Pirates' Andrew McCutchen eclipses Dave Parker on club's all-time RBIs leaderboard

Earlier this season, Andrew McCutchen eclipsed Dave Parker on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ all-time hits list, moving past Parker (1,479) into 14th place in club history.

On Saturday in Minnesota, McCutchen had himself a five-RBI night, which once again propelled him ahead of “the Cobra,” this time among the Pirates’ all-time leaders in RBIs.

By way of a two-run single in the sixth inning and then a three-run homer in the ninth, McCutchen surpassed Parker’s 758 RBIs in a Pirates uniform.

Now with 761 RBIs as a Pirate, McCutchen ranks 10th all-time in that department.

CANNONBALL FOR CUTCH pic.twitter.com/mqwZf9QIph

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 20, 2023

Parker played with the Pirates from 1973-83, winning 1978 NL MVP honors, along with four All-Star appearances, three Gold Gloves and a World Series ring in 1979.

“It’s really special,” manager Derek Shelton told reporters following Saturday’s 7-4 Pirates win. “I think we know what Cutch means to this franchise, and he’s passing up guys that are elite players.

“Passing Dave Parker, Parker was a great player. In my opinion, he should be a hall of famer — that’s probably for a different conversation — but passing guys like that, it’s really cool to see.”

Parker’s MLB career continued until 1991 with the Reds, Athletics, Brewers, Angels and Blue Jays.

He captured three Silver Sluggers in his post-Pirates playing days (1985, 1986, 1990) and won a second World Series in 1989 with the Athletics.

Parker was inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2022.

But but despite his list of accolades, as well as 2,712 career hits and a lifetime batting average of .290, enshrinement in Cooperstown eluded him.

From 1997-2011, Parker was a candidate on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame ballot, but never came close to reaching the 75% voting threshold required for induction.

He received 24.5% of the vote in 1998 and in 2019, fell short of induction via the Modern Baseball Era ballot, collecting 43.8% of the 16-ballot committee vote.

The 36-year-old McCutchen collected his 2,000th career hit June 11, and his 1,550 with Pittsburgh are 12th-most in club history.

Similarly, McCutchen ranks fourth in home runs (214), 10th in career games (1,444), seventh in doubles (306) and walks (753) and 12th in on-base percentage (.379).

Continuing to solidify his standing among the all-time Pirates greats has been an ongoing humbling experience for McCutchen.

“It’s cool to be in there,” he said. “When you hear the names like (Willie Stargell), Dave Parker, (Roberto) Clemente, it speaks volumes and I don’t take it lightly.”

Through Aug. 19, McCutchen is batting .253 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs on the year.

His .377 on-base percentage and 68 walks both lead the Pirates so far this season.