Pirates World Series Champ Gets Baseball Hall Of Fame Nod

PITTSBURGH, PA — Dave Parker, an integral part of the Pirates' last world championship team in 1979, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday by the Classic Baseball Era Committee.

Allen and Parker will be a part of the Class of 2025, joining any potential inductees from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame ballot, which will be announced in January. The induction ceremony will occur July 27 in Cooperstown, NY.

Nicknamed "The Cobra,"Parker played his first 11 seasons in Pittsburgh before leaving town after battling injuries and drug problems. While with the Bucs, he won back-to-back batting titles in 1977 and 1978 and captured the 1978 MVP award when he batted .334 with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs.

After departing the Pirates, Parker played for the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and California Angels.

But Parker told MLB.com that his favorite professional moment was winning the 1979 World Series with the Pirates, who beat the Baltimore Orioles in seven games.

“I’m proud of a group thing,” Parker said. “The fact that I played in that era because the '70s was tough. You had to be a heck of a player to play in the '70s and I enjoyed them. I liked the competition, used to love those battles with [the Phillies] and [Mets]. I just enjoyed playing.”