Dave Parker otherwise known as the Cobra could have easily been mistaken as the Camel for this chain smoking ways during the psychedelic 70's with the Pittsburgh "We Are Family, Sister Sledge" Pirates and on through his latter years teaming up with Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco the roid brothers in Oakland.
Parker has probably been overlooked for his prowess on the baseball field by Hall of Fame voters in lieu of the gaudy power numbers produced by the grand fraternity of modern day stimulants not necessarily associated with nicotine.
Despite an alleged horrible habit that is subject to much more lenient fines in restaurants and bars throughout various states in the Union the Cobra was one hell of a ball player.
During the course of his career he was a 7x All-Star selection, 2x World Series champion, 3x Gold Glove Award winner, 3x Silver Slugger Award winner, the 1978 NL MVP, the 1979 MLB All-Star Game MVP, and the 1985 Home Run Derby winner.
Meanwhile Parker's future teammate in Oakland Mark Mcgwire who he teamed up with to win a world series and play on the same all-star team together wowed 'em in Oakland and St. Louis while playing for the Athletics and Cardinals. He also received standing ovations on the road in numerous National League cities for hitting tape measure home runs. Big Mac was the big news in the 90's cranking out record setting numbers of home runs. He topped Roger Maris's single season mark of 61 with an eye-popping 70 home runs in 1998.
During the course of his 15 year career shortened by back problems he won one gold glove at first base, was a 12 time all-star, won 3 silver slugger awards, a home run derby and one world series title.
So Big Mac with his mighty 586 home runs easily outdistances Parker's 339 dingers but doesn't appear to be headed anytime soon to Cooperstown. On the flip side Parker outhit McGwire with both average and hits with 2,712 to 1,626 and .290 to .263. So now it doesn't appear that McGwire even with the roids should be a shoe in if a guy like Parker isn't getting the cred he deserves. Parker also had his run ins with illegal substances feeling the need for nose candy which caused his numbers to slump in the early 80's. Parker was also a defensive stud with a cannon for an arm which he displayed routinely but on the big stage throwing out Jim Rice at third and Brian Downing at home to squelch a late rally by the American Leaguers.
Hopefully sports writers are taking more notes on substance other than nicotine, roids, and blow and focusing on the numbers and impact the players had on the game. Dave Parker for all of his bad boy activities was a force on the field whether at the plate or in the field during his day. If he didn't knock one out of the park he would knock the cover off the ball while putting line drive dents into the right field fence of old Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Furthermore Parker easily outdistances McGwire as a colorful personality of the game. McGwire almost hid his guilt of roid abuse in interviews often avoiding the press rooms and keeping his comments simple.
Parker was embodied by Sister Sledge, probably got Steve Howe started on nose candy in the early 80's, and was Marge Schott's N-boy in Cincinnati. Although I am sure he didn't prefer the latter but was quite a combination with Madame Kraut in Riverfront Stadium while being coached by the in-house handicapper and all-time hits leader Pete Rose. Just when it was getting wild Parker ends up in Oakland to win a world series with the roid brothers including future mixed martial artist and boxing beat down boy Jose Canseco. And if that wasn't enough he goes onto making the all-star team with Milwaukee in 1990 while making Bernie go down the slide into the tub of beer 21 times in old Milwaukee County Stadium.
While McGwire's numbers were effected by performance enhancing drugs, The Cobra's career was effected by performance inhibiting drugs along with racial tensions, gambling tensions, and a crazy mascot that nearly drown himself in beer. Someone please give big Dave a Hall of Fame vote he deserves it!
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