The Hall Of Fame Case For The Cobra | Dave Parker Was One Of The Greatest

The Hall Of Fame Case For The Cobra | Dave Parker Was One Of The Greatest

To say that Dave Parker was one of the most polarizing players of his generation would be an understatement.

 

For a five-year stretch from 1975 through 1979, the 6-foot-5 outfielder was arguably MLB’s best all-around player.

 

After making his MLB debut in July of 1973 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Parker would become a two-time All Star (1977, 1979), win back-to-back NL batting crowns (1977, 1978), an NL MVP Award in 1978, and a year later, helped lead the Bucs to a World Series title.

Exclusive Missing Chapters From Baseball Legend Dave Parker’s Memoir | Cobra: A Life of Baseball and Brotherhood (Part 3)

 

Parker also led the NL in slugging percentage twice (1975 and 1978), was named to The Sporting News’ postseason National League all-star team three times (1975, 1977, 1978) and won three Gold Gloves (1977-79).

 

In 1977, Parker had 26 assists, which at the time was the most for any MLB outfielder in a season since another Pirate right fielder, Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, had 27 in 1961.

 

His defensive prowess would be showcased during the 1979 All-Star Game in Seattle. Parker was tabbed as the game’s MVP due to a pair of outstanding defensive plays that kept the game close.

 

In the seventh inning, with the AL leading 6-5, Parker overran leadoff hitter Boston’s Jim Rice’s shallow fly ball, went back into the right-field corner to retrieve it after a high bounce, and retired Rice trying to advance to third base with a one-hop throw. 

 

An inning later with the game tied 6-6, Parker fielded New York’s Graig Nettles’ hit in deep right field and threw home. The ball reached Montreal catcher Gary Carter shoulder-high on the fly, and Carter tagged out California’s Brian Downing trying to score the go-ahead run.

 

The National League scored in the ninth and held on to win 7-6.

 

Earlier that season, Pittsburgh signed Parker to a five-year contract which replaced his current deal. While the terms aside from the length were not disclosed, for years afterward, it was referred to as baseball’s first million-dollar-a-year contract.

 

However, things began to unravel for Parker on and off the field after signing the deal. Parker’s hitting suffered due to injuries and weight problems. Disgruntled Pirate fans angered by his million-dollar contract began booing him.

 

At one point, Parker was pelted by nuts and bolts, bullets, and batteries while playing in right field. It was eerily similar to the kind of treatment bestowed on Philadelphia’s Dick Allen during his initial seasons with the Phillies.

 

 

 

During a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 20, 1980, Parker immediately removed himself from the first game of a doubleheader following a throwing incident and did not play the field in the second game.

 

Said Parker, “I could hear it go by me. It was too close for comfort. I wasn’t going to stand there and give him another shot.” Reports stated that Parker asked for a trade the following day.

 

While the Pirates did not immediately grant the request, it became apparent that Parker’s days in the Steel City were numbered. It would later be revealed that Parker was using cocaine during this period. When Parker was granted, free agency following the 1983 season, he would sign with the Cincinnati Reds. Playing in his hometown, he returned to the form that made him a perennial All-Star in Pittsburgh.

 

Dave Parker Has Rebirth With Cincinnati Reds 

 

In 1985, Parker enjoyed his best season since he won the 1978 MVP with a .312 batting average and 34 home runs; he also led the National League with 125 RBIs, 42 doubles, 80 extra-base hits and 350 total bases. 

 

Parker finished second in 1985 MVP voting to St. Louis outfielder Willie McGee.  and was also the league’s first-ever Home Run Derby winner that season.  However, Parker’s past transgressions would be revealed to the public during the offseason.

 

Parker was among several players who testified against a dealer in the Pittsburgh drug trials. Named as “a regular user”, Parker and six other players were suspended for the following season. Granted immunity in exchange for his testimony against a man charged with distributing cocaine to professional baseball players, Parker said he first used cocaine while playing winter baseball in Venezuela in 1976.

 

 

Parker added that he used the drug “with consistency” from 1979 until he quit late in the 1982 season because “my game was slipping. I felt it played a part in it.” While Parker could not face criminal prosecution, his admission had financial consequences.

