Baseball Legend Dave Parker, ‘The Cobra,’ Dies at 74 Just Weeks Before Hall of Fame Induction

Pittsburgh Pirates icon Dave Parker, remembered for his power, speed, and larger-than-life presence, passes away at 74 as fans mourn the loss ahead of his Cooperstown enshrinement.

Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Parker, affectionately nicknamed “The Cobra”, has passed away at the age of 74. The news was shared by his former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, on Saturday, June 28, just weeks before his long-awaited National Baseball Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown. A titan of the game during the 1970s and ’80s, Parker was known for his ferocious batting, agility in the outfield, and fearless demeanor on the diamond.

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“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Dave Parker,” the Pittsburgh Pirates wrote in a heartfelt tribute posted on social media. “A legendary Pirate, Parker spent 11 years in a Pirates uniform, winning two batting titles, an MVP award, and a World Series Championship in 1979.”

The franchise also noted that Parker was part of the inaugural class of the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2022 and was set to be formally enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on July 27, 2025. Before their game against the New York Mets on Saturday, the Pirates paid tribute to their beloved former player with a moment of silence at PNC Park.

No further details regarding the cause of death were released.

Nicknamed “The Cobra” for his sleek yet intimidating playing style, Parker was a towering figure in Major League Baseball, both in stature and impact. Over a 19-year MLB career, Parker hit 339 home runs, stole 154 bases, and maintained a .290 batting average. He was selected as a seven-time All-Star, and during his 11 years with the Pirates (1973–1983), he won three Gold Gloves for his defensive prowess in right field.

“I could do it all,” Parker once said in a 2019 interview with The Athletic, quoted by The New York Times. “I vocalized quite a bit. People tell me that I ‘played angry.’ That’s what I did, and it worked for me. But I always played hard, and I respected my fellow man. I did everything on the field that I could.”

Raised in Cincinnati, Parker initially envisioned a football career. However, a knee injury during his senior year of high school rerouted his athletic path, eventually leading him to baseball. Drafted by the Pirates in 1970, Parker quickly rose to stardom, making a name for himself as a dynamic right fielder with both raw talent and showmanship.

After leaving the Pirates in 1983, Parker joined his hometown Cincinnati Reds, where he continued to be a standout performer. He later played for several other teams—including the Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, and Toronto Blue Jays—before retiring in 1991.

Parker didn’t step away from the sport entirely. He went on to coach for the Los Angeles Angels and St. Louis Cardinals, and later served as a special instructor for the Pirates. In 2013, Parker publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a battle he fought courageously and openly, drawing admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike.

In December 2024, the baseball world finally gave Parker the recognition many believed he deserved much earlier: election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Though he won’t be physically present for the induction ceremony this July, his legacy and contributions will undoubtedly be celebrated with the honor and reverence befitting a true icon of the game.

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Dave Parker’s legacy as “The Cobra” will forever echo in the hearts of baseball fans—a symbol of power, resilience, and charisma both on and off the field. Though he leaves us just weeks before his long-awaited Hall of Fame induction, his spirit will take its rightful place in Cooperstown and in the history of America’s favorite pastime. Rest in power, legend.

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