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Former Major League Baseball outfielder Dave Parker, who is scheduled to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame next month, has died at the age of 74, his former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, announced on Saturday (June 28).
"We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Dave Parker. 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 class in 2022, and will be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown next month," the Pirates wrote on their X account.
No additional details regarding Parker's death were shared immediately. The seven-time All-Star spent his first 11 seasons with the Pirates (1973-1983) before stints with the Cincinnati Reds (1984-1987), Oakland Athletics (1988-1989), Milwaukee Brewers (1990), then-California Angels (1991) and Toronto Blue Jays (1991).
Parker won the 1978 National League MVP, two World Series championships with the Pirates in 1979 and the A's in 1989, three Gold Glove Awards (1977-1979) three Silver Slugger Awards (1985, 1986, 1990) and was the NL batting champion twice in 1977 and 1978 and NL RBI leader in 1985.
"All of us throughout the game are deeply saddened by this loss," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement shared on the league's official website. "We will remember the Cobra forever, especially as his name soon officially joins the legends of our National Pastime. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my sympathy to Dave’s family and his fans across the game."