 

The sentences were commuted, however, in exchange for donating ten percent of their base salaries to drug-related community service, submitting to random drug testing, and contributing 100 hours of drug-related community service.

 

Parker had another fine year for the Reds in 1986, playing every game and finishing fifth in the MVP voting. He led the league in total bases while hitting 31 homers and driving in 116 runs. 

 

In 1987 he drove in 97 runs, but his batting average dropped to a career low .253. During the offseason the Reds traded Parker to the Oakland A’s for pitchers Jose Rijo and Tim Birtsas. 

 

In Oakland, Parker was able to extend his career by spending most of his time as a DH. 

 

Exclusive Missing Chapters From Baseball Legend Dave Parker’s Memoir | Cobra: A Life of Baseball and Brotherhood (Part 2)

 

Although injuries and age caught up to him to a degree – he hit just .257 with 12 homers in 377 at-bats in 1988 and .264 with 22 homers in 553 at-bats in 1989 – his veteran leadership was a significant factor in the A’s consecutive World Series appearances.

 

In 1989, Parker led the team with 97 RBIs during the regular season and won the league’s Designated Hitter of the Year award, then hit his first postseason home runs, two against Toronto in the ALCS. Parker’s second dinger came in Game One of the World Series as he won another World Series title which came exactly 10 years after his first one with the Pirates in 1979.

 

Parker signed with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 1990 season and had a solid year as the Brewers’ DH with a .289 average and 21 home runs in 610 at-bats. He was even selected as a reserve for the 1990 All-Star Game. 

 

These MLB Bros Should Be In Baseball Hall Of Fame

 

Parker would finish his career a year later with the California Angels. He hit .232 with 11 homers in 119 games and was released on September 7. A week later he was picked up by the Toronto Blue Jays.  He announced his retirement at the season’s end.

 

Hall Of Fame Worthy Resume? 

 

During his 19-year career, Parker finished with a .290 batting average, 2,712 hits, 339 home runs, 1,493 RBIs and 1,272 runs scored. During his 11 years in Pittsburgh, the Pirates won the NL East three times, and finished second three times. 

 

Parker has never received more than 24% of votes on Hall of Fame ballots, and his 15-year Baseball Writers’ Association of America eligibility was exhausted on the 2011 ballot. 

 

He is currently under consideration for the Modern Baseball era committee. It’s safe to say that his involvement with the Pittsburgh drug trials has contributed to his not being voted into the Hall of Fame. That being said, two current inductees – Orlando Cepeda and Tim Raines – have been able to overcome scrutiny of their past drug usage to eventually be voted into Cooperstown. 

 

Tim Raines’ Franchise Record Falls | MLBbro & FAMU Legend Still Reps Best College For Black Outfield Talent

 

Subsequently, Parker was elected to the Reds Hall of Fame Class of 2014. Two years earlier, he was inducted into the Cincinnati Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame. On September 3, 2022, he was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class.

 

Parker was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012 and made his condition public in an interview in August of 2013, although he added that he was able to deal with the condition with a healthy diet and exercise. Parker has had both of his knees replaced due to injuries from his playing career. He is involved in raising money to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease through the Dave Parker 39 Foundation.

 

One man’s opinion: Parker burst upon the MLB scene and established himself as one of the game’s best. After overcoming his demons, he was able to restart his career, re-establish his place in the game, and eventually become a mentor to many of his teammates in his final playing days.

 

 

To me, the Cobra deserves to have his plaque in Cooperstown.

 

MLBbro Spring Training: Aaron Hicks Comes Back Home To California With LA Angels

MLBbro Spring Training: Aaron Hicks Comes Back Home To California With LA Angels

WELCOME HOME Aaron Hicks!!

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Aaron Hicks is ready to begin his 12th season in the big leagues. When the regular season begins on March 28th, he will be playing for a team that truly is close to home for him. 

 

The Southern California native is excited about 2024: “It feels amazing, playing in front of family is definitely going to be fun”.

 

Speaking of fun, he also added another benefit of being back in very familiar territory:

“I’ll be able to visit all of the breakfast spots I used to go to back in the day,” Hicks told MLBbro.com. 

