2,712 hits, 1,272 runs, 526 DB's, 75 3B's, 339 HR's, 1,493 RBI's, and batted a very respectable .290. He was around before the steroid era and had very solid #'s, how come he isn't in the HOF? He was a 6 time all-star, 3 time gold glove winner and won the NL MVP award in 1978. He did slow down a bit in the 80's because of being overweight, he smoked and had drug/alcohol problems, but his numbers are still pretty good. Is there a case for him as a HOF'er?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Parker

http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/park...

Yes. What a lot of people forget is that he had a cannon for an arm, too. In the post season he was quite a factor both as a hitter and a defensive threat. He played for the Pirates, which is the only thing that might go against him. That and the fact that the writers might not like him.

no not really to be in the hall you need to have been the dominant player in your position for at least one year

and guys have been taking roids for a lot longer than you think Arnold Schwarzenegger took them years before he became Mr. Olympia and said they were easy to find even back then

Look at the offensive players who have gotten into the hall of fame recently. You have Tony Gwynn and wade boggs who hit 3000 hits. Ripken who had the consecutive games streak, Sandberg, who was one of the best defensive 2nd basemen to play the game, Paul Molitor (3000+ hits), Eddie Murrary (3000 hits, 500+ hr), Ozzy smith who was one of the best defensive short stops ever, George Brett, and Robin Yount to name a few. All these guys blow Parker away in various catagories. The 2700 hits isn't that impressive compared to Boggs Gwynn Molitor or Murray, the 339 Hrs is good, but not that impressive compared to Murrays 500+. The .290 isn't that impressive compared to Gwynns .338, the 6 time alstar doesn't mean a thing to the hall, and the 3 time gold gloves is far less than Ozzie Smiths 13 or 9 consecutive by Sandberg. Dave Parker was a good all around player, just not hall of fame great at anything.

Being a central part of that drug trial back in the 80's basically did irrevocable damage to Dave Parker's chances at induction to the Hall of Fame...even with his falling short of 3,000 hits, the stats he compiled in what is certainly considered the pre-steroid era would have developed enough support in time to where his place in Cooperstown would have very possibly been assured by now.

Keith Hernandez is another player who was right in the middle of the trial proceedings, too...and another player that lost out on what would've been a certain Hall of Fame induction, as well.