Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Parker died Saturday at the age of 74, it was announced.
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Parker’s death before the start of their game Saturday. He died less than one month before his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Dave Parker.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 28, 2025
A legendary Pirate, Parker spent 11 years in a Pirates uniform, winning 2 batting titles, an MVP award and a World Series Championship in 1979.
The Cobra was part of the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame… pic.twitter.com/UuikGxw6dI
No cause of death was listed, but Parker had been open about his longtime battle with Parkinson’s disease following his retirement from MLB.
Parker played for six teams during his 19-year career, most famously with the Pirates. He was Roberto Clemente’s successor in right field and became a star in his own right, winning MVP honors in 1978 and a pair of NL batting titles. Nicknamed “the Cobra,” he also won three Gold Gloves during the early portion of his career.
Parker was an integral part of the Pirates team that won the World Series in 1979. He also starred with the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, and Milwaukee Brewers later in his career. He won a second championship with the Athletics in 1989.
Over the course of his career, Parker had three 30-home run seasons and hit .300 six times.
Tragically, Parker was slated to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on July 27. He was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Classic Baseball Era Committee last December. He had already been inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2012, and was part of the inaugural class of the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame in 2022.