 

 

The beginning of the baseball season always has its share of delays in the East and Midwest, which no ballplayer loves. Part of Hicks’ excitement is being at home in the early part of the season.

“Playing on the west coast is obviously better weather from the start” the switch hitter mentioned. 

 

His manager Ron Washington is a veteran skipper but like Hicks is in his first year with the Angels as well.

Hicks was perfect on the stolen base paths in 2023 but chuckled when asked about his new manager’s baseball philosophy: “It’s a lot more running than I’m used to”.

 

Hicks is usually at or near the top of the lineup so we can expect him to be a big part of what Washington plans to do this season. The always important relationship between player and manager seems to be very good.

“I’ve been talking to him a lot. Having conversations with him about certain situations and what he wants us to do as a team” Hicks said. 

 

Hicks is a product of Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California.

“A lot of it was the people around me. Being able to go through the academy was huge for me. I kind of had an idea of what the pros would be like” Hicks suggested. “As a sophomore in high school, I’m talking to professionals, and they are explaining different ways to play the game and now I’m understanding different situations before I’m supposed to” he reflected on.

 

There is a certain retired outfielder that played 19 years in the major leagues, five of which were with Hicks current team that he is fond of.

“Torii Hunter. I just enjoyed the way he played the game, and he could steal some homeruns with some incredible defense.” Hicks said. “In 2015 to play with him and it was truly amazing to have that experience with him” he concluded.

 

With a new setting and team along with a veteran manager, Hicks will provide leadership to this roster.

 

Answers To MLBbro Trivia | Test Your Bro Knowledge

Answers To MLBbro Trivia | Test Your Bro Knowledge

Welcome back to MLBbro.com’s first-ever baseball trivia contest.

 

Last week, we posted some trivia questions that dealt with the rich history of the Negro Leagues, MLB, and beyond from past and current eras. We’ve given y’all one week to get your answers ready.

 

Now, today we reveal the answers. Let’s go!!!!

 

Question 1

 

This MLB stolen base champion was a two-time all-conference selection while serving double duty as a punter and kicker. He also played on a national championship team at the same college. Who is he?

 

Answer: Vince Coleman

 

While at Florida A&M, Coleman played baseball and football for the Rattlers. Serving as a punter and kicker, the Jacksonville native was a two-time All-MEAC selection for both positions in 1980-81. His game-winning 34-yard field goal was the margin of victory when FAMU upset the Division 1-A Miami Hurricanes in 1979. A year earlier, Coleman was a member of the Rattlers’ NCAA 1-AA National Championship team.

 

Coleman’s football prowess came following the success of his cousin, Greg Coleman who was also a punter at Florida A&M in the 1970s and went on to a 12-year career in the NFL. Vince would be signed by the Washington Redskins as a free agent but quit after a week of training camp because the team wanted to convert him into a wide receiver.

 

That same year, Coleman was drafted in the 10th round of the MLB Amateur Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. During his baseball days at FAMU, he set the all-time single-season stolen base record for the Rattlers, with seven steals in a single game and 65 steals in 1981.

 

He also led the NCAA that season in both total steals and stolen base percentage. As a major leaguer, Coleman stole over 100 bases in each of his first three seasons, making him the only player in the 20th century to post three consecutive seasons of 100 or more steals and the first player in Major League history to steal 100 bases in the first three seasons of their career. He finished his career with 752 steals, sixth most in MLB history.

 

Question 2

 

Which player was the first black pitcher to throw a no-hitter in MLB history?

 

Answer: “Sad” Sam Jones

 

In a career that spanned from 1947 through 1964, Jones pitched for eight teams with the Negro Leagues and MLB. the Ohio native began his professional career with the Cleveland Buckeyes. In 1949, he was signed by the Cleveland Indians and would make his major debut in 1951.

 

Following the 1954 season, Jones was traded to the Chicago Cubs in a deal that involved future Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner. During that first season in Chicago on May 12, 1955, Jones would no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. He became the first black pitcher to toss a no-no in MLB history.

