Pittsburgh Pirates Legend Dave Parker Passes Away at 74

Pittsburgh mourns the loss of one of its baseball greats, Dave Parker. The celebrated outfielder, who had a storied career with the Pirates, has died at the age of 74.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Hall of Famer, Dave Parker," the Pirates shared on their social media.

Next month, Parker is set to be honored in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Additionally, last year, Parker was recognized as a founding member of the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame.

Widely known by his nickname "Cobra," Parker dedicated 11 years of his 19-season Major League Baseball career to the Pirates, serving the team from 1973 until 1983.

An Illustrious Career

Throughout his career, Parker achieved a .290 batting average, hit 339 home runs, and drove in 1,493 runs. He claimed consecutive batting titles in the late 1970s.

In 1977, Parker dominated the National League, posting an average of .338, collecting 215 hits, and striking 44 doubles. His impressive performances earned him the National League MVP title in 1978 with a .334 average, 30 home runs, and 117 RBIs.

Not only was Parker a seven-time All-Star, but he also earned the MVP award during the 1979 All-Star Game.