THE COBRA IS DEAD

Dave Parker—“The Cobra”—wasn’t just a baseball player. He was a movement in motion. One of the most electrifying and intimidating outfielders the game has ever seen, Parker passed away Saturday at the age of 74, following a long, brave fight with Parkinson’s disease.

And while his death is deeply sad, there’s no ignoring the sheer impact he left behind.

Let’s talk greatness. The man was the 1978 National League MVP, a seven-time All-Star, and a two-time World Series champion—first with the Pirates in 1979 and then with the A’s a decade later in 1989. He won back-to-back NL batting titles, had three Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and was the MVP of the ’79 All-Star Game. Oh, and he also won the very first MLB Home Run Derby in 1985. Just for fun.

He finished his career with 2,712 hits, 339 home runs, and 1,493 RBIs. He batted .290 over 19 seasons, from 1973 to 1991. Those aren’t just Hall of Fame numbers—those are the stats of a cornerstone. A franchise player. A guy pitchers feared and teammates admired.

And yet, Dave Parker’s legacy isn’t just about numbers. It’s about presence. Parker was cool. Parker was powerful. Parker was the kind of player who looked like he could bench press the dugout and still outrun your center fielder. He had a cannon for an arm, a swing that cracked like thunder, and a confidence that didn’t ask for your permission.

He was the heart and soul of the 1979 “We Are Family” Pirates. And in Oakland, he became a mentor to young sluggers like Mark McGwire and José Canseco. His influence went beyond what showed up in the box score.

But we can’t talk about Parker without acknowledging the darker chapters. In 1985, he was named in the Pittsburgh drug trials—a sweeping scandal that pulled back the curtain on widespread cocaine use in Major League Baseball. Parker, along with several other players, admitted to drug use and was among those initially suspended. The suspensions were ultimately lifted in exchange for community service, drug testing, and fines. It was a black mark—but one that speaks to a larger moment in baseball’s history, not just an individual failing.

And here's the thing: people make mistakes. Athletes are human. Parker owned his missteps and kept moving forward. That, too, is part of the story. Like Pete Rose, Parker showed us that greatness can be complicated—and that flawed doesn’t mean forgotten.

Personally, I’ll always remember Dave Parker as a Pirate, because that’s where he roared the loudest. But he meant something everywhere he went. He played with passion. He played with fire. And when he was at his best, no one—and I mean no one—played the game harder.

Rest in peace, Cobra. The game was better because you played it.

FEEL GOOD MOMENT FOR CC SABATHIA AFTER THE CALL TO THE HALL

CC Sabathia has always been a fan favorite, and for good reason. From the moment he joined the Yankees, he made an unforgettable impact. Now, the fact that he’s officially headed to the Hall of Fame is nothing short of incredible. This achievement is a testament to his remarkable career and solidifies his place among baseball’s greats.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, and Billy Wagner, as selected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Additionally, Dave Parker and Dick Allen were chosen by the Classic Baseball Era Committee to round out the 2025 class.

While all the inductees are deserving, it’s Sabathia’s story that resonates most with me. His reaction to the honor, as reported by Bryan Hoch, was perfect: “It means a lot to be in the Hall of Fame, period. But first-ballot, I know what that means as a baseball player. It’s very special.”

Former teammate Jorge Posada also reflected on Sabathia’s impact, particularly on the legendary 2009 Yankees team. “That 2009 team was special, and he was a big reason why we were the last team standing. CC earned this great honor. He had a remarkable career, and he was one of my favorite teammates I played with.”

With his Hall of Fame plaque featuring a Yankees cap, Sabathia’s career stats speak for themselves: 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts—trailing only Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton among left-handed pitchers.

For me, CC is one of the greatest Yankee pitchers I’ve ever had the privilege of watching, second only to Ron Guidry. No matter where you rank him personally, there’s no denying his legendary status. Congratulations to CC Sabathia on this well-deserved honor.

