I don’t watch a whole lot of the MLB Network. I find the shows repetitive, since they show the same programs multiple times over the course of a week.
But suddenly a documentary about Dave Parker showed up on my DVR as part of the “MLB Presents…” series. I often just delete these things, but it was a slow night so I watched The Cobra at Twilight and I’m both happy and sad I did.
Happy because it served as reminder of what a great player he was over his 19-year career which spanned a lot of my best years as a fan. Standing 6’5″ and weighing in at 230 pounds, The Cobra was one of the most feared hitters of his era. Given that he was a seven-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove recipient, and an MVP, I was kind of surprised his overall stats weren’t better, averaging just 22 home runs and .290 a year along with 98 RBIs. But according to those interviewed for the film, including Kent Tekulve, Phil Garner, Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, and Gary Sheffield, he was also a force without a bat or glove as a beloved friend and mentor.
The sad part is something I’ve become acutely aware of as I get older.
We have our memories of these guys. There are the baseball cards and pictures from magazine articles making us believe that they are forever young. Yet they’re not, as programs like this jarringly remind us. Tom Seaver, Jim Bouton, and many more who perhaps aren’t as famous age, become frail and ill. Parker was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2012. We see him struggle through exercise routines designed to make him not strong or fast, but just mobile.
The Cobra at Twilight juxtaposes Parker as a talented, brash kid with the current subdued 68-year old. There’s still a tinkle in those green eyes and a quip on the lips, but the speech is softer and bittersweet as he recalls those glory days, as I imagine most of us do, looking back at our youth.
is available on Amazon.com,
Comments on this entry are closed.