Dave Parker!

Skinpinch

The more I look at it, and the more I look back, the Cobra was simply a stud.

joestalin

I have autos of parker, stargell and maz..would tonight be a good time to list them?

JS

Writer11

There was a good article about the Cobra in the recent "Where Are They Now?" edition of Sports Illustrated. Parker is pretty adament that he belongs in Cooperstown.

Skinpinch

I prefer him over Paul Molitor, to say the least. Over Puckett as well. When his value added hitting(includes hitting with men on), it really shows how dangerous and valuable a hitter he was.

Parker at 365 runs above average.
Molitor at 328
Puckett at 239

Rice at 189

The measurement isn't pefect, as it gives credit to the batter of the good/bad deeds of the baserunners that were on base, i.e thrown out on base, or advancing extra. But it paints a pretty strong picture.

dude

He was indeed talented, but had a drug problem which hurt him and became a distraction to his team. As long as the voters recall that, it may be a long time before he is considered for the Hall of Fame.

Skinpinch

Yes, the drugs did play a role...he, Keith Hernandez, Tim Raines all had that. I'm not sure if my memory is accurate, but did Paul Molitor do something too? Something in the back of my head has him doing some too.

hardcorehockeyfan

Paul Molitor was doing marijuana and cocaine before his career really took off, I remember something to that effect!!!

aro13

Yes, Molitor was a cocaine user early in his career. Of course, 3000 career hits and lots of tears after a World Series MVP will offset the cocaine use.
I always liked Parker, my lasting image of him was against Toronto with Oakland in the 1989 play-offs. Early in the series Kelly Gruber sounded off about how the Oakland batters were styling around the bases after their homers. The next game Parker hit a long homer and after taking about half an hour to get to third he waved his finger scoldingly at Gruber. Gruber did not say another word.

JS - You probably should have listed them earlier.

GlynRParson

Parker is probably one of my top 3 favorite players of all time with Pops and Madlock. I grew up loving the Pirates boy have i been disappointed for a long time with my baseball team. if only they had sold to mark cuban when he tried to buy them, at least hed spend some cash for some decent players for that gorgeous ballpark.

bri2327

That is definately one beautiful ballpark. I was there for a game against cubbies on easter and was blown away.

I always liked Parker as a young kid too. Some of my earliest baseball memories were of the Pirates. I dont know if it was on TWIB, but it seemed him, Madlock, Stargell and them were always on TV, even in the NY area. Back in the late 70's and early 80's there was a huge amount of Pittsburgh coverage between them and the Steelers. The coke commercial with Mean Joe Greene made me beg my father for a jersey when I was 6. i thought he was the greatest guy in the world at that age for giving that kid his jersey !

dallasactuary

Parker was a stud, and would undoubtedly be in Cooperstown if not for his "issues"; that has to be the only thing keeping Raines out, as well. Maybe we could create a HOF for criminals, jerks and other unfortunate souls; I'd nominate Joe Jackson, Pete Rose and Dick Allen for the inaugural class.

gemint

Parker was a great ball player when he wasn't doing drugs. However, he was a grade A jerk. Being a big Pirate fan and growing up near Pittsburgh, I used to hang out with the other kids outside the player exit after the games. Parker said some things to the fans that I can't repeat here. Maybe it was the drugs or maybe that's his regular personality but it definitely soured my image of him.

Cincykid8123

I remember a more mellow Parker from his days in Cincinnati. He was always good about signing after a game. He's been on WLW several times over the past few years talking about his fast food business ventures. He also plays in a local celebrity softball game around town every year.

estang

I read the SI article about him now. He hasn't changed much. I recently picked up a Baseball Magazine from 1978 and there's an in-depth article about Parker that has him droning on and on about how he should be making all sorts of money and should have been called up earlier. Abrasive and arrogant came across.

Combine that with his drug problems and I'd imagine he's not going to get a lot of support for the HOF. He doesn't have the magic numbers anyway. He's there with Jim Rice, Dick Allen, Fred Lynn, Andre Dawson --- great at times, but not for long enough period.

Don't get me wrong, he was great --- just not HOF great for enough years.

Skinpinch

The Hall of Fame does have character in its qualifications, though we all know the hypocrisy of who is in and out.

Not playing early enough? Maybe he has a gripe. Their outfield was good, and he found himself behind some good talent. Or maybe he was upset that RObertson was still playing too much, and that Stargell should have been moved to 1B two years sooner. Either way, he probably was good enough to be playing full time his first couple of seasons, or maybe called up a season sooner. Just think how differently he would be viewed with those extra 1,000 at bats? He would have 3,000 hits! So that is basically keeping him out of the HOF. And that is the gripe I have with how the Hall is viewed and voted on. How does two decent seasons from a young Dave Parker change his Hall of Fame status? As that is basically the difference because if he was playing full time like he was probably capable of doing and that allowed him to get 3,000, then he would be viewed as a HOF lock.

GlynRParson

<< <i>Parker was a great ball player when he wasn't doing drugs. However, he was a grade A jerk. Being a big Pirate fan and growing up near Pittsburgh, I used to hang out with the other kids outside the player exit after the games. Parker said some things to the fans that I can't repeat here. Maybe it was the drugs or maybe that's his regular personality but it definitely soured my image of him. >>





this stuff doesnt matter to me. i view a player by onfield performance. i dont feel they owe me anything as a fan other then trying hard on the field.