If you hear any noise it’s just me and the boys boppin.
The famous phrase on a t-shirt that Pirates legend Dave Parker donned in front of his locker stall back in 1976 to try to get the Pirates offense into gear.
That might be the first image that pops into your mind when you hear the name. Or maybe it’s watching the man play to the tune of 339 HR’s, 1,493 RBI with a .290 batting average (166 HR, 758 RBI, .305 avg with the Pirates), three Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers and an MVP award in 1978.
Parker joined The Fan Morning Show Thursday to talk about his career and a new memoir that was just released on April 1st called, “COBRA: A Life of Baseball and Brotherhood.”
Somehow those numbers and accolades haven’t earned him a spot into the Baseball Hall of Fame. But by now, Parker is over it.
“I think I’m a Hall of Famer because of my peers and how they felt about it and how they approached playing against me. That showed I was a Hall of Famer,” Parker said. “I don’t know what the answer is from them, but I know that I’m a Hall of Famer. So I’m good on that.”
Parker admitted himself that he has rarely passed up an opportunity to let you know what he was all about on the field.
“I was a verbalizer.
I was always one to tell you how good I am. You didn’t have to ask me, I would tell you. That was all to the benefit of the team, the Pirates. I was one of the leaders of the club and I just wanted people to realize that what I was doing was for the benefit of the club.”
If he played today? Even better.
“It would be interesting. The parks are smaller. Pitchers are usually one, two pitch pitchers so you don’t have a lot of guesswork. I would do very well in today’s market.”
50 homers per year? 55?
“I think there would be a shot. Especially with that river right over the wall.”
Despite all of his success, Parker did express one regret he has from his playing days.
“(if he could go back) I would try to establish a better relationship with the fans. That would be something that I would try to do. But that’s about it.
The fans are vitally important to the game of baseball. They were like us, they had a ‘never die’ attitude. Tough, blue collar. So I think a relationship with the fans is more important.”
My question is…can he suit up to play right field today?