First Gloves: Dave Parker

I would not have voted for Dave Parker to make the Hall of Fame this year. That’s not really a reflection on him, it’s more a reflection of the ballot he was on and the fact that I thought there were three more deserving candidates. Actually, more like five. It was a stacked ballot. Still, I’m happy for him and his fans, particularly that he was elected while he’s still alive to enjoy the honor given the Hall’s poor track record of waiting until someone is dead before inducting them.

In his prime, Parker was an exceptional player, a five-tool, 6-foot-5 inch monster who could hit and run and throw and be super cool through it all. Let’s be honest, he wasn’t elected to the Hall of Fame because of anything he did in the final dozen years of his career, which were pretty mediocre. For those 12 seasons he was very similar to the career of a different Pittsburgh right fielder, José Guillén.

No, these weren’t his Cooperstown-worthy years. Parker was elected because of the five years he had from 1975 to 1979, years that included an MVP, two batting titles, three Gold Gloves, a World Series title, and this remarkable throw during the 1979 All-Star Game.