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 (age 74) Grenada, Mississippi, 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, known as "the Cobra", is a famous American former baseball player. He played as a right fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1973 to 1991. Dave Parker was an amazing player, chosen for the All-Star team seven times.

He won two National League batting titles, meaning he had the best hitting average in the league. In 1978, he was named the National League's Most Valuable Player (MVP). Parker also helped his teams win two World Series championships: first with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979, and then with the Oakland Athletics in 1989.

Throughout his career, Dave Parker achieved impressive stats. He had 2,712 hits, hit 339 home runs, and brought in 1,493 runs for his team (called RBIs). His lifetime batting average was .290. He was also a fantastic defensive player, known for his strong arm. He won three Gold Gloves in a row for being the best defensive player at his position. In 2025, Dave Parker was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, a huge honor for any player.

Growing Up with Baseball

Dave Parker grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, very close to Crosley Field, a famous baseball stadium. He learned to play baseball in the stadium's parking lots. His father worked hard as a shipping clerk.

Dave went to Courter Tech High School. He loved American football and was a star player, but a knee injury in his senior year made him stop playing. Luckily, he was also a talented baseball player. One of his favorite memories is hitting a home run in high school that landed on the roof of a nearby restaurant!

Playing in the Major Leagues

Starting with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Dave Parker began his professional baseball journey in 1973 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Before joining the major league team, he played for their minor league team, the Charleston Charlies. There's a fun story that he once hit a home run so far it landed on a passing coal train and ended up in another state! However, Dave later said he always tried to do that, but never quite managed it.

His first full season in the MLB was in 1975. He quickly showed how powerful he was, leading the National League in slugging percentage (a stat that shows how many bases a player gets per hit). He even finished third in the MVP voting that year.

In 1977, Dave Parker became the National League batting champion. He repeated this amazing feat in 1978, and that same year, he was named the National League MVP! During the 1978 season, he broke his jaw and cheekbone in a collision at home plate. But he was so determined that he wore a special facemask to keep playing. The Pirates recognized his talent and gave him a very large contract, which was a big deal at the time.

The next year, in 1979, Dave was a key player for the Pirates when they won the World Series. He even hit a ball so hard in one game that it "knocked the cover off the ball," meaning the baseball's outer layer came loose!

Dave Parker was known for warming up with a sledgehammer in the on-deck circle, just like his teammate Willie Stargell. This helped him get ready to hit the ball with power. In the early 1980s, injuries and weight issues made it harder for him to hit as well as he used to.

Later Career Teams

After the 1983 season, Parker became a free agent and joined the Cincinnati Reds, his hometown team. He played incredibly well in Cincinnati. In 1985, he had one of his best seasons, hitting .312 with 34 home runs. He also led the National League with 125 RBIs and 42 doubles. That year, he finished second in the MVP voting. Dave Parker also won the very first Home Run Derby in 1985, showing off his incredible power.

After the 1987 season, Parker was traded to the Oakland Athletics. Here, he often played as a designated hitter, which helped him continue his career even as he got older. Even with some injuries, his experience and leadership were very important to the A's. They made it to the World Series two years in a row, and Parker won his second World Series title in 1989, exactly ten years after his first win with the Pirates.

In 1990, Parker signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. He had another good year as their designated hitter, hitting .289 with 21 home runs. He was even chosen for the All-Star Game again! However, the Brewers decided to focus on younger players and traded him.

Dave Parker's last season was in 1991. He played for the California Angels for most of the year. Later in the season, the Toronto Blue Jays signed him to help them in their push for the playoffs. He played well in limited games, but he joined the team too late to be on their playoff roster. After that season, Dave Parker retired from baseball.

Career Statistics

In 30 playoff games, Parker had 26 hits, 5 doubles, 3 home runs, and 11 RBIs.

Life After Baseball

After retiring as a player, Dave Parker stayed involved in baseball. He worked as a first-base coach for the Anaheim Angels and a batting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. He also helped the Pittsburgh Pirates as a special hitting instructor. For 25 years, he owned several Popeyes Chicken restaurants in Cincinnati before selling them in 2012.

Dave Parker has faced health challenges. He has had both of his knees replaced due to injuries from his playing days. In 2013, he shared that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He now works to raise money to find a cure for Parkinson's through his organization, the Dave Parker 39 Foundation.

Dave Parker has six children. He lives in Loveland, Ohio, near Cincinnati, with his wife, Kellye.

He has been honored by several baseball halls of fame. In 2014, he was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. In 2012, he joined the Cincinnati Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame. On September 3, 2022, he was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame as part of its very first group of honorees.

See also