Pirates to honor Dave Parker's Hall of Fame induction with jersey patch

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced plans Thursday to honor former outfielder Dave Parker throughout the rest of the season.

The Pirates revealed a jersey patch depicting a gold silhouette of Parker with his nickname, “Cobra,” scripted across it. Pirates players will wear it on the left chest of all jerseys for the rest of the season, beginning with Friday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Pirates wanted to commemorate Parker during his National Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend. He will be enshrined this Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y., as a Pirate.

Parker died in June at 74 years old.

Fans will also be able see the new Parker display on the PNC Park riverwalk trail. For Sunday only, the ball from the display will be in the ballpark at the Pirates Hall of Fame wall near the Clemente Gate. Parker was a member of the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame class in 2022.

The Pirates also have planned to put an on-field painted stencil with a similar design as the patch behind home plate.

Also this weekend, fans can leave messages to Parker and his family on a wall on the riverwalk trail. Some in-game elements will focus on Parker, including messages on the right-field out-of-town scoreboard. During Sunday’s game, the scoreboard will show some of the induction ceremony at or around the time of Parker’s enshrinement.

Parker will be the 45th former player, manager or executive in the Hall of Fame who was with the Pirates for some of his career and the 14th who was with the Pirates for most of his career.

The seven-time All-Star played right field for 11 seasons with Pittsburgh (1973-83), winning three National League Gold Gloves. Parker had a .290 average across six teams and 19 seasons.

Parker recorded 339 home runs, 1,493 RBIs and won batting titles in 1977 and 1978, along with being the 1978 National League MVP. Parker’s .334 average led the league in 1978, and he tallied 117 RBIs and 30 home runs that season. Parker led the National League with a .338 average, 215 hits and 44 doubles in 1977. He also earned MVP of the 1979 All-Star Game.