Dave Parker Was The Father Of Six Children Before He Died At 74 Due To Parkinson’s Disease

Dave Parker II took the place of his late father during the Hall of Fame speech.

July 28, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on July 28, 2026

Dave Gene Parker, the legendary MLB player, also known as “The Cobra,” was a proud father of six children. He passed away on June 28, 2026, at the age of 74, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.

Dave Parker played a total of 19 seasons in MLB from 1973 to 1991. Just under a year later, after his MLB debut in 1973, he married his first wife in April 1974, reportedly in a common-law marriage.

The couple reportedly had two children together, Danielle and Dorian Parker. The children have chosen to stay out of the limelight.

Dave Parker also has a 39-year-old son, Dave Parker II, who has become an active voice for his late father.

Cobra. Pops. Hall of Famer.

David Parker II honors his father at the Induction Ceremony.

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall)

As he was born after Dave Parker’s divorce from his first wife, i.e., 1980, his biological mother is still not officially stated anywhere.

At the 2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, he delivered a poem written by his late father;

“I told y’all Cooperstown would be my last ride. So the Star of David will be in the sky tonight. Watch it glow. But I didn’t lie on my documentary: I told you I wouldn’t show.”

He has also appeared at multiple events, including the Parade of Legends, the Pittsburgh Pirates Tribute Video, and the Cincinnati Reds Memorial Event.

Dave Parker Had Three Children With His Second Wife

By the time Dave Parker married for the second time in 1984, Dave Parker II had not yet been born, although Kellye Crockett, The Cobra’s second wife, is not his biological mother.

Dave Parker and his second partner, Kellye, had three children together. The couple has chosen to keep their identity private.

They were married for over 40 years and remained together until Dave’s passing on June 28, 2026.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of 2026 Hall of Fame electee Dave Parker.

“The Cobra” was one of the fiercest hitters of his generation. The two-time batting champion and 1978 NL MVP won two World Series rings, one with the Pirates in 1979 and one with the A’s in 1989.

A…

— MLB (@MLB)

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease back in 2012, and his wife, Kellye, was his emotional support during the hard times, before the unfortunate event.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Dave Parker played for six MLB teams during his career: Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, and Toronto Blue Jays.
• He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame nearly a month after his death.
• During his career, he won: 1978 National League MVP, 2× World Series Champion, 7× All-Star, 3× Gold Glove Awards, 3× Silver Slugger Awards, 2× NL Batting Champion, 1985 Home Run Derby, and was 1979 All-Star Game MVP.

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Anish Koirala has loved sports since he was a kid. He grew up playing basketball and soccer, and that passion stayed with him over the years. Today, Anish works as a writer and editor, sharing his knowledge and love for the game through articles and stories. He uses his playing experience to make his writing clear, thoughtful, and fun to read.

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