http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/players/dave_parker/127935 Recent articles about Dave Parker en-us If I asked you to name the ten best position players in Pittsburgh Pirates' history, we could have a debate that lasted for days. In no particular order, Roberto Clemente, Honus Wagner, Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, Barry Bonds, Arky Vaughan, Pie Traynor, Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner, Kiki Cuyler, Fred Clarke, Ralph Kiner, Max Carey, Tommy Leach, and Bill Mazeroski all spent significant time in black and gold (or blue and red, as it was in the early days), carving out their own special niches in baseball history. That doesn't even mention the Al Olivers and Brian Gileses and Bobby Bonillas and Andy Van Slykes, who all had shorter but still very good Pirate careers.  If I asked you to name the ten best pitchers in Pittsburgh Pirates' history, we could have a debate that lasted all day, too, but only because we'd have trouble finding ten names that belong on the list. By career WAR, the Pirates' ten best pitchers of all-time are Babe Adams, Wilbur Cooper, Bob Friend... Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:26:35 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_importance_of_gerrit_cole/13811216 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_importance_of_gerrit_cole/13811216 The importance of Gerrit Cole http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_importance_of_gerrit_cole/13811216 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Major League Baseball Lifetime Pass is like Willy Wonka’s golden ticket, except instead of allowing a person to take a tour of a chocolate factory and possibly develop diabetes in record time, it grants the person who possesses it lifetime access to any MLB stadium of that person’s choice. Needless to say, based on that very brief description, I already want one and will kick and scream until I eventually pass out.Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista doesn’t have to go to such extremes apparently, as he is the most recent recipient of this glorious card, posted to his Instagram account over the weekend. Nobody knows much about baseball’s gold card – save for BuzzFeed’s gallery and a quick Google search that shows you where you can buy Dave Parker’s gold card – but apparently they are awarded to people “in appreciation of long and meritorious service”.Perhaps the most touching story of how some people earned their cards was conveyed by Les Carpenter of the Washington Post b... Wed, 22 May 2013 14:40:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/jose_bautista_must_think_hes_pretty_cool_with_his_lifetime_mlb_pass/13672642 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/jose_bautista_must_think_hes_pretty_cool_with_his_lifetime_mlb_pass/13672642 Jose Bautista Must Think He’s Pretty Cool With His Lifetime MLB Pass http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/jose_bautista_must_think_hes_pretty_cool_with_his_lifetime_mlb_pass/13672642 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/7/27b10dafa766ea25ecdaafa9338b734b80f04034/mini/6372598.jpg Championship seasons are invariably marked by certain games and plays that are later tabbed as “turning points” for posterity.  For the 1986 edition of the Mets, their turning point may well have occurred in only the 6th game of the season when, after winning their first two contests but dropping the next three, the team sat a game under .500. Although another 157 games remained to be played, many fans and even tabloid back pages cried out: “What is wrong with the Mets?” The answer of course, was nothing, and they set about proving that by winning their next eleven games and seven of the next eight after that on their way to a finishing a gaudy 21 and ½ games in front of the runner up Phillies for the division title. But there are also games that seem to be indicative of some kind of destiny intended for a team. When it appears in retrospect that a team was destined for greatness, the games that stick out are the type where a win that seemed wholly improbable at one point was captur... Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:28:35 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/magical_mystical_mets_moment_jesse_and_roger_in_the_outfield/13365778 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/magical_mystical_mets_moment_jesse_and_roger_in_the_outfield/13365778 Magical & Mystical Mets Moment: Jesse and Roger in the Outfield http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/magical_mystical_mets_moment_jesse_and_roger_in_the_outfield/13365778 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png As a fan of Baseball, homeplate collisions for as long as I remember have always been a part of baseball and have brought some bone crushing hits at the plate. Pete Rose taking out Ray Fosse in the 1970 All star game or Dave Parker barreling down the third baseline in a homeplate collision with [...] Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:45:14 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/baseballs_dilemmaban_or_not_to_ban_homeplate_collisions/13023823 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/baseballs_dilemmaban_or_not_to_ban_homeplate_collisions/13023823 Baseball’s dilemma:Ban or not to Ban homeplate collisions? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/baseballs_dilemmaban_or_not_to_ban_homeplate_collisions/13023823 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/0/101ab262691a0e5b5d6447aefcd82c99425d471c/mini/pete-rose.jpg Robert Larkin coached several sports while son Barry was growing up, none more important to the youngster than football. And it showed when Barry starred at Moeller High School in Cincinnati and received a scholarship to play for Bo Schembechler at Michigan. But after being redshirted his freshman year with the Wolverines, Larkin focused on baseball, became an All-Star shortstop with Cincinnati, and carved a Hall of Fame career in 19 years with the Reds. Larkin, introduced to the game at the age of five by his dad, retired after the 2004 season with a .295 career average, 2,340 hits, 1,329 runs scored and 379 stolen bases, and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Sunday. Robert Larkin,who started his protege in t-ball, said he was feeling absolute pride. ''This is the ultimate,'' Robert Larkin said. ''I don't think you can do much more than this.'' If Barry Larkin had decided to stick with football, his dad figures the family would have ha Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:32:02 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/larkins_dad_if_not_cooperstown_why_not_canton/11273716 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/larkins_dad_if_not_cooperstown_why_not_canton/11273716 Larkin's dad: If not Cooperstown, why not Canton http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/larkins_dad_if_not_cooperstown_why_not_canton/11273716 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Dave Parker turned out to be a visionary. Dave Concepcion didn't. Parker was playing right field for Cincinnati in 1984 when the Reds visited Detroit for an exhibition game against the Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Barry Larkin, a Cincinnati native, was the star shortstop at University of Michigan and tagged along with Wolverines equipment manager Jon Falk for the short trip from Ann Arbor. Falk had connections and got Larkin a clubhouse pass. Parker, also a Cincinnatian, grabbed Larkin by the hand and walked him across the clubhouse to the locker to where Concepcion, the Reds' shortstop, was dressing. "Dave said, 'This is Barry Larkin, he's from Cincinnati and he's going to take your job,'" Larkin recalled during Sunday's National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum induction ceremony. "I'm saying, 'Oh my goodness, this is not how I expected this to go down.' Davey, who was my idol, looks at my hands and my... Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:53:36 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hall_of_fame_inductee_larkin_lived_out_his_dream_by_playing_for_reds/11272900 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hall_of_fame_inductee_larkin_lived_out_his_dream_by_playing_for_reds/11272900 Hall of Fame inductee Larkin lived out his dream by playing for Reds http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/hall_of_fame_inductee_larkin_lived_out_his_dream_by_playing_for_reds/11272900 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Former Cincinnati Reds star Barry Larkin has been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. With his parents and family looking on from the front row, Larkin, one of the best shortstops in major league history, spent his entire speech thanking the people that molded him. His parents introduced him to the game at age 5. Larkin singled out former teammates Pete Rose, Buddy Bell, Eric Davis, Dave Parker and Dave Concepcion. ''My inclusion in the Hall of Fame is the ultimate validation. I want to thank you all for helping me along the way,'' Larkin said. Larkin, who played his entire 19-year career with the Reds, retired after the 2004 season with a .295 career average, 2,340 hits, 1,329 runs scored and 379 stolen bases. Sun, 22 Jul 2012 15:56:18 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/barry_larkin_inducted_into_baseball_hall_of_fame/11272624 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/barry_larkin_inducted_into_baseball_hall_of_fame/11272624 Barry Larkin inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/barry_larkin_inducted_into_baseball_hall_of_fame/11272624 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png If you watched the All-Star game on Tuesday—and judging by the ratings, that’s a pretty big “if”—you probably thought you were watching the best players Major League Baseball had to offer (except for some injured ones). After all, bringing the best in baseball together for our viewing pleasure is what the All-Star game is for, or â Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:19:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/bp_unfiltered_mvps_who_werent_all_stars_by_ben_lindbergh/11206099 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/bp_unfiltered_mvps_who_werent_all_stars_by_ben_lindbergh/11206099 