21 Facts About Dave Parker

1.

David Gene Parker was born on June 9,1951, and nicknamed "The Cobra, " is an American former professional baseball player.

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2.

Dave Parker played in Major League Baseball as a right fielder from 1973 to 1991.

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3.

Dave Parker was a member of two World Series championship winning teams with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979 and with the Oakland Athletics in 1989.

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4.

Dave Parker was the second professional athlete to earn an average of $1 million per year, having signed a five-year, $5 million contract in January 1979.

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5.

Dave Parker was known as a solid defensive outfielder during the first half of his career, with a powerful arm, winning three consecutive Gold Gloves during his prime.

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6.

Dave Parker grew up in Cincinnati near Crosley Field, where he learned to play baseball on the stadium's parking lots.

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7.

Dave Parker has said his favorite sport was football, and he starred at tailback but injured a knee in a game during his senior year and gave up the game.

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8.

Dave Parker took after his Pirates teammate Willie Stargell in warming up in the on-deck circle with a sledgehammer.

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9.

Dave Parker became one of the central figures in a drug scandal that spread through the major leagues.

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10.

Dave Parker finished second in 1985 MVP voting to Willie McGee.

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11.

Dave Parker was the winner of the league's first-ever Home Run Derby in 1985.

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12.

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

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13.

Dave Parker was even selected as a reserve for the 1990 All-Star Game.

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14.

Dave Parker played for the California Angels until late in the season when he was released.

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15.

Dave Parker has served as a first-base coach for the Anaheim Angels, a batting coach for the St Louis Cardinals in 1998, and a special hitting instructor for Pittsburgh.

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16.

Dave Parker owned several Popeye's Chicken franchises in Cincinnati until selling his interest in them in 2012 after 25 years.

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17.

Dave Parker is currently under consideration for the Modern Baseball era committee.

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18.

Critics say that Dave Parker's stats fall short of accepted standards of inclusion in the Hall.

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19.

Dave Parker has had both of his knees replaced due to injuries from his playing career.

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20.

Dave Parker is involved in raising money to find a cure for Parkinson's disease through the Dave Parker 39 Foundation.

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21.

Dave Parker was elected to the Reds Hall of Fame Class of 2014, which included fellow Cincinnati natives Ron Oester and Ken Griffey Jr.

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