Manufacturer: Topps
Set: 1974 Topps Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Dave Parker
Position/Team: Outfield for Pirates
Card #: 252
Card Size: 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”
Card Values: See Pricing Table Below
David Gene Parker, famously known as “The Cobra,” was a truly unique and impactful figure in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons (1973-1991). Renowned for his imposing physical presence, powerful bat, cannon arm, and swagger, Parker was a dominant force in the late 1970s and a productive designated hitter later in his career. Parker debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1973, quickly establishing himself as a rising star in right field. He succeeded the legendary Roberto Clemente.
Parker had a sensational stretch in the late 1970s. He won consecutive National League batting titles, hitting .338 in 1977 and an even better .334 in 1978. His 1978 season was the pinnacle of his individual performance. In addition to his batting title, he led the NL in slugging percentage, OPS, and total bases, hitting 30 home runs and driving in 117 runs. This dominant performance earned him the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. He also notably won three consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1977 to 1979.
Parker was a cornerstone of the Pirates team that captured the 1979 World Series championship over the Baltimore Orioles. That same year, he won the All-Star Game MVP Award due to his incredible outfield assists. In 1979, Parker made headlines by signing a groundbreaking five-year, $5 million contract, making him one of the first professional athletes to earn an average of $1 million per season. Parker famously won the first-ever MLB Home Run Derby in 1985.
Parker eventually joined the Oakland Athletics, shifting primarily to designated hitter. He was a veteran leader and key offensive contributor for the A’s team that won back-to-back American League pennants in 1988 and 1989. He earned his second World Series championship ring with the A’s in 1989
Despite his incredible resume, Dave Parker’s path to the National Baseball Hall of Fame was a long and complicated one. However, his immense on-field accomplishments were finally recognized. In December 2024, Dave Parker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Classic Baseball Era Committee, as part of the Class of 2025.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
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Did You Know? In June 1978, Parker was involved in a violent, high-speed collision at home plate with New York Mets catcher John Stearns. The impact fractured Parker’s cheekbone and jaw, threatening to shelve the reigning batting champion for months.
Desperate to get back into the lineup but needing to protect his healing face, Parker and the Pirates trainers began experimenting with unorthodox facial protection. For his first few games back, Parker actually walked up to the plate wearing a modified, bright yellow hockey goalie mask snapped directly onto his batting helmet.
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