The baseball world mourned the dying of Dave Parker, Corridor of Famer and former Nationwide League MVP, on Saturday. The 19-year main leaguer had battled Parkinson’s illness for practically 15 years.
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, the groups with whom Parker performed nearly all of his MLB profession, expressed their condolences. As did the Athletics, Angels, Brewers and Blue Jays, along with Main League Baseball.
Loads of Parker’s former teammates, fellow Corridor of Famers and present Pirates gamers voiced their sympathies as nicely.
Fellow Corridor of Famer Bert Blyleven and Parker had been teammates on the Pirates from 1977-80, which included profitable the World Collection in 1979.
Man, I’m crushed,” former teammate Dave Stewart advised USA As we speak’s Bob Nightengale. Hes one of many best teammates Ive ever had. He had such a presence when he walked into the room.”
Parker and Stewart performed collectively on the Oakland Athletics in 1988 and 1989, attending to the World Collection in each seasons and profitable a championship on their second attempt.
Keith Hernandez didn’t play on any groups with Parker, however was definitely a peer as each had been high main leaguers within the late Seventies by the Eighties.
Hernandez did certainly win the Nationwide League batting title in 1979 with a .344 common after Parker gained it for the earlier two consecutive seasons, batting .338 in 1977 and .334 in 1978.
Fellow Corridor of Famer Frank Thomas remembered fielding a floor ball from Parker at first base early in his main league profession.
Eric Davis, Parker’s teammate with the Reds, issued a press release as a result of he was too distraught to speak, based on Nightengale. The thought that Parker wouldn’t be alive for his Corridor of Fame induction was too upsetting.
He in all probability had extra impression on younger gamers than any participant Ive ever been round,” Davis stated.
Present Reds supervisor Terry Francona performed with Parker on the 1987 Reds and 1990 Brewers, remembered attending to play with a star he lengthy admired.
Pirates veteran Andrew McCutchen shared his ideas on Parker with MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf, acknowledging what he meant to Pittsburgh followers.
McCutchen’s teammate, Nick Gonzales, presently wears the No. 39 jersey that Parker wore throughout his 11 seasons with the Pirates (and all through his profession) and thinks it must be retired.
Parker was elected to the Baseball Corridor of Fame in December by the Basic Period Committee, incomes votes on 14 of 16 ballots. He might be formally inducted into Cooperstown on July 27.