Dave Parker says he should be in the Hall of Fame

[Bearcat729]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/a...=.jsp&c_id=mlb


12/29/2005 10:00 AM ET
Parker on HOF ballot again
Slugger hoping to finally be granted enshrinement
By Ed Eagle / MLB.com

PITTSBURGH -- There was a time during the late 1970s when Dave Parker was arguably the best player in baseball, and he seemed destined to one day be immortalized in the hallowed halls of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

However, after 10 years on the ballot, the man known as "The Cobra" is still waiting for baseball writers to punch his ticket to Cooperstown.

An intimidating 6-foot-6, 235-pound right fielder with a sweet swing and powerful arm, there was nothing Parker couldn't do on the baseball diamond during his prime. As a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, he won consecutive National League batting crowns in 1977 and in 1978. He was selected as the NL Most Valuable Player in 1978. He won the All-Star MVP in 1979 after making two tremendous defensive plays to preserve the win for the NL. Later that season, Parker and "The Family" led the Pittsburgh to its fifth World Championship.

Injuries and off-the-field problems, including being a key figure in a highly publicized drug trial that rocked the baseball world, derailed Parker's dominance in the early 1980s.

Parker came back in a big way in 1985 with his hometown Reds, batting .312 with 34 home runs and 125 RBIs and finishing second to St. Louis' Willie McGee in voting for the NL MVP award. Parker later went on to serve as an important cog on the Oakland A's 1988 AL championship and 1989 world championship teams and appeared in the 1990 All-Star Game as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.

By the time he decided to hang up the cleats for good in 1991, Parker's 19-year big league totals included a .290 average, 2,712 hits, 339 home runs and 1,491 RBIs -- numbers he has always said were worthy of Hall of Fame enshrinement.

"I won two batting titles, should have won two MVPs, was in three World Series, was the MVP of the All-Star Game, DH of the Year twice, and won the RBI crown," Parker said. "I did everything that you could possibly do in baseball and I'm not in the Hall?

"I should be in the Hall of Fame," he said. "Ain't no doubt about it."

The perceived slight from the media, with whom he never had a cozy relationship, troubled Parker. It's not surprising that Parker would prefer to have former players rather than writers determining whether a player is worthy or not for baseball's hallowed halls.

Dave Parker's resume
Teams: Pirates, Reds, Athletics, Brewers, Angels, Blue Jays
Key stats: 2,712 hits, .290 career BA
Awards: '77 NL Batting Title, '78 Batting Title, '78 NL MVP, '79 All-Star MVP
Best HOF vote Pct.: 24.52% in 1998
Peers in Hall: Dave Winfield, Reggie Jackson, Willie Stargell


"I played with nagging injuries to benefit my ballclub," Parker said. "That's why you need someone like a Hall of Famer [voting] that's done the similar things and compiled those numbers because only they know. A writer doesn't know. Some of these kids that are voting for the Hall of Fame have never seen me play."

Only 65, or 12.6 percent, of the voters agreed with Parker in 2004, and he fell far short of the 387 votes (75 percent) needed for entrance into the Hall of Fame. Only five players been on the ballot longer than Parker without gaining the 75 percent required for admission to Cooperstown: first baseman Steve Garvey (14 years), pitcher Bruce Sutter (13), shortstop Dave Concepcion (13), pitcher Tommy John (12) and outfielder Jim Rice (12). Candidates need to receive at least 5 percent of the vote to remain on the ballot.

Ed Eagle is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[Poli]

The guy once hit a triple.

A triple!

[JeffR]

Hey Dave, Andre Dawson called. He says get in line.

[QuikSand]

"I did everything that you could possibly do in baseball..."

Did you complete an unassisted triple play? Throw a perfect game? Play all nine positions in one game? Steal home? Manage your own team? Strike out the side with the bases loaded? Bunt in the winning run? Hit for the cycle in ten straight games? Drive a ball into the rafters in a domed stadium? Have your fielders all sit down and rest while you struck out the side? Point out where you were going to hit the home run with your bat, then do it? Stir the drink?

'Cause if you haven't done all that, you haven't done everything you could possibly do in baseball.



I hate phrases like that.

[Poli]

My dad should have won two MVPs.

[Greyroofoo]

I could've been a contender............

[GreenMonster]

Originally Posted by JeffR

Hey Dave, Andre Dawson called. He says get in line.

Jim Rice says Dave can get a spot in line after him and Dawson.

[kcchief19]

Ugh ... I don't know. His numbers are borderline. If anything, Rice has comparable credentials and hasn't gotten the support either. Parker, Rice and Dale Murphy are all in this category of player who had about five years where they were all that and a bag of chips but were derailed by injuries and slowed down late in their prime when they could have solidified their spot in the hall.

I think Parker's role in the drug scandal is a minor consideration. Rice and Murphy weren't coke heads and they aren't in the hall either.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Here's a little something for ya Dave ...
http://www.cooperstowntickets.com/

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Here's a little something for ya Dave ...
http://www.cooperstowntickets.com/

Well played

SI

[Poli]

Dave's mom goes to college.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Did you complete an unassisted triple play? Throw a perfect game? Play all nine positions in one game? Steal home? Manage your own team? Strike out the side with the bases loaded? Bunt in the winning run? Hit for the cycle in ten straight games? Drive a ball into the rafters in a domed stadium? Have your fielders all sit down and rest while you struck out the side? Point out where you were going to hit the home run with your bat, then do it? Stir the drink?

You know who did all that in one game? Chuck Norris.

[GreenMonster]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

You know who did all that in one game? Chuck Norris.

Hit the cycle in 10 straight games in 1 game. Chuck Norris.

[Poli]

Bill Buckner called Dave Parker and told him to get in line.

So did Denny Walling.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Did you complete an unassisted triple play? Throw a perfect game? Play all nine positions in one game? Steal home? Manage your own team? Strike out the side with the bases loaded? Bunt in the winning run? Hit for the cycle in ten straight games? Drive a ball into the rafters in a domed stadium? Have your fielders all sit down and rest while you struck out the side? Point out where you were going to hit the home run with your bat, then do it? Stir the drink?

'Cause if you haven't done all that, you haven't done everything you could possibly do in baseball.

I hate phrases like that.

Computers still have a hard time handling hyperbole.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Did you complete an unassisted triple play? Throw a perfect game? Play all nine positions in one game? Steal home? Manage your own team? Strike out the side with the bases loaded? Bunt in the winning run? Hit for the cycle in ten straight games? Drive a ball into the rafters in a domed stadium? Have your fielders all sit down and rest while you struck out the side? Point out where you were going to hit the home run with your bat, then do it? Stir the drink?

'Cause if you haven't done all that, you haven't done everything you could possibly do in baseball.



I hate phrases like that.

I think Chunk Norris did all that. With his hands tied behind his back.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

You know who did all that in one game? Chuck Norris.

DAMN you I hadn't got to your post yet!

*shakes fist*

[st.cronin]

If he wanted to be in the hall of fame, he should have taken steroids.

[oykib]

I actually like Parker's candidacy more than Rice's. But neither of them really belongs.

It's Blyleven that's getting the shaft. Goose Gossage, too.