Dave Parker Has Passed Away

[GasHouseGang]

Dave Parker, who was nicknamed "The Cobra" by the Pirates broadcasters, died this weekend at 74 years old. He was a great hitter, but I'll always remember this play during the 1979 AS game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PH6XJypKno

[71buc]

He was my favorite player at that time. My Dad took me to that game. We were sitting in the RF bleachers that day. My wife and I are headed to our first HOF induction ceremony in Cooperstown next month. He was my primary reason for attending. It’s heartbreaking that he won’t be delivering what I’m sure would have been an unvarnished speech. The same could be said for Dick Allen.

[roarfrom34]

met The Cobra at a banquet in 2009 and he was kind enough to sign a few items for me

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

met The Cobra at a banquet in 2009 and he was kind enough to sign a few items for me

Yowza! He wrote '79 MVP, instead of '78 MVP.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Yowza! He wrote '79 MVP, instead of '78 MVP.

He was the MVP of the 1979 All Star Game and was signing the program for it so makes sense.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by jayshum

He was the MVP of the 1979 All Star Game and was signing the program for it so makes sense.

Excellent!! Was hoping it made sense somehow. Thank you.

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Dave Parker, who was nicknamed "The Cobra" by the Pirates broadcasters, died this weekend at 74 years old. He was a great hitter, but I'll always remember this play during the 1979 AS game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PH6XJypKno

I was a 9 year old kid in 79, living north of Seattle. That All Star game was a BIG DEAL...I'll never forget watching with two awesome memories. Our home town hero Bruce Bochty made it as an AS and actually got a hit....and Dave Parkers throw. He was quickly announced as a GOD to me and my buddies. I'll never forget it. I also remember the "we are family" Pirates of 79...first WS that I watched every game with my Dad. What a cast of characters, I tried to through like Kent Tekulve my entire youth...haha.

RIP...appreciate the memories.

[Bigdaddy]

My Cobra story:

About 10-12 years ago, I met Dave Parker at the CSA show signing autographs. At the time, I was pursuing autographs in a book of photos by Walter Iooss. Lots of beautiful photos and I've been able to get many of them signed - Koufax, Rose, Aaron, Bench, Carlton, Carew, Reggie, etc. Anyway, there is a picture of Dave Parker in it that I asked him to sign. This particular picture is of him and Grant Jackson in the Pirates dugout smoking cigarettes. His initial reaction was 'I don't sign that picture. Of all the things I did in baseball, why does that photo have to be the one in the book?' After showing him some of the other signatures and explaining my quest to get them signed, he relented and gave me a nice, blue sharpie sig. Overall a nice guy and glad to see him finally elected to the HOF. Had a outstanding peak and a nice second wind.

Here's the photo without the auto: