Pittsburgh-Dave Parker, a blunt gardener who had to be included in the baseball hall next month, died, Pittsburgh’s pirates announced on Saturday. He was 74 years old.
There are no more details about Parker’s death immediately. The pirates informed the crowd of their death just before the beginning of their game against the New York Mets and maintained a moment of silence.
Nicknamed “The Cobra”, the 6 -foot 5 -inch Parker made his debut in the big leagues in 1973 and played 19 seasons, 11 for the pirates. It was the MVP of the National League in 1978, won a world series with Pittsburgh a year later and then won another championship in 1989 with Oakland Athletics.
“All of us who grew up in the 70s remember how special was Dave,” said the owner of the Pirates, Bob Nutting, in a statement. “He had a great personality and his death has left a bigger vacuum for all who knew him. Our hearts are with his wife, Kellye, and his family.”
Parker won batting titles from the National League in 1977 and ’78. He finished his career as .290 with 339 home runs and 1,493 ranged races. He also played for Cincinnati, Milwaukee, California Angels and Toronto.
Parker was chosen for the Hall of Fame by a special committee in December. The induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, is scheduled for July 27.
“We join the baseball family to remember Dave Parker. His legacy will be a courage and leadership, matched only for his outstanding achievements in the field,” said Hall’s president Jane Forbes Clark. “His choice to the Hall of Fame in December brought great joy to him, his family and all fans who marveled at his remarkable skills.”
Born on June 9, 1951 in Granada, Mississippi, Parker grew up in Cincinnati and was a three -sports star in Couter Tech High School.
After playing for Pittsburgh from 1973 to 1983, he signed with the reds of his hometown and spent four seasons with the club. In 1985 he led the National League with 125 ranked races and was second in the MVP vote.
“He was such a great guy at a time when there were not so many ‘dynamic defenders 6 feet 5, 230 pounds, batting champion with’ Guys de Power,” said the member of the member of the Hall of Fame and his teammate of Los Rojos, Barry Larkin. “Everything about him was impressive.”
In a statement, the Reds said: “Dave was an imposing figure in the countryside, in the Club house and in the Cincinnati community, where his baseball trip began, playing in the fields near his house and going to the games in Crosley Field. Dave’s impact on the game and this franchise will never be forgotten.”
Parker was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012.
He told the journalists that he began to cry when he learned from his selection to the Hall of Fame.
“Yes, I cried,” Parker said after receiving the news. “He just took a few minutes, because I don’t cry.”
Parker Iron for the athletics in the first match of the 1989 World Series and the credit was attributed to help the José Canseco and Mark McGwire brothers to take the title with a sweep of four San Francisco games.
“All of us throughout the game are deeply sad for this loss,” said Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement. “We will remember the Cobra forever, especially because its name soon joins the legends of our national hobby.”
Parker was seven times All-Star and three times Fielder Right Glove Right, and when he retired after the 1991 season, he was one of the five players with at least 500 doubles, 300 homers, 150 stolen bases and 2,700 blows.
“He was a five -tools player. He could do them all,” Parker said after his living room selection. “I never trot to the first base. I don’t know if people noticed that, but I ran hard on each play.”
