With Dave Parker In Hall Of Fame, Underrated Red Sox Legend Should Be Too

Sunday was a special day in Cooperstown, New York, as five former players were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Pittsburgh Pirates legend Dave Parker.

Parker, who passed away in June due to complications from Parkinson’s disease, was one of the greatest outfielders of his era during the 1970s and 1980s. However, there’s a case to be made that Boston Red Sox legend Dwight Evans was better.

Both primarily played right field and their careers overlapped almost perfectly, making comparisons between the two relatively easy. Evans played from 1972 to 1991, while Parker played from 1973 to 1991.

Parker had the better peak, as he was arguably the best all-around player in baseball during the late 1970s. The 1978 National League MVP and seven-time All-Star won back-to-back batting titles, three straight Gold Gloves and a World Series from 1977 to 1979, when he was worth 21.1 WAR.

However, Parker faded after that and was close to a replacement-level player for the rest of his career, averaging just 0.6 WAR per year over his final 12 seasons.

One RF for the entirety of his career

Dwight Evans or Dave Parker? pic.twitter.com/3OphBXpVRe

— OldTimeHardball (@OleTimeHardball) June 2, 2025

Meanwhile, Evans quietly emerged as one of the best players in baseball during the 1980s. He racked up 42.3 WAR during the decade (more than Parker had in his whole career), averaging 26 homers and 90 RBI per season and winning five straight Gold Gloves while patrolling one of the most challenging right fields in the Major Leagues.

Parker’s brief prime was more dominant and more memorable, but Evans was more consistent and a better player for longer. The steady fan favorite walked more, hit more home runs and was one of the greatest defensive right fielders ever, finishing with eight Gold Gloves.

Evans never won an MVP award, batting title or World Series, however, causing him to be underappreciated. He only made three All-Star teams and was tremendously underrated during his time, often overshadowed by flashier teammates with bigger personalities like Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs.

Like Parker, Rice is also in the Hall of Fame, while Evans hasn’t come close. Evans had far more WAR (67.2) than both of them, however, thanks to his superior defense, longevity and on-base skills.

With the recent elections of Parker, Dick Allen, Tony Oliva and Harold Baines, Evans’ case looks even stronger by comparison. If they’re Hall of Famers, then he should be, too.