Tuesday links from the world of the Cincinnati Reds.
Former Cincinnati Reds great and Hall of Famer Dave Parker passed away over the weekend. The 74 year old had dealt with Parkinson’s Disease since being diagnosed back in 2012.
Parker’s HoF limbo lasted nearly 35 years from the end of his playing days, which spanned 19 seasons from 1973 through 1991. This past winter, though, he was finally elected, and was set to be inducted formally in Cooperstown in just one more month.
The 1978 NL MVP with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Parker eventually landed in Cincinnati as a free agent prior to the 1984 season. He finished in the Top 5 in NL MVP voting in each of the 1985 and 1986 seasons, across which his 241 RBI trailed only Yankees great Don Mattingly in all of Major League Baseball.
Parker, who was born in Mississippi but raised in Cincinnati, remained a fixture in the Queen City after his playing days eventually took him to Oakland, Milwaukee, Anaheim, and Toronto. We here at Red Reporter send condolences to his family.
Jay Jaffe, HoF laureate that he is, paid homage to The Cobra over at FanGraphs, and it’s well worth a read.
Steve Buckley of The Athletic sat down with Parker’s contemporary (and fellow HoFer) Jim Rice to discuss an old Sports Illustrated cover that featured the pair, and it’s a wonderful read.
Bret Buganksi of WCPO caught up with Parker’s former high school guidance counselor, and it, too, is worth your time.
Rest in peace, Cobra.