Reds mourn heartbreaking loss as Dave Parker passes just before Hall of Fame honor

Many fans baseball fans are certainly saddened today after it was announced shortly before the Cincinnati Reds' game on Saturday that former All-Star and future Hall of Fame inductee Dave Parker passed away at the age of 74. Parker, nicknamed "The Cobra", was one of the best players of his generation and a part of Pittsburgh Pirates' World Series championship team in 1979. He later won another title with the Oakland A's in 1989.

Parker was a larger than life personality, and one of the most physically gifted stars to ever play the game of the baseball. Though his career was not without controversy, Parker was among the all-time greats. During his illustrious career, Parker won the NL MVP in 1978 with the Pirates while also going to seven All-Star Games.

Parker won three Gold Gloves, three Silver Slugger Awards, and two batting titles. Parker's playing career came to a close in 1991 and he finished with 339 home runs and 1,493 RBI over 19 big league seasons. Parker suited up for the Reds, Pirates, A's, Toronto Blue Jays, California Angels, and Milwaukee Brewers.

Reds mourn heartbreaking loss as Dave Parker passes just before Hall of Fame honor

Parker never made it into the Hall of Fame by way of the BBWAA vote (peaking at just 24.5% of the vote), but the Eras Committee — formerly the Veteran's Committee — made the decision this past year to include the slugger among the greatest to ever play the game. Parker, along with former Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox slugger Dick Allen, each received enough votes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27.

Injuries derailed Parker's career, and he averaged just 95 games per year from 1981-1983 while averaging just .272 27 homers. Though Parker is best known for his time in a Pirates during the 1970, he signed with the Reds as a free agent following the 1983 season. A Cincinnati native, Parker had a season to remember with the Reds in 1985. The Cobra finished second in the MVP voting with a .281/.334/.469 slash line. He led the league that year with 42 home runs and 125 RBI.

Parker was already inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame back in 2014. He was a true legend of the game, and it's sad that he won't be present for his induction in Cooperstown later this summer. Thankfully, however, Parker was able to hear the call this past December and knew that he could call himself a Hall of Famer.

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