The Pittsburgh Pirates are scheduled to celebrate the life and career of former Pirates outfielder Dave Parker throughout the upcoming series vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend. The beloved slugger will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this Sunday in Cooperstown, New York. Parker was selected by voters of the Classic Baseball Era Committee, which is composed of hall of famers, longtime baseball executives, and veteran media members/historians. He will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a Pittsburgh Pirate.
Today, the Pirates unveiled a special black, gold, and white jersey patch that will be worn on all jerseys for the remainder of the 2025 season, starting on Friday. The patch is circular in design and pays tribute to the newly inducted hall of famer with a gold silhouette of the slugger and the word “Cobra” written in large white script, a nod to Parker’s famous nickname. The patch will be worn on the left chest of all Pirates game jerseys in honor of the outfielder who passed away in June at 74 years old.
The jersey patch is just one element that will be on display during this weekend’s three-game series at PNC Park. There are several in-park cap tips to the Cobra as the Pirates plan for an on-field painted stencil with a design to mimic the jersey patch. The stencil will be located behind home plate to the left of the Pirates P that adorns the field of PNC Park. In addition, a fan messaging wall will be on display on the PNC Park Riverwalk throughout the weekend for fans to leave their personal messages to Parker and his family.
On Sunday, all guests will have the opportunity to view the new Dave Parker permanent concrete baseball display that will be placed on the PNC Park Riverwalk trail, along with the 23 other hall of famers. Before the permanent placement, the ball will be displayed inside the ballpark for one day only at the Pirates Hall of Fame wall near the Clemente Gate. Parker was an inaugural member of the 2022 Pirates Hall of Fame class.
Several in-game elements will be noticeable throughout the weekend, including digital signage on the right-field wall out-of-town scoreboard display. Parker patrolled right field for 11 seasons with the Pirates, winning three National League Gold Glove Awards for his stellar play in the field. During the game, the Pirates and Diamondbacks will have an honorary moment at or around the time of his induction in Cooperstown. Fans will be asked to turn their attention to the PNC Park scoreboard for a small portion of the induction ceremony.
Parker will be the 45th former player, manager or executive in the Hall of Fame who spent some of their professional careers with the Pirates, including 2013 Pre-Integration Era inductee Deacon White, who played for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys in 1889. He will be the 14th person to enter the Hall who spent the majority of their career with the Pirates, including Jake Beckley, Max Carey, Fred Clarke, Roberto Clemente, owner Barney Dreyfuss, Ralph Kiner, Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell, Pie Traynor, Arky Vaughan, Honus Wagner, Lloyd Waner and Paul Waner.
Parker compiled a .290 average over 19 Major League seasons with six teams, including 11 seasons in a Pittsburgh uniform from 1973-1983. In his big-league career, he produced 339 home runs, 1,493 RBI and won back-to-back batting titles in 1977 and 1978.
Over a five-year span from 1975-1979, Parker’s 345 extra-base hits trailed only Hall of Famers Jim Rice and Mike Schmidt. His 942 hits in that span ranked sixth behind Pete Rose, Steve Garvey, Rice, Rod Carew and George Brett while his .321 batting average ranked second only to Carew. In addition, Parker led the Majors with 72 outfield assists during the five-year period.
Parker was voted the 1978 National League Most Valuable Player after leading the league with a .334 average in addition to hitting 30 home runs and collecting 117 RBI. He also led the National League with a .338 average, 215 hits and 44 doubles in 1977. A seven-time All-Star, Parker was also named MVP of the 1979 Midsummer Classic.