The baseball world mournedthe death of Dave Parker, Hall of Famer and former National League MVP, on Saturday. The 19-year major leaguer had battled Parkinson's disease for nearly 15 years. ThePittsburgh PiratesandCincinnati Reds, the teams with whom Parker played the majority of his MLB career, expressed their condolences. As did theAthletics,Angels,BrewersandBlue Jays, in addition toMajor League Baseball. We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Dave Parker.A legendary Pirate, Parker spent 11 years in a Pirates uniform, winning 2 batting titles, an MVP award and a World Series Championship in 1979.The Cobra was part of the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame…pic.twitter.com/UuikGxw6dI — Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates)June 28, 2025 Plenty of Parker's former teammates, fellow Hall of Famers and current Pirates players voiced their sympathies as well. Fellow Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven and Parker were teammates on the Pirates from 1977-80, which included winning the World Series in 1979. "What a sad [day] as my former teammate and friend, HOF'er Dave Parker, passed away," Blyleven posted on social media. "He fought Parkinson's for years. Our condolences to his wife Kellye, his family and everyone that had the great opportunity to be with him. RIP Cobra." What a sad as my former teammate and friend HOF'er Dave Parker passed away. He fought Parkinson's for years. Our condolences to his wife Kellye, his family and everyone that had the great opportunity to be with him. RIP Cobra 🙏🙏🙏❤️pic.twitter.com/xR23BqVLw2 — Bert Blyleven (@BertBlyleven28)June 28, 2025 "Man, I am crushed," former teammate Dave Stewart toldUSA Today's Bob Nightengale. "He's one of the greatest teammates I've ever had. He had such a presence when he walked into the room." Parker and Stewart played together on the Oakland Athletics in 1988 and 1989, getting to the World Series in both seasons and winning a championship on their second try. Oakland A's DH Dave Parker hits a HR vs. the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the 1989 World Series! (Al Michaels with the call) Happy 74th Birthday to Dave "The Cobra" Parker!#MLB#Baseball#History#Athleticspic.twitter.com/AK4u291Kzc — Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile)June 9, 2025 Keith Hernandez didn't play on any teams with Parker, but was certainly a peer as both were top major leaguers in the late 1970s through the 1980s. "The best player of the late '70s and early '80s," Hernandez told the New York Post's Mike Puma. "Great boisterous peer. "He used to say, "When the leaves turn brown, I will be wearing the [batting title] crown." Until I usurped his crown in '79. He was a better player than me. RIP." Keith Hernandez on Dave Parker's passing: "The best player of the late '70s and early '80s. Great boisterous peer. He used to say, "When the leaves turn brown, I will be wearing the [batting title] crown." Until I usurped his crown in '79. He was a better player than me. RIP. — Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets)June 28, 2025 Hernandez did indeed win the National League batting title in 1979 with a .344 average after Parker won it for the previous two consecutive seasons, batting .338 in 1977 and .334 in 1978. Fellow Hall of Famer Frank Thomas remembered fielding a ground ball from Parker at first base early in his major league career. RIP Dave Parker the Cobra! One of the greatest to ever do it. Loved watching you as a kid. I will always remember that first line drive ground ball you hit me in the show right off my chest. You said welcome to the show kid. That Big smile and the finger point trot.#Legendary — Frank Thomas (@TheBigHurt_35)June 28, 2025 "RIP, Dave Parker, the Cobra!" Thomas posted on social media. "One of the greatest to ever do it. Love watching you as a kid. I will always remember that first line drive ground ball you hit me in the show right off my chest." "You said, welcome to the show, kid," he continued. "That big smile and the finger point trot. #Legendary." Eric Davis, Parker's teammate with the Reds, issued a statement because he was too distraught to talk,according to Nightengale. The thought that Parker wouldn't be alive for his Hall of Fame induction was too upsetting. "He probably had more impact on young players than any player I've ever been around," Davis said. "He was a big, loveable...he was funny you could mess with him, not too much." - Terry Francona shared his feelings about his former teammate, the late Dave Parker.#Reds@WCPOpic.twitter.com/7YRLvOLTqn — Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky)June 29, 2025 Current Reds manager Terry Francona played with Parker on the 1987 Reds and 1990 Brewers, remembered getting to play with a star he long admired. "He was a big, lovable... I caught him toward the end of his career," Francona recalled. "He was funny, you could mess with him. "Not too much," he added with a laugh. Andrew McCutchen on the late Dave Parker:pic.twitter.com/IcpxLNHHXY — Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf)June 29, 2025 Pirates veteran Andrew McCutchen shared his thoughts on Parkerwith MLB.com's Alex Stumpf, acknowledging what he meant to Pittsburgh fans. "It's a tough thing to hear, but he had been battling Parkinson's for quite some time,"McCutchen said. "It was rough to see him go through that. I just hope now he's in a a better place and not having to worry about any of that stuff anymore." "Just thinking about his family and the fanbase who may have had any type of interaction with him, childhoods," he added. "He was probably Superman to a lot of people when he played." McCutchen's teammate,Nick Gonzales, currently wears the No. 39 jersey that Parker wore during his 11 seasons with the Pirates (and throughout his career) and thinks it should be retired. Nicky G on wearing Dave Parker's #39 ⬇️"I think it should be retired and I should get a new number, honestly... it's an honor just to wear it on my back."pic.twitter.com/gZlOfbKXPh — SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh)June 29, 2025 "It just meant a little bit more today, playing with that number," Gonzales said on Saturday. "I think it should be retired and I should get a new number, honestly." "That might happen at some point," he continued. "For what he did for this community... it's an honor just to wear it on my back." Parker waselected to the Baseball Hall of Famein December by the Classic Era Committee, earning votes on 14 of 16 ballots. He will be officially inducted into Cooperstown on July 27.