Dave Parker II’s Hall of Fame speech on behalf of, his late father, Dave Parker

Dave Parker II speaks on behalf of his late father as Dave Parker is posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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Ladies and gentlemen, David Parker the second. Oh, right. You sorry about that. It’s bacon up here. So good afternoon, everyone. I would like to begin by thanking the Staff Nationals Baseball Hall of Fame for bringing us together celebrating not just five legendary players , but the game itself, I would also like to honor God and his internal guidance. Without none of this, it would have made none of it possible. My earliest memories are running up and down the baselines at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati , which remains fresh in my mind as a young boy, a lot of players called him pops, which of course is what I would call him, eric Davis, Barry Larkin players that he played with in Cincinnati. I know my stats look like everything would stop and what the expert would say when ancient youtube videos show me in all the faded living color. Well, I just want you to know. So all my Pittsburgh’s and all my Queen City brothers and sisters pop’s journey up and down to California to his one year in Milwaukee, every franchise cap that dave Parker ever wore, kept him warm and touched his soul even in Toronto. I asked him, he said, I know I’m a blue Jays legend dave Parker Pops used to Joan for the minute. My old teammate, Cisco Gas can called me on the phone asking me to come up to Canada and help him win this thing leading to my sixth and final sip of the chris division win champagne. Even in Anaheim, especially Anaheim. I got to spend months with my all star pal Winnie. We finally experienced moments as teammates that we used to joke about all of them during midsummer classics. Winnie Pops remembered every steak dinner on the road in 91 when y’all share post career dreams and plans. You affected pops life more than you’ll ever know. Thank you. Even in Milwaukee, I asked my pops, he said I got to play with Robin Young and Paul Monster every night was an all star game. I knew there’d be future Hall of Famers straight from the jump. I also found a dazzling rookie named Gary Sheffield showing the league that he could be one of the best business brother chef. Pop said, would you ever um Pop said that you were a brilliant athlete who could become a brilliant and successful man. He was so proud of you. I didn’t have to ask about Oakland. Pops told this one itself, two American League titles, one sparkling World Series ring. All those breakfast with Dennis. Those nights out on the town with Stewie and Ricky. My shopping buddy. Pops often recalled the first conversation with a manager, Tony La Russa when he was traded to Oakland. I don’t care about all your numbers. I just want you here for the leadership. Teach these kids how to win. The man gave Pops a purpose beyond personal goals and he never forgot that Cincinnati, those astonishing rays of life bursting through the twilight of the career. Bob Haman gave Pops a second chance in his hometown from 84 to 87. Dave Parker spent hours upon hours teaching the inside baseball life to young Eric Davis. Brother. E you sure showed the league what baseball also looks like one of the greatest players of the 19 eighties. Pops love telling stories and visiting the Silverton home on college. Yeah, visiting the Silverton home on College Hill and a shortstop named Barry Larkin convincing him to play in our fine Queen City Hall of Famer. Mr Larkin needs no introduction but Pops always said brother Barry is a fine human being as he was a shortstop. I know how much dave Parker savored his role as a spiritual father to these young men. Cincinnati is our home. Cincinnati is our home. I grew up there. Pops grew up there, went to school there, worked out at Crosley Field for years slinging lemonade at hot dog stands, hidden countless balls in the Mill Creek. Dave Parker’s affection for the franchise. Spent decades from Bob Hausen and Bob Castellini. Rick walls at the Reds Hall of Fame. Everyone who works at Great American ballpark, the fans, of course, and yes, the fans you should see the smile on their faces. Whenever people approached us entering the Greater Ice Cream or Montgomery Inn, you got a lot of fans pops. I would say to him often growing up, my father would just shake his head pleasantly. They ain’t fans, son, they’re friends, forever friends. No doubt the most inside Dave Parker’s body also believes Cincinnati red, a bottomless will affection from my hometown people. Today, Dave Parker is entering the hall of fame as a Pittsburgh pirate. That’s right. The bird, the Bucks. We were driving into town for the weekend events at the stadium, autograph things, meet and greets. We shoot through the four pt tunnel, get with the blast of daylight overlooking the Majestic Rivers. We often see billboards and installations celebrating Pittsburgh’s cultural history. Pops love to say, man, you see these legends. I see old friends. You pass a restaurant. I know #### Perini. You pass a jazz mural. I know Walt Harper. You pass the WQED building. I know Fred Rogers. Pops knew a lot of people, Roberto Clemente taught me how to love like a major league baseball player. These four men nurtured in the Pirates organization installed the very highest concern for others. Doc Ellis Willie Storge, Al Oliver, some of the people that I’m talking about, Doctor Doe Pops would never worry about you because