MLB MVPs who didn't make the All-Star team http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/bp_unfiltered_mvps_who_werent_all_stars_by_ben_lindbergh/11206099 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/b/abd268b1ffa2674b7e93d7e4a90560e947adc234/mini/morneau.jpg DAN EPSTEIN on DAVE PARKERIn my mind, Dave Parker has always been a badass.I became aware of his existence in April 1976, when I opened my first-ever Topps wax pack, which I received as a party favor at a friend’s 10th birthday sleepover.My friend’s parents took us all to see “The Bad News Bears” that night. In retrospect, you could pinpoint this as one of the most momentous evenings of my life: I was just about to turn 10 myself, and knew almost nothing about baseball at the time; but thanks to the cosmic forces set in motion by that birthday sleepover, I would soon trade in my obsession with military history (the American Revolution, the Civil War and World War II being my particular “jams”) for an even more consuming obsession with baseball history.By the time I turned 11, I could wax even more eloquently on the subject of Johnny Bench versus Thurman Munson than I could on the subject of Robert E. Lee versus Ulysses S. Grant.But back to that original wax pack.It contained a few c... Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:22:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hovg_heroes_dave_parker/11044553 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hovg_heroes_dave_parker/11044553 HOVG Heroes: Dave Parker http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/hovg_heroes_dave_parker/11044553 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Among the news of the day was NC State’s announcement they’re putting together an NC State Sports Hall Of Fame and, in addition to forming a selection committee including none other than Dave Parker of Amedeo’s, they’re asking State fans for nominations. Yours truly threw out a hastily-formed list on Twitter earlier today–only to have podcast mate Austin Johnson correctly point out that there are, in fact, “rules” to this whole process and that my initial list grossly violated said rules. That’s me, man: the Maverick of HOF compilations. But after reviewing the rules, I realized my initial list wasn’t too far off, so with a few adjustments and without further ado, my rules-compliant NC State Hall Of Fame Ballot…if I had a vote (in alphabetical order) (and with explanations): 1. Ted Brown: The reigning ACC rushing yardage record holder nearly 35 years after his final season (1978) with 4,602 yards, Brown has almost 1,000 more yards than #2 on the rushing list (Joe McIntosh, 3,642) and is t Wed, 30 May 2012 08:06:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/the_r_r_nc_state_hall_of_fame_ballot/10901324 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/the_r_r_nc_state_hall_of_fame_ballot/10901324 The R&R NC State Hall Of Fame Ballot http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/the_r_r_nc_state_hall_of_fame_ballot/10901324 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png For the Mets, 1978 was already shaping up to be a rough year by June 30. The team was dispirited, the fan base was dwindling and those that remained continued to pine for the banished Tom Seaver. The team’s hierarchy tried to salve the fans’ wounds by going out and signing free agents, something they had vowed never to do. Unfortunately, instead of signing Reggie Jackson or Bobby Grich, ownership brought in Tom Hausman and Elliot Maddox. After the traditional Opening Day win, they stumbled badly out of the gate and limped into Pittsburgh a dismal 13 games under .500 at 32-45. At the opening of Mets’ training camp in Port St. Lucie, beloved owner Jeff Wilpon distributed t-shirts with the logo from the old “Underdog” cartoon to players and personnel. This reminded me – and others – of an attempt at motivation for similar Mets team, facing similar circumstances as this year. At the start of spring camp in 1979, the Mets’ emotional leader, John Stearns, handed out blue t-shirts em... Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:31:40 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_dude_an_appreciation_of_john_stearns/10320049 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_dude_an_appreciation_of_john_stearns/10320049 The Dude: An Appreciation of John Stearns http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_dude_an_appreciation_of_john_stearns/10320049 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Chuck Tanner: Which base were you throwing to? Dale Berra:  Seventh? Tanner:  He’s done.  Hey, Murray!  Get him out of here.  Who we got? Berra: Sixth? Murray (Bench Coach):  Ahh, Chuck the best we can do is bring in Belliard… and he is currently getting a… well a “massage” in the locker room. Tanner: Christ on a cracker… What is Milner doing? Murray:  He just tore up his jersey looking for his secret pocket and is sweating buckets.  We can’t send him out there. /Berra calls over the Parrot waving a couple 20s. Tanner:  What the hell are you doing? Berra:  Just trying to get a bump, coach. Tanner:  Get on the bump?  We got Rod Scurry out there.  