You know, it’s funny. Ive been defending Parker and I wasn’t even a fan particularly. I remember him and watching him and remember how feared he was but I was more of an American League fan. I’ve come to the conclusion that what has kept him out of the Hall is the so-called character clause. His numbers were certainly better than Ted Simmons for example, and he won championships, MVP and Gold Gloves but the drug trial in 1985, during his playing days, ruined his candidacy in the eyes of the sportswriters and then the Veterans Committee. That’s the reason he never got a decent number of votes and why he’ll maybe never get in. He was a helluva player in his prime but can’t overcome the stigma of his role with drugs inthe game.
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