Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #1 – 1981 Topps

Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #1 – 1981 Topps

Now that my Dave Parker player collection is complete, it is time to show of my favorite five cards from the set.

Card #1 – 1981 Topps

Finally, time to show off my favorite card in my recently completed Dave Parker collection.

The card comes from the 1981 Topps baseball card set, and it features a great action photo, a nice ‘All-Star’ headline, and a classic graphic that reminds you precisely of the cap worn by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the early 1980′s.

I also like the background of the photo that was used for this baseball card – between the old-school, unprotected dugouts to the close proximity of the player in the on-deck circle – it all looks great!

Thanks for reading.

Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #2 – 1976 Topps

Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #2 – 1976 Topps

Now that my Dave Parker player collection is complete, it is time to show of my favorite five cards from the set.

Card #2 – 1976 Topps

Sure, the photo may be a little grainy, but it is definitely packed full of action!!

I love the photo that Topps chose for this card.  Not only do you have a very young, and rather slim, Dave Parker swinging a heavy bat.  But based on the position of his lead foot and trailing knee, he really put all his energy into the swing.

Go Get ‘Em Cobra!!!

Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #3 – 1982 Donruss

Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #3 – 1982 Donruss

Now that my Dave Parker player collection is complete, it is time to show of my favorite five cards from the set.

Card #3 – 1982 Donruss

While I would prefer to see both of  his feet in this image as I am a sucker for the ‘full-body action shot’ on my baseball cards, I will let this one pass.

The photographer needed to zoom in just a bit more to capture the action.

And as you can see by the little hunk of wood that Parker is still grasping, he really got a hold of the pitch on this swing.

With the bat shattered, I have to imagine that with Parker’s 6 foot, 5 inch, 230-pound body that he could swing as hard as any player in the majors!!!

Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #4 – 1977 Topps

Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #4 – 1977 Topps

Now that my Dave Parker player collection is complete, it is time to show of my favorite five cards from the set.

Card #4 – 1977 Topps

A baseball donut card – YES!!!

While the image is a bit on the grainy side, I am a sucker for cards featuring players in or near the on-deck circle.

And if he happens to be swinging a piece of lumber with a batting donut on it, I am a collector in heaven!!!

Thank you, Topps!

Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #5 – 1984 Donruss

Dave Parker ‘Fab Five’ – Card #5 – 1984 Donruss

Now that my Dave Parker player collection is complete, it is time to show of my favorite five cards from the set.

Card #5 – 1984 Donruss

Just looking at this card gives me chills – Dave Parker is a bad dude!!!

Between the hard stare, diamond stud earring, and menacing presence, Parker more than likely struck fear in all of the pitchers that set out to get him out.

He fared rather well against them – a lifetime .290 hitter with seven .300 seasons and two batting championships to his credit.

I wonder what it would sound like if he said, ‘I Pity The Fool’!!!!

My Dave Parker Player Collection Is Now Complete!!!

My Dave Parker Player Collection Is Now Complete!!!

With the acquisition of his 1974 Topps rookie card, I have completed my Dave Parker player collection.  The set consists of 26 major-brand cards of ‘The Cobra’ from his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, 1974-1984.

One thing that stands out while looking at the full collection is the number of posed portrait cards that were issued of Parker.  While not on Dale Murphy-esque levels, there a lot of non-action, posed photos used of him, especially from his early years.

Lucky for me, many of them were shot near the batting cage.  And you know me, I LOVE BATTING CAGE CARDS!!!  As a matter of fact, of the 26 cards that make up my Dave Parker set, six of them are ‘batting cage cards’.

Here is a look at the full collection. 

And as I do with all of my recently completed player collection, I will select and feature my ‘Fab Five’ and show them off to you next week.

Stay tuned as the fun will begin on Monday with ‘Card #5′.

Have a great night!!

Dave Parker 1974 Topps ROOKIE Card

Dave Parker 1974 Topps ROOKIE Card

A rookie baseball card and a batting cage card, all in one!  This collector is drooling!!

Of all of the batting cage cards that I have acquired over the years, I believe that this one of Dave Parker is the first rookie card of the bunch. 

Have a look:

 

This is certainly not the greatest batting cage card in my collection, but it is a nice one.  It’s just too bad that the photographer couldn’t capture Parker in a little bit different pose…

As for the card, Topps really did a great job.  The Black and Yellow of the Pittsburgh Pirates color scheme is displayed very well.  And the reverse coloring of the lettering of Parker’s jersey adds a nice contrast to the team banner that Topps built.

Gotta Love The Rookie Cards!!!

Dave Parker 1978 Topps – An Almost Batting Cage Card

Dave Parker 1978 Topps

It’s like you know it is there, but you just cannot see it. 

Have a look:

As you can see, Dave Parker is resting on the outer shell of the batting cage that he and his Pittsburgh Pirates teammates are using for batting practice.  But the cage is not really seen in the shot.  Still, I will classify this as a batting cage card and we will move on from there…

This card comes from the 1978 Topps baseball card set.  I like the script-font that was used for the team name found on the bottom.  And I really like that ‘NL All-Star’ badge that is displayed in the upper-left hand corner.

Nice work Topps!  And a fantastic addition to my Dave Parker player collection.

Dave Parker 1975 Topps Baseball Card

Dave Parker 1975 Topps Baseball Card

Gotta love the 75′s!!!

The two-toned borders of the 1975 Topps baseball card design are uber-famous amongst vintage collectors.  And while the duo of colors may not have always been a perfect match for the team or player that was being featured, they were certainly reminiscent of the time period.

This card of Dave Parker from the 1975 Topps set features a Dark-Green, Light-Green border, and while not necessarily a perfect match for the Pittsburgh Pirates, it does go very well with the turf stationed behind Parker in the photo.

Have a look:

Dave Parker 1982 Topps – Batting Cage Card!!

Dave Parker 1982 Topps – Batting Cage Card!!

Another batting cage card.  And another hitting superstar getting ready to go to work!!

Dave Parker does not get the credit he deserves for being one of the best hitters of his generation.  He may not have been on par with the guys that debuted at the same time as him like George Brett and Robin Yount.  But, he was not that far behind either…

Parker retired from the sport with a .290 batting average.  He averaged .305 during his 11-season tenure with the Pirates.  He hit .300 or better in six seasons and won back-to-back batting titles in 1977 & 1978.