PITTSBURGH – The baseball world mourns the loss of Dave Parker, a high-impact outfielder who was scheduled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame next month. The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Saturday the passing of Parker at the age of 74.
No additional details were provided regarding the circumstances of his death.
The team informed the fans about Parker’s passing just before the start of the game against the New York Mets and a moment of silence was observed in his memory.
Known as “the Cobra”, Parker, standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, debuted in the Major Leagues in 1973 and played for 19 seasons, 11 of them with the Pirates.
He was named National League MVP in 1978, won a World Series with Pittsburgh a year later, and another championship in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics.
Parker won consecutive batting titles in 1977 and 1978. He finished his career with a batting average of .290, accumulating 339 home runs and 1,493 RBIs.
In addition to his time with the Pirates, Parker also played for the Cincinnati Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers, the California Angels, and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Parker was elected to the Hall of Fame by a special committee in December. The induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, is scheduled for July 27.
