Here’s a rewritten version of the article, preserving all verifiable facts:
Dave Parker to be Honored Posthumously at Hall of Fame induction
The National Baseball Hall of Fame will posthumously honor Dave Parker, who passed away earlier this year, at its upcoming induction ceremony. Hall of Fame president Josh Rawitch and a small group of staffers traveled to Cincinnati in late April to meet wiht Parker and his wife, Kellye, at thier home. During this visit, they discussed future plans and conducted a private ceremony to provide Parker with a sense of closure in his final months.
“We put on the Hall of Fame jersey and we gave him his Hall of Fame cap in Cincinnati, (and) he was very, very aware of what it meant,” Rawitch stated. “You could see just how powerful that moment was. We’re all very grateful that he was able to experience all that before he passed.”
Parker, along with fellow posthumous inductee Dick Allen (who died in 2020), will be recognized on Sunday. They join this year’s class of CC Sabathia, ichiro Suzuki, and Billy Wagner. Allen’s widow, Willa, will deliver his speech, mirroring the actions of Brandy Halladay, who spoke on behalf of her husband Roy Halladay when he was honored posthumously in 2019.
The Hall of Fame anticipates over 50 members will attend the ceremony. This includes players from five of Parker’s former teams: Bert Blyleven (Pittsburgh Pirates), Dennis Eckersley (Oakland Athletics), Barry Larkin (Cincinnati Reds), Paul Molitor and Robin Yount (Milwaukee Brewers), and Dave Winfield (california Angels).
Throughout his career from 1973 to 1991, Parker amassed a .290 batting average,2,712 hits,and 339 home runs. his accolades include two batting titles, two World Series championships, and the 1978 National League Most Valuable Player award.He was also the 1979 All-Star Game MVP and the winner of the inaugural Home Run Derby six years later.
Parker had frequently enough joked about having his Hall of Fame speech prepared for years. While not entirely true, he did share key themes with his son, David II.Following his election by the Classic Baseball Era committee in December, Parker had expressed that he always considered himself a Hall of famer. His son noted that the extended wait was simply part of his father’s journey.
“The timing of it, I feel it’s right on time,” Parker II commented. “You can’t rush anything. It could have happened a little bit sooner but we’re thankful for what happened because you can’t lie about his numbers. So as long as he’s there, I think that will put a smile on his face and ease his pain going home.”
Historically, onyl two other Hall of Famers have passed away between their election and induction: pitcher Eppa rixey in February 1963 and pitcher leon Day in March 1995. Day, a prominent Negro leagues player, was 78 when he received the news in a Baltimore hospital and died six days later. According to the Baltimore Sun, a tearful Day had said, “I’m so happy, I don’t know what to do. I never thought it would come.”
Parker, though, did anticipate this recognition. Now, his son will represent him at a moment he had long desired.
(Top photo of dave Parker II: AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
