I've had the book "Cobra" sitting on my desk for a long time. I'll eventually get to it, but your writing has really opened my eyes.
I knew Reggie Smith faced some incredible challenges, but I honestly didn't realize how bad it was for Parker.
I was 8 years old and my earliest memory of baseball on TV was the 79 World Series. I watched it in black and white (which seems somewhat poetic here) on a tiny portable TV with my old man.
It's truly tragic that Dave won't be able to be on that stage in Cooperstown. And we are worse off for not getting to hear what the man might have said. Thanks, Paul.
It seems to me that Parker also took the acrimony very personally, and that made it all weigh heavier on him than it did on some other players, who saw it as coming with the territory. I would put Reggie Jackson in the latter camp.
It is so sad that he won't be at Cooperstown for his induction, but I'm glad he got to know that all his efforts to revive his career in Cincinnati and Oakland paid off. Nothing was easy after 1979 but without all those years he wouldn't be in the Hall.
What Dave Parker and other Black players endured in the 1970’s and 1980’s was criminal - maybe not on the same level as Jackie Robinson, but still inexcusable.
I completely agree with you--and this is often the way I look at it. But in writing this story I also tried to see it from the other way--look at the successes Black players like Parker and Smith had despite all of this garbage. Their success in adverse conditions is the kind of thing that, to me and many of us here, I believe, keeps older sports stories relevant and inspiring.
It’s odd that $1M per year caused so much vitriol back in 1980, but $70M to Ohtani and $51M to Soto, doesn’t spark any real criticism now. Sports salaries are much higher than ordinary inflation, so you’d think fans would react but it’s just accepted. I am so sorry that Parker didn’t live to make his acceptance speech but at least he knew he was elected into the HOF. Another good one, Paul.
How different things are. Even adjusted for inflation, Dave Parker was making just under $4 million in 2025 dollars. Very reasonable compared to what stars make today, as you point out, Meg. Thanks as always.
I'll see that and raise you--Chambliss wasn't even with the Yankees in 1980. He was on the Braves. I'll get to the bottom of this but thanks for the note.
It boggles my mind that fans tossed hot coins. I’d assume they brought ‘welding gloves’ to hold/toss the coins. Why? Apparently they didn’t do searches at the gate as they do today which is like an airport security check.
It was an extremely creative time in projectiles. Truly remarkable. You have to go all the way back to before WWII to find similarly motivated troublemakers. I am always amazed reading about the people willing to bring in half a green-grocers' worth of fruit and vegetable just to throw it at some poor kid.
The security was hit or miss in this era. It was there, but remember, at Three Rivers if they took your booze you could get it back on the way out!
Stellar work. Glad I'm here.
Really appreciate that and very glad to have you!
I've had the book "Cobra" sitting on my desk for a long time. I'll eventually get to it, but your writing has really opened my eyes.
I knew Reggie Smith faced some incredible challenges, but I honestly didn't realize how bad it was for Parker.
I was 8 years old and my earliest memory of baseball on TV was the 79 World Series. I watched it in black and white (which seems somewhat poetic here) on a tiny portable TV with my old man.
It's truly tragic that Dave won't be able to be on that stage in Cooperstown. And we are worse off for not getting to hear what the man might have said. Thanks, Paul.
It seems to me that Parker also took the acrimony very personally, and that made it all weigh heavier on him than it did on some other players, who saw it as coming with the territory. I would put Reggie Jackson in the latter camp.
It is so sad that he won't be at Cooperstown for his induction, but I'm glad he got to know that all his efforts to revive his career in Cincinnati and Oakland paid off. Nothing was easy after 1979 but without all those years he wouldn't be in the Hall.
What Dave Parker and other Black players endured in the 1970’s and 1980’s was criminal - maybe not on the same level as Jackie Robinson, but still inexcusable.
I completely agree with you--and this is often the way I look at it. But in writing this story I also tried to see it from the other way--look at the successes Black players like Parker and Smith had despite all of this garbage. Their success in adverse conditions is the kind of thing that, to me and many of us here, I believe, keeps older sports stories relevant and inspiring.
It’s odd that $1M per year caused so much vitriol back in 1980, but $70M to Ohtani and $51M to Soto, doesn’t spark any real criticism now. Sports salaries are much higher than ordinary inflation, so you’d think fans would react but it’s just accepted. I am so sorry that Parker didn’t live to make his acceptance speech but at least he knew he was elected into the HOF. Another good one, Paul.
How different things are. Even adjusted for inflation, Dave Parker was making just under $4 million in 2025 dollars. Very reasonable compared to what stars make today, as you point out, Meg. Thanks as always.
Blame the agents too; everyone has their hands in the pot.
Chris Chambliss - Yankees First Baseman, not third.
I'll see that and raise you--Chambliss wasn't even with the Yankees in 1980. He was on the Braves. I'll get to the bottom of this but thanks for the note.
It boggles my mind that fans tossed hot coins. I’d assume they brought ‘welding gloves’ to hold/toss the coins. Why? Apparently they didn’t do searches at the gate as they do today which is like an airport security check.
People are nuts!
It was an extremely creative time in projectiles. Truly remarkable. You have to go all the way back to before WWII to find similarly motivated troublemakers. I am always amazed reading about the people willing to bring in half a green-grocers' worth of fruit and vegetable just to throw it at some poor kid.
The security was hit or miss in this era. It was there, but remember, at Three Rivers if they took your booze you could get it back on the way out!