Legend Dave Parker Has Passed Away at Age 74

Dave Parker spent only one year as a Brewer, but at the age of 39, he played like a man 10 years his junior. The Brewers also signed Parker to be a steadying influence in the clubhouse, especially with troubled star Gary Sheffield. The players lockered next to each other, giving Parker the opportunity to work with Sheffield, who had been something of an enigma in his first two seasons in Milwaukee. Dave Parker was not only a great player, but he was a great leader, and more importantly, a great person.

David Gene Parker was born in 1951 in Grenada, Mississippi. His family moved to Cincinnati, and he graduated from Courter Tech High School. The Pittsburgh Pirates tabbed him in the 14^th round of the 1970 MLB Amateur Draft. After three and a half seasons in the Pirates organization, Parker made his major league debut with the Buccos in April 1973. He was sent back down to Triple-A Charleston but was called back up in mid-July and never played in the minors again.

The man known as ‘The Cobra’ played for 11 years in the Steel City, winning back-to-back batting titles in 1977-78. In 1978, Parker was named the National League Most Valuable Player. He finished in the Top 10 in the MVP race four times with the Pirates, while earning three Gold Gloves and was named to four All-Star squads. Oddly enough, Parker did not make the All-Star team in his MVP season.

The Cincinnati Reds signed Parker as a free agent after the 1983 season, and over the next four seasons, into his mid-30s, Parker was a two-time Silver Slugger winner and a two-time All-Star. After the 1987 campaign, Parker was traded to the Oakland A’s and had two ‘average’ seasons there before signing with the Brewers as a free agent after the 1989 season.

The signing of Parker and the re-signing of Robin Yount helped at the box office. “We’re running ahead of last year at this time,” said Dick Hackett, the Brewers’ vice president of marketing. “Our season ticket sales are up 20 percent. We’re very pleased.”

Parker did not let the Brewers down, as he led the team with 176 hits, 39 doubles, 92 RBI, and 275 total bases. He was second-best on the team in seven other major offensive categories and led the American League with 14 sacrifice flies. Parker was mainly a designated hitter, as he only played 23 innings at first base. Parker was named to the All-Star team and earned Silver Slugger status. He was also named the team MVP.

After the season, Parker was traded to the California Angels for Dante Bichette. Parker played for the Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays in 1991 before retiring.

In 19 major league seasons, Parker batted .290/.339/.471 across 9,358 at-bats, including 339 homers, 1,493 RBI, and 154 stolen bases. 

Dave Parker was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2014, the inaugural Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame in 2022, and was elected with 87.5% of the vote on December 8, 2024, on the Classic Baseball Era Committee's 2025 ballot. He will be formally inducted on July 27, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Kellye, and six children.

May he Rest in Peace.