Dave Parker | |
---|---|
Right fielder / Designated hitter | |
Born: Grenada, Mississippi, U.S. | June 9, 1951|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 12, 1973, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
Last MLB 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 |
Stats at Baseball Reference | |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Incoming Member of the National | |
Baseball Hall of Fame | |
Induction | 2025 |
Vote | 87.5% |
Election method | Classic Baseball Era Committee |
David Gene Parker (born June 9, 1951), nicknamed "the Cobra",[1] is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right fielder from 1973 to 1991. A seven-time All-Star, Parker won two National League batting titles and was the 1978 National League Most Valuable Player. He was a member of two World Series championship teams, winning with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979 and the Oakland Athletics in 1989.
Parker was the second professional athlete to earn an average of $1 million per year, having signed a five-year, $5 million contract in January 1979. Parker's career achievements include 2,712 hits, 339 home runs, 1,493 runs batted in and a lifetime batting average of .290. Parker was also known as a solid defensive outfielder during the first half of his career with a powerful arm, winning three straight Gold Gloves during his prime. From 1975 to 1979, he threw out 72 runners, including 26 in 1977. In 2025, Parker will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[2]