 

He achieved this after walking Gene Freese, Preston Ward (who was then pinch-run for by Roman Mejias) and Tom Saffell to begin the ninth inning. Jones then left the bases loaded by striking out Dick Groat, Roberto Clemente, and Frank Thomas in succession. During his career, Jones led the NL in strikeouts, and walks, three times: in 1955, 1956, and 1958.

 

One other significant note during Jones’ career. When he entered a game on May 3, 1952, 39-year-old rookie Quincy Trouppe, a Negro League veteran, was behind the plate. Together they formed the first black battery in AL history. Both Jones and Trouppe were briefly teammates for the Cleveland Buckeyes.

 

Question 3

 

Who is the only player to homer in the MLB All-Star Game and the Negro League East-West All-Star Classic?

 

Answer: Jim “Junior” Gilliam

 

While playing for the Baltimore Elite Giants in 1950, Gilliam homered in the East-West Classic for the East in their 5-3 loss at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

It was Gilliam’s third and final Negro League All-Star Classic appearance. A year later, the native of Nashville was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Two years later, he would make his MLB debut taking over second base from Jackie Robinson, who was shifted to the outfield and third base.

 

He led the NL Champs with 125 runs scored and his 17 triples led the league as Gilliam would earn Rookie of the Year honors, as well as The Sporting News’ Rookie of the Year Award.

 

In 1956, Giliiam was named to his first NL All-Star team and was tabbed a second time in 1959. In the second All-Star Game of that season played at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Gilliam connected off Billy O’Dell in the AL’s 5-3 win. Gilliam played his entire MLB career for the Dodgers until he retired in 1966.

 

Question 4

 

When Willie Mays hit his 600th career homer in 1969, he was pinch hitting for a player who would eventually become a perennial All-Star and a World Series champion. Who is he?

 

Answer: George Foster

 

Known more for his time with the Cincinnati Reds, Foster made his MLB debut with the Giants as a 20-year old in September of that season. On September 22, the future Hall of Famer pinch hit for Foster and connected for his 600th homer off Mike Corkins in the Giants’ 4-2 victory at Jack Murphy Stadium.

 

After serving as the fourth outfielder in San Francisco for the initial part of his career, Foster was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1971. The rest as they say is history. By 1975, Foster would become one of the main cogs of the Big Red Machine.

 

For the next seven seasons, Foster was a 5-time All-Star, a 2-time World Series Champion as well as the NL’s MVP in 1977. That season, Foster was just the 10th player in major league history to reach the 50-homer mark, and the first ever Cincinnati Reds player. His 149 RBIs also led the majors. He finished fourth in the NL in batting, missing the Triple Crown by .018 behind Pittsburgh’s Dave Parker.

 

Question 5

 

Who is the only black catcher to ever win the Rookie of the Year Award?

 

Answer: Earl Williams

 

Ironically, Williams never played the position until he reached the majors in 1971 with the Atlanta Braves. The Somerset, NJ native began the season as the club’s fourth outfielder but injuries and retirements led to Williams ascension as Atlanta’s newest backstop.

 

After playing first base and third base most of the year, on May 23rd in a game against the New York Mets, Williams would make his professional debut as a backstop. He would make his first start behind the plate on June 20 against the Cincinnati Reds. He ended up appearing in 72 games at catcher, committing eight errors and catching 28% of potential base stealers.  

 

Although he never developed into more than a poor defensive catcher, his offensive numbers – a .260 batting average, 33 homers and 87 RBIs – were enough to earn him 18 of 24 first place votes.

 

Williams also became the first Brave to win the Rookie of the Year Award since Sam Jethro in 1950 when the franchise was in Boston. The other first place votes went to Philadelphia outfielder Willie Montanez.

 

Bonus Question

 

What is the historical significance of September 1, 1971, and its impact on the game of baseball?

MLBbro.com Shines The Light On First All-Minority Starting Lineup In MLB History

On this date, the Pttsburgh Pirates fielded the first all-Black lineup in MLB history in a 10-7 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

 

THE LINEUP

 

Rennie Stennett 2B

Gene Clines CF

Roberto Clemente RF

Willie Stargell LF

Manny Sanguillén C

Dave Cash 3B

Al Oliver 1B

Jackie Hernández SS

Dock Ellis P

 

Five of those players — Clines, Stargell, Cash, Oliver and Ellis — were African American. Clemente hailed from Puerto Rico, Sanguillén and Stennett from Panamá, and Hernández from Cuba.

