Pirates legend Dave 'The Cobra' Parker dies at 74

Dave Parker, a legendary outfielder who won an MVP and a World Series with Pittsburgh, has died, the team announced Saturday. He was 74.

Born in Grenada, Miss., Parker grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. A standout at Courter Tech High School, the Pirates selected Parker in the 14th round of the 1970 MLB draft. Parker debuted for the Pirates in 1973 and served a key part of the organization for the next 10 years, a stretch that included the club’s most recent championship in 1979.

Parker quickly ascended to become one of the game’s top talents while in Pittsburgh, earning Gold Glove recognition three times, two batting titles, National League MVP honors in 1978 and one iconic nickname: “The Cobra.” His consistent high-end production made him baseball’s first player to earn a contract that paid an annual value of one million dollars.

“When the leaves turn brown, I'll be wearing the batting crown. That was one of my sayings,” Parker said during a zoom interview in December. “I always thought that I was going to be a major leaguer. I told my mother at eight years old that I would be a baseball star and one day buy a house.”

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2025/06/28/mlb-dave-parker-pirates-hall-of-fame/stories/202506280054?utm_source=post-gazette.com&utm_medium=emailshare

RIP.