Remembering Dave Parker

So often spoken of, it’s #7 of the ’79 World Series and Ed Murray of the Baltimore Orioles, the team trailing (2-1) B8, is having a bad one bids for hero status and sends the superb player, Dave Parker of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who sadly died today at age 74, back in right field.

Parker stumbled, did not fall and made the catch.

“Pitts” got insurance and their last title to date (Murray and the Orioles had their clincher 4 years later, however, none since and so likely neither once winning franchise, will even be close, again this year).

Parker, talked about by Curt Gowdy for years on the once so anticipated NBC Game of the Week, played on another title team 10 years later, with the Oakland Athletics in 1989.

Many remember his great throw in that same year All-Star Game but that is the All-Star Game, a faded exhibition, that has faded to dust, sans the wind (cue Kansas).

The Hall also means less, Parker was to be inducted alive (the “sin” regarding Pete Rose, who spoke of Parker’s excellence in a great, competitive National League could have been avoided), in weeks, now that “honor” will be posthumous.

Maybe Dave, with his great arm, can throw a meteor down, one not to destroy, but change for the better.

Parker as a player was better than most and a joy to watch.

So many years, so many great Pirates hitters (remember the baseball card– “Bucco Belters with Willie Stargell and Donn Clendenon pictured), a viable, contending, at times, champion team) and Dave Parker, pictured above, also a fine all around player, was one of them.