PETE ROSE IS NO WORSE THAN THE OTHERS

Early last week, two of our terrific BYB writers wrote pieces about Pete Rose.  Ike Dimitriadis put together a piece titled MANFRED REACHES ONLY JUSTIFIABLE DECISION ON PETE ROSE – “NO” and Steve Skinner wrote ROSE TO THE HALL IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Read them both, they are great.

Ike is not a fan of having Rose in the Hall of Fame.  Skinner, like me, has a childhood hero in Rose, and believes he should be there... but understands Manfred's decision. Here's the quote that resonated with me in Steve's piece: "Baseball’s immortals are an incomplete group without him."

I'm about to go further...

I like Rob Manfred as Commissioner.  Then again, I like anyone that isn't Bud Selig as Commissioner.  But yes, I like Manfred.  He's willing to look at everything.  He's willing to make decisions and perhaps change things in a pretty stale sport right now. But I take issue with his decision to not lift Pete Rose's ban, even though Rose has admitted to still gambling on sports.  Take a seat for this one...

Look, I find it interesting how many folks out there will look at gambling, and immediately say, "Well, gambling is an addiction, like drugs or alcohol. Folks that gamble uncontrollably are sick."  And yes, I understand, and accept that assessment. There is truth to this you know. 

But then why, when someone like Pete Rose CLEARLY needs "help", are we turning our back on the guy?  We help drug addicts, alcoholics. Hell, there were cocaine users in the 80's on the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Remember Dave Parker?  That dude continued to play baseball after doing coke and weed. The Expos Tim Raines? 

He used to slide head first into bases so he wouldn't bust vials of cocaine in his back pocket. Admitted and documented. The late Tommy Hanson just died of cocaine and alcohol ingestion this year. Who knows if he was an addict, but he was a user, this is a fact.  

The plain fact is, if gambling is so bad, then why do we look at Pete Rose and just say, "Well, the guy needs to just stay away from baseball. He's a cancer, he's not getting help, he's bad news. He tarnished the game."  Yet, drug addicts, or folks like Yovani Gallardo can drive drunk, yet, he's about to sign a contract with the Astros or Orioles to continue his career, (read DRUNK DRIVING DOESN'T MATTER TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL for my perspective on that). Life goes on for every other addict, but Pete Rose is blackballed.

And PED users, yes, PED USERS can continue to use, disappear for their suspension, and come back with a clean slate like nothing happened.  All of that is OK, but an addicted gambler is banned for life, regardless of the incredible play he demonstrated on the field. Regardless of him being the all-time hits leader.

Sure, you can sit on your high horse like you're the moral authority and tell me that PEDs users and addicted gamblers are not the same, and I'm here to tell you that you're dead wrong.   Don't debate me on this, it's my opinion, I won't be swayed, and I'm gonna be honest with you, I'm tired of hearing your  side on this.

Oh yeah, and how's this to bring your blood to a boil. If you're going to lump Shoeless Joe Jackson and 7 other men together with Pete Rose for 2 different types of gambling situations, then you sure as hell better crack down on drug use, public drunkenness, and PEDs use as well.  Sorry to be the tight ass of all tight asses... but I'm sick and tired of Rose being lumped in with the Black Sox scandal, all because "gambling" is the word that's used for both. I kind of find it silly. Here's why...

In the 1919 World Series, the Chicago White Sox lost to the Cincinnati Reds, and eight White Sox players, Shoeless Joe Jackson being one of them, were accused of losing the Series intentionally.  That's because it was suggested that the games were lost in exchange for gambling money. They were later banned from baseball because of it. Clearly it was a group decision, an idea conspired and executed by all, and so, it was strategic and with that, even though they were acquitted in court, they were still banned from the game for life.  Jackson had an amazing career average before that, and so, he tarnished his career because he and 7 others work together to "throw" the series.

I gotta tell you something, that's not what Pete Rose did.  It's just not.   Plus, if you go through the Dowd Report, it was revealed that he gambled on his own team, and it wasn't to lose. It was to win.  As Pete Rose admitted in 2007:

"I bet on my team every night... I bet on my team to win every night because I love my team, I believe in my team... I did everything in my power every night to win that game."