“We have a story to tell”| Bronze Cleats From Desecrated Jackie Robinson Statue Donated To Negro Leagues Baseball Musem

“We have a story to tell”| Bronze Cleats From Desecrated Jackie Robinson Statue Donated To Negro Leagues Baseball Musem

When the Jackie Robinson statue was stolen from McAdams Park, where League 42 plays its games, on Jan. 24, then desecrated and burned by some haters, the entire baseball community ran to lend a helping hand in getting the statue found, restored and spreading the word and giving donations. The statue suffered $75K worth of damage and its remnants were discovered about seven miles from the park.

The Baseball World Unites, Raising Almost $200,000 To Replace Stolen and Damaged Jackie Robinson Statue

Cleats From Desecrated Statue Donated To Negro Leagues Baseball Museum 

League 42 will donate the bronze cleats from its Jackie Robinson statue to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (Kansas City, Missouri), Bob Lutz, the founder and executive director of League 42, told ESPN on Friday.

The organization, which was founded in 2013 and named in Robinson’s honor, was started by Lutz to promote the play of African American youths in baseball.

After the plan to replace the statue was finalized thanks to great leadership by League 42 and local community leaders, in conjunction with Major League Baseball and The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, a strategy was formed to put the desecrated statue to good use.

Stolen Jackie Robinson Statue Found “Dismantled and Burned” With $75K Worth Of Damage

Donating them to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum — the league Robinson played in before breaking MLB’s color barrier — seemed like the most logical choice.

“We thought it was the absolute right thing to do,” Lutz said. “It’s looking like the cleats will be delivered by April 11, definitely before Jackie Robinson Day [April 15].”

Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, told ESPN that there will be a ceremony when the cleats arrive at the museum.

 

Arrest Made In Case Of Stolen, Damaged and Burned Jackie Robinson Statue

Kendrick said the museum already has a historical marker from Cairo, Georgia, Robinson’s birthplace, and the cleats will likely go in that section of the museum. In 2021, the marker was shot at with guns and donated in the aftermath.

“We have a story to tell,” Kendrick told ESPN.

Nick Gordon Is On The Move To Miami Marlins | He’s a Top 5 MLB Utility Guy

Nick Gordon Is On The Move To Miami Marlins | He’s a Top 5 MLB Utility Guy

MLBbro Nick Gordon is on the move to the Miami Marlins. In return, the Minnesota Twins get left-handed reliever Steven Okert. The Marlins are looking for Gordon to make plays on the baseball diamond. That’s what he has done throughout his career. Gordon was drafted in 2014 and broke into the major at 25 on May 6, 2021, with the Minnesota Twins. Gordon is known for wearing many hats on the field as an extraordinary utility man.

 

Nick Gordon From MLB’s Royal Gordon Family

 

Baseball runs in Gordon’s blood with his father, Tom Gordon becoming a three-time all-star and posting a 21-year career in the major leagues from 1988 to 2009.

 

 

Then his brother, Dee Strange-Gordon, was a three-time MLB stolen base leader along with having an 11-year career in the majors. Just how his brother and father made a name for themselves, Gordon has proven himself to be a great utility man.

 

Nick Gordon: Utility Man Supreme

 

When you think or hear the term, “Utility Man” in sports that’s a guy that can do anything for the team no matter what it is. This guy is a playmaker, for example when you see Travis Hunter in Colorado. Hunter plays wide receiver and defensive back; he changes the game on both sides of the field. Just how Hunter changes the game on the gridiron, Gordon changes the game on the baseball diamond. 

 

Nick Gordon Is Officially The Byron Buxton Insurance Policy

 

When looking at where Gordon lined up for the Minnesota Twins, he has played left field, center field, shortstop, second base, and pitcher.

