Pirates player who wears Dave Parker's number calls for team to give legend ultimate honor

The Pittsburgh Pirates completed a statement sweep of the New York Mets during an otherwise somber weekend for the franchise, which lost one of its most iconic former players.

Hall of Famer and World Series champion Dave Parker, who played for the Pirates for 11 seasons from 1973-83, died Saturday at 74 years old after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales wears No. 39 – the same jersey number Parker wore during his 11 seasons in Pittsburgh – and believes that the club should give Parker the ultimate honor by retiring the number, even if it means Gonzales has to choose a new number to wear.

"Yeah, you know, obviously it was really unfortunate," Gonzales said. "I heard the news, I think when I was in the stretch line and it just kind of meant a little bit more today, playing with that number. Personally, I think it should be retired. I think I should get a new number, honestly."

The Pirates have retired nine jersey numbers in their franchise history. These include Billy Meyer's No. 1 (1948-52), Ralph Kiner's No. 4 (1946-53), Willie Stargell's No. 8 (1962-82), Bill Mazeroski's No. 9 (1956-72), Paul Waner's No. 11 (1926-40), Pie Traynor's No. 20 (1920-39), Roberto Clemente's No. 21 (1955-72), Honus Wagner's No. 33 (1900-17) and Danny Murtaugh's No. 40 (1948-76). Jackie Robinson's No. 42 is also retired across all of baseball.

Nick Gonzales suggests Pirates retire franchise legend Dave Parker's No. 39

Parker played in 1,301 games for the Pirates, in which he racked up 1,479 hits, 296 doubles, 62 triples, 166 home runs, 758 RBI, 123 stolen bases and 346 walks. His 166 homers as a Pirate are the sixth-most in franchise history.

Parker's best season came in 1978, where he hit .334/.394/.585 with 194 hits, 32 doubles, 12 triples, 30 home runs, 117 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 57 walks. He won the National League batting title, a Gold Glove Award and the NL MVP that season.

Parker also won the NL Batting Title in 1977, plus two more Gold Gloves in 1977 and 1979. He was also named an NL All-Star four times with the Pirates, in 1977 and 1979-81.

Parker was also a key contributor for the Pirates in the 1979 World Series, hitting .341 and driving in six runs. which the Pirates won in seven games for their fifth and most recent championship in franchise history.

Parker was finally elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in late 2024, and he will be posthumously inducted as part of the Class of 2025 next month in Cooperstown.

More Pirates content from Rum Bunter