And so, I ask you, isn't that the basis for playing the game? To win? And furthermore, sure, he admitted it, he's a liar, but he's also an addict and that goes back to my original point. The man's sick, but he's banned... Coke heads? They can get help and come back.  PEDs users are in the clear after a suspension.  Pete Rose is a sick man, but played amazing baseball and is the All-Time hits leader. He bet for his team to win, not LOSE, win... but he gets lumped in with a group of players that intentionally threw a series in 1919.  I'm sorry, I don't get it.

More over, whatever happened to that lunatic John Dowd, who recently falsely accused Rose of having "under age girls" in the clubhouse, IN THE 80'S. Really? Nothing happened with that story Mr. Dowd, and that's because I think the real person we should ban from any baseball type activities is Dowd who clearly has an axe to grind against Rose. The dude's old by now, and biased by the way. Sure, Rose may not be a saint, but false accusations and piling on doesn't exactly offer Dowd as a respected investigator anymore... it's over pal.

Pete Rose is not someone who conspired to sabotage his baseball team.  He loves the Reds. He loved Marge Schott and sure, while siding with a woman like Schott isn't exactly great for a man's reputation knowing the woman she was, he to this day wears his Reds hat proud.  Dowd and Major League baseball have this "thing" about gambling and Rose and have been riding this guy for years based on an old rule.  

The irony is, things are changing. You know how I know? Because MLB is a major investor with Draft Kings and Fan Duel, you know, Internet gambling.  Think about that for a second.  There's no double standard here? Are you joking?  

Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame for his amazing play, as well as he being the All-time hit leader. Does Rose still gamble? He's admitted it, and I remember reading and hearing he was years after.  Has Rose tried to get help? Probably. Why wouldn't he? If people who love him want to help him and he wants to help himself, why the hell wouldn't he?  More importantly, how about MLB do what they do for all their "addicts" and offenders... baby them.  Let the rich player pay the fine for their addiction or bad behavior... and make sure they're suspended, but then... coddle them, and bring them back to the game like so many of the past.  

And the most important question... Has Rose fell off the wagon and continued to gamble? Most definitely. But after everything I told you reading this old rule in the MLB manual needs to somehow be updated. It should be about a player's ability to play the game, not betting after he played, EVEN AS A MANAGER, WHO BET FOR HIS TEAM TO WIN.

MLB Rule 21. Misconduct.
(d) BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible for one year.

Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.

I'm not sure what any of this has to do with his playing days. Pete Rose is the all time hits leader.  They need to do the right thing.

Pete Rose did not conspire with the likes of Eric Davis, Barry Larkin, Tracy Jones, Tom Browning, John Franco and Buddy Bell. He's NOT Shoeless Joe Jackson.  He's also sick with a bad, bad addiction for gambling.  Not cocaine, or alcohol... gambling, and while Major League Baseball doesn't seem to chalk this up as a sickness... it should.  Oh, and it should also cut investment opportunities with Internet gambling sites.  Sites where folks GAMBLE to make money... and MLB collects on that.  What a load of crap. What a contradiction.

Pete Rose belongs in the Hall. It's my opinion.  I will not debate anyone on this issue.  I will not return comments after this op-ed posts... that's because you'll never change my mind and I won't change yours.  Pete Rose is my childhood idol and introduced me to the game of baseball.

Think about how strange it is, that the All-Time Hits leader with one of the most important records in baseball is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Something stinks in baseball, and trust me, it ain't Pete Rose.

Finally, let me say this... I do not gamble. I am not an addict.  I don't dabble in drugs or alcohol to get loaded in any way.  I do however understand what addiction is.  It's a brutal cycle and needs to be handled, not ignored.  

Pete Rose gave everything he had on the field to become one of the best, hardest working baseball players ever.  He gave it because he wanted to do the best he could for his employers, the Reds and MLB.  

Now the MLB just walks away from him?  Really?

-Robert Casey, CEO & Lead Writer for BleedingYankeeBlue.com
Follow me: @BleednYankeeBlu


 

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store! Follow me on Twitter@BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook! Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!