 

Nick Gordon Providing A Spark For First Place Twins | The Saga Continues…

 

During Gordon’s time with the Minnesota Twins, he was considered a top prospect coming out of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. The Twins selected him with the fifth overall pick in the first round. Since making his debut in Major League baseball in 2021 Gordon has had a good career. In almost 700 at bats, Gordon has recorded an .250 batting average and has racked up 174 base hits with 15 Bro Bombs. 

 

 

 

Gordon has had some great games with the Twins, earning the honor of being MLBbro “Home Boi” of the week on August 8th, 2022.

Gordon was on a tear, batting .417 and hitting in 5 of the last 7 games. He was 10-for-24 with a home run and five RBI over that stretch, which gives you an indication of how hot he can get with the bat. 

 

If Gordon gives the Marlins games and stretches like this, there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that they have won this trade. 

 

 

Aaron Judge Singing ‘God Bless America’ Isn’t Just a Tradition, It’s Also a Way to Express His Gratitude

Aaron Judge Singing ‘God Bless America’ Isn’t Just a Tradition, It’s Also a Way to Express His Gratitude

Since the 9/11 terror attacks, “God Bless America” has blared through the speakers during every 7th inning stretch at Yankees Stadium, replacing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” as the galvanizing tune at that point in the game.

 

For some, the song has different meanings and evokes different emotions, but in the case of Yankees star Aaron Judge, his feelings towards that particular song can be explained with two simple words… ‘Thank You.’

 

Judge recently spoke about his connection to ‘God Bless America’ and why the song is inspirational.

 

Singing ‘God Bless America’ is my sign of respect for the veterans who are being honored on the field,” Judge would say in interviews when explaining his passion for singing the song.

“They’re 70 years old, some are 80, some are 90 and can barely walk. You see an old photo of them, their rank, what branch of the service, where they fought. I have nothing but respect for them.”

 

 

Even Through Controversy, Judge Is Standing on Business and For Good Reason

 

Before 2019 the New York Yankees played Kate Smith’s iconic 1939 rendition of “God Bless America”. But when racist lyrics from her past songs surfaced, Yankees fans boycotted the team causing the organization to switch to the Roger Merrill version going forward.

 

The Yankees Phenom emphasized that singing the song isn’t about politics or just an obligation. Instead, it embodies his appreciation for those who fought to keep him safe, allowing him to play a game that he loves and hopes fans would join him and teammates in singing it to thank them for their contribution.

 

Judge is especially inspired from the men and women who made sacrifices during World War II.

 

“So every time the anthem is played, especially on Opening Day, when we’re lined up (at the first base line) or when ‘God Bless America’ is played, I’m thanking those who made it possible for me to play a baseball game and make a living like that,” Judge added.

“Every time I see a soldier or Marine or sailor – or a policeman or firefight – I say, ‘Thank you.’ I can’t thank them all, so I do it by singing.”

 

Judge Is A True Leader

 

Judge clearly loves his country, but he also believes in the freedom to worship, celebrate, protest and give praise as they are unalienable rights granted to every American citizen.

 

Back in 2020, Judge was a leader and outspoken about the kneeling controversy inspired by Colin Kaepernick’s desire to bring attention to police brutality, systemic racism and other racial and economic inequities in this country. No Yankees took a knee, but when discussing the possibility Judge’s main concern was that the Yankees remained a united front, regardless of the collective decision.

 

“That’s the beauty of America, is freedom of speech,” Judge said, according to the New York Post. “The freedom to express yourself. We’ve got a special platform being athletes. And being able to speak our mind and speak [to] what’s going on in this world. And some people express it online. Some people express it with words. Some people kneel, do what they need to do.”

 

It was a moment where Judge’s class, leadership and understanding of all races and emotional political opinions (Judge is adopted by two white parents) proved why he should be Yankees captain.

 

 

What’s Next for Aaron Judge?

 

Aaron Judge Moving To Centerfield This Season As Yankees Outfield Takes Shape

 

While we all rise with Judge to sing with him, Judge is also focused on helping the Yankees rise back to the World Series for the first time since 2009. According to Yankees Manager Aaron Boone, starting in spring training the two-time Gold Glove winner and Yankees captain Judge will be making a position switch to centerfield to make way for free agent superstar Juan Soto and solid additions MLBbro Trent Grisham and Alex Verdugo.