you were always the smartest one in the room. You always knew the score on and off the field. Baseball brought you both together but life and love kept you tight in all these years. The Pittsburgh general manager, Joel Brown chose dave Parker a injured high school football player in June 1970 from the draft and encouraged him throughout his years in the fall system. He managed Danny Myrtle and Chuck Tanner provided the room to blossom and achieve great things. I know my pops is so touched on how the Steel City fans have welcomed him back. Each and every one of you meant the world to him. Yes, Dave Parker is a bucko. Dave Parker achieved legendary things as a bucko and he holds the organization close to his heart from Bob Nun, the late great Charlie Muse, and everyone today at PNC Park through all the individual teams and accomplishments he enjoyed during the 11th season with Pittsburgh in the moments surrounded by his teammates and mentors that missed the mo that meant the most to my dad. Pops wanted to say that that this honor would have never happened if it weren’t for the efforts of so many other folks in his personal life. He wanted to thank coach Harry and Mrs Helen Kugel, his high school educators who kept his eyes on the prize during the darkest teenage years of serious injury and family loss. We want to thank Sam Reach the late to reach. And Barry Meister, his agents, close advisor for handling all the details off the field during his career. He loved you. Gentlemen, we will want to acknowledge joe Leo and Mark Goodhart who have dedicated so much personal passion to Dave Parker. Thanks for having pops back mostly all these years and I really appreciate you. I treat you men like family. We also want to thank Doug King and Teresa King for keeping the flame alive of the dave Parker 39 Foundation. Our annual golf outing will be successful without Teresa managing every detail in Doug. You’ve been such a wonderful and confident person to pops and such a critical part of pushing us all forward and finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. We ain’t there yet, but we’re going to get there one day. Hm. We also like to thank Charlie Frank from the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund and all his work and supporting Major league baseball RB I program and the Reds Urban Academy. As we brought together thousands of youth kids through hundreds of clinics and events to allow the next generation to enjoy love and appreciate baseball. Dave Parker always wanted to write a book. Waited decades for the writer to tell his story the right way. And along came Dave Jordan DJ as I would call him, who always came to town on a moment’s notice a way for his family to help pop set the record straight to tell the po to tell the tale in poetic and wild fashion. Pops said you got to finish up the second book. So DJ, you’re on speed now, brother to uncle Jimmy and Uncle Lonnie, you and Pops have been through thick and thin together even every up and down and always at the moment of the side , no matter what pops loves you both and I love, do you the same? Pops wanted to say to my six darling Children, 13 grandchildren, four beautiful great grandchildren. You are the true achievement of my life and warmth, love and affection that each of you bring when we’re together, keep me going through daily. I love you so much for my mom. Pops my dears, Kelly, my wife, my happily ever after the one who leaves turned when the with the one who, when the leaves turned brown did everything in their power to keep me around. I love you so much, baby. Thank you for all the good things in my life. Pops played three sports in high school basketball, kept him busy in the winter. Football was his job. But baseball was his love more than other sports. Baseball or cultural traditions passed down over generations from Mamas to sons, daddies to daughters standing on the baseball field from shea Stadium to Chavez Ravine. The small hot dog stands fresh cut grass and spilled beer away. Reminded pops of his youthful American career. It was a perfect American but it was his and it’s always made him feel like a 17 year old high school catcher watching from the stands learning how to frame pitchers like Johnny bench. My father, dave Parker passed away last month at the age of 74. Working on the speech during his final weeks, pop wanted me to leave everyone with this poem that he wrote that he gave me a long time ago and he said, if he ever made it here to read it. So that’s what I’m about to do here. I am 39. About damn time. I know I had to wait a little, but that’s what you do with fine age one. I’m a pirate for life. Wouldn’t have it no other way. That was my family. Even though I didn’t go on parade day, I love y’all the Bucks own my heart because those two championships I got y’all played in the first part. I’m in the hall now. You can’t take that away. That statue better look good. You know, I got a pretty face, top tier athlete, fashion icon, ### symbol. No reason to list the rest of my credentials. I’m him, period. The cobra known for my rocket arm and I will run any catcher over to my friends families. I love y’all. Thanks for staying by my side. I told y’all. Cooperstown will be my last ride. So the star of day will be in the sky tonight. Watch it glow. But I didn’t lie on my documentary. I told you I wouldn’t show. Thank you. 10 out of 10, a 10 out of 10 dave Parker. The second reading a poem at the end, on behalf of his late father, Dave Parker. That was incredible, man. That was awesome.