The man just wants to throw gas today.  Hey Rod!  How about an off speed pitch here or there buddy?\ Scurry:  Coach… I’m pretty sure that today I can both pitch and catch.  I can catch my own pitches.  This means you can use four guys in the outfield and seven on the infield. Tanner:  What the… Will you just throw the damn Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:32:45 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/your_1984_pittsburgh_pirates/9980974 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/your_1984_pittsburgh_pirates/9980974 Your 1984 Pittsburgh Pirates http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/your_1984_pittsburgh_pirates/9980974 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Be he ever so humble, there is nobody like Barry Larkin. On his mammoth day, the day he was introduced as the only 2012 inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame, when he should have been eating filet mignon, he was chewing humble pie. But that always has been Larkins credo and modus operandi. How many Hall of Famers have you heard say, I always considered myself a complementary player, somebody who would do things beyond the Xs and Os of hits, homers or stolen bases, somebody who did what it took to help the other players on my team. How many Hall of Famers have you heard say, when asked what defines him, say quickly, Not one single thing pops up, not one single image. Maybe if somebody took a picture of me talking to players on the field or in the clubhouse or in the hotels about how to be a professional, they might say, Oh, that was another part of his game. And it was, a deep part of his contribution over 19 years with the Cincinnati Reds. He was the player teammates followed, respected and admired as a pe Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:28 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hall_of_famer_larkin_remains_humble/9299207 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hall_of_famer_larkin_remains_humble/9299207 Hall of Famer Larkin remains humble http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/hall_of_famer_larkin_remains_humble/9299207 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Be he ever so humble, there is nobody like Barry Larkin. On his mammoth day Monday, the day he was introduced as the only player voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America this year, the former Cincinnati Reds shortstop should have been eating filet mignon. Instead, he was chewing humble pie. But that always has been Larkins credo and modus operandi. How many Hall of Famers have you heard say this?: I always considered myself a complementary player, somebody who would do things beyond the Xs and Os of hits, homers or stolen bases, somebody who did what it took to help the other players on my team. How many Hall of Famers have you heard say, when asked what defines him, say anything like this?: Not one single thing pops up, not one single image. Maybe if somebody took a picture of me talking to players on the field or in the clubhouse or in the hotels about how to be a professional, they might say, Oh, that was another part of his game. And it was, a deep part of his c Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:28 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/larkin_humble_as_ever_after_hall_of_fame_calls/9626356 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/larkin_humble_as_ever_after_hall_of_fame_calls/9626356 Larkin humble as ever after Hall of Fame calls http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/larkin_humble_as_ever_after_hall_of_fame_calls/9626356 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Be he ever so humble, there is nobody like Barry Larkin. On his mammoth day, the day he was introduced as the only 2012 inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame, when he should have been eating filet mignon, he was chewing humble pie. But that always has been Larkins credo and modus operandi. How many Hall of Famers have you heard say, I always considered myself a complementary player, somebody who would do things beyond the Xs and Os of hits, homers or stolen bases, somebody who did what it took to help the other players on my team. How many Hall of Famers have you heard say, when asked what defines him, say quickly, Not one single thing pops up, not one single image. Maybe if somebody took a picture of me talking to players on the field or in the clubhouse or in the hotels about how to be a professional, they might say, Oh, that was another part of his game. And it was, a deep part of his contribution over 19 years with the Cincinnati Reds. He was the player teammates followed, respected and admired as a pe Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:28 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hall_of_famer_larkin_remains_humble/9299735 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hall_of_famer_larkin_remains_humble/9299735 Hall of Famer Larkin remains humble http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/hall_of_famer_larkin_remains_humble/9299735 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png