Dave Parker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dave Parker
Parker with the Oakland Athletics in 1989
Right fielder / Designated hitter
Born: (1951-06-09)June 9, 1951 Grenada, Mississippi, U.S.
Died: June 28, 2025(2025-06-28) (aged 74) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Right
debut
July 12, 1973, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last appearance
October 2, 1991, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
Batting average	.290
Hits	2,712
Home runs	339
Runs batted in	1,493
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (1973–1983) Cincinnati Reds (1984–1987) Oakland Athletics (1988–1989) Milwaukee Brewers (1990) California Angels (1991) Toronto Blue Jays (1991)
Career highlights and awards
7× All-Star (1977, 1979–1981, 1985, 1986, 1990) 2× World Series champion (1979, 1989) NL MVP (1978) 3× Gold Glove Award (1977–1979) 3× Silver Slugger Award (1985, 1986, 1990) 2× NL batting champion (1977, 1978) NL RBI leader (1985) Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2025
Vote	87.5%
Election Method	Classic Baseball Era Committee

David Gene Parker (born June 9, 1951 – died June 28, 2025) was a famous American baseball player. People often called him "the Cobra" because of his powerful playing style. He played as a right fielder in Major League Baseball from 1973 to 1991.

Dave Parker was a true baseball star. He was chosen for the All-Star team seven times. He also won two batting titles in the National League. In 1978, he was named the National League's Most Valuable Player.

Parker helped his teams win two World Series championships. He won with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979. Ten years later, he won again with the Oakland Athletics in 1989.

He was one of the first athletes to earn a lot of money, signing a big contract in 1979. Throughout his career, Parker achieved amazing stats. He had 2,712 hits, 339 home runs, and 1,493 runs batted in. His career batting average was .290.

Dave Parker was also a great defensive player. He had a very strong arm in the outfield. He won three Gold Glove awards in a row. In 2025, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sadly, he passed away shortly before his induction ceremony.

Growing Up and Starting Baseball

Dave Parker was born in Grenada, Mississippi, on June 9, 1951. He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. His home was close to Crosley Field, a famous baseball stadium. This is where he learned to play baseball. He practiced in the stadium's parking lots.

His father, Dick Parker, worked as a shipping clerk. Dave went to Courter Tech High School. He loved football and was a great player. But he hurt his knee during his last year of high school. After that, he focused on baseball.

Dave was also a fantastic baseball player in high school. One of his favorite memories was hitting a home run at Western Hills High School. The ball landed on the roof of a nearby restaurant!

Playing Career Highlights

Playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates

Dave Parker became a star with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1977, he won the National League batting title. He did it again in 1978. That same year, he was named the National League's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He led the league in several important hitting stats.

During his MVP season in 1978, Dave broke his jaw and cheekbone. This happened during a collision at home plate. But he was tough! He wore a special facemask to keep playing. The Pirates were so impressed, they gave him a huge contract. It was the first time a baseball player earned $1 million a year.

In 1979, Dave was a key player for the Pirates. He helped them win the World Series championship. It was a very exciting time for the team.

He was known for hitting the ball incredibly hard. In one game, he hit a ball so powerfully that its cover almost came off! This made it very hard for the outfielders to throw it back.

Sometimes, fans were upset about his big contract. Some threw small objects onto the field. But Dave kept playing his best.

Baseball experts recognized his talent early on. In 1981, a book called The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time included him. The authors noted he followed in the footsteps of the legendary Roberto Clemente in right field for the Pirates.

Dave also had a unique way of warming up. Like his teammate Willie Stargell, he would swing a sledgehammer in the on-deck circle. Most players used a weighted bat, but Dave liked the extra challenge!

Playing for Other Teams

After his time with the Pirates, Dave Parker became a free agent. He signed with the Cincinnati Reds, his hometown team. In Cincinnati, he played incredibly well again. In 1985, he had one of his best seasons ever. He hit .312 with 34 home runs. He also led the National League in RBIs with 125.

In 1985, Dave Parker also won the very first Home Run Derby competition. This showed off his amazing power!

After the 1987 season, Dave was traded to the Oakland Athletics. In Oakland, he often played as a designated hitter. This role helped him continue his career. Even with some injuries, his experience was very important. He helped the A's reach the World Series two years in a row. In 1989, he won his second World Series title with the A's. This was exactly 10 years after his first win with the Pirates.

In 1990, Parker joined the Milwaukee Brewers. He had another strong year as their designated hitter. He hit .289 with 21 home runs. He was even chosen for the All-Star Game again!

Dave Parker's last season was in 1991. He played for the California Angels and then the Toronto Blue Jays. He played well in limited games for the Blue Jays. After the 1991 season, Dave Parker decided to retire from baseball.

Career Statistics

Source:

In 30 postseason games, Parker batted .234 (26-for-111) with 11 runs, five doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI, and seven walks.

Life After Baseball and Hall of Fame

After retiring, Dave Parker stayed involved in baseball. He worked as a first-base coach for the Anaheim Angels. He was also a batting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. He even served as a special hitting instructor for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Outside of baseball, Dave owned several Popeyes Chicken restaurants in Cincinnati for many years. He sold them after being diagnosed with Parkinson disease in 2012.

For a long time, Dave Parker was not elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the writers. However, his amazing career was finally recognized. In December 2024, he was elected to the Hall of Fame by a special committee. He was set to be formally inducted in July 2025.

Dave faced some health challenges later in life. He had both of his knees replaced due to injuries from his playing days. In 2013, he shared that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He worked hard to help others. He raised money to find a cure for Parkinson's through his Dave Parker 39 Foundation.

Dave Parker had six children. He lived in Loveland, Ohio, with his wife, Kellye.

He was honored by several baseball organizations. In 2014, he was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Cincinnati Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. The Navegantes del Magallanes Hall of Fame also welcomed him that same year. In 2022, he became part of the first group inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame.

Sadly, Dave Parker passed away on June 28, 2025, in Cincinnati. He was 74 years old. He died from complications of Parkinson's disease, just 29 days before his planned Hall of Fame induction.

See also