The number 39 has meant many things to Pittsburgh Pirates fans over the decades — strength, swagger, and the unmistakable presence of Dave Parker. But now, in the shadow of Cooperstown and the recent loss of one of the franchise’s greatest legends, that number is taking on a new kind of meaning — one of reverence.
Nick Gonzales, the Pirates’ rising infielder, made a quiet yet resounding decision following the posthumous Hall of Fame induction of Dave Parker: he will no longer wear the number 39.
“If you’re in the Hall of Fame,” Gonzales said, “I shouldn’t be wearing your number.”
It’s a quote that echoes with humility, gratitude, and the deep respect younger players carry for the giants who came before them. Gonzales, just 25 and still carving his path in the majors, recognizes that a number is never just a number — especially in Pittsburgh, where Parker’s legacy still casts a long shadow over the outfield grass.
Despite being a central figure in Pirates lore, Parker’s number has not yet been officially retired by the franchise. Still, for Gonzales, the symbolism is clear. Parker wasn’t just a Hall of Famer — he was a Pirate, through and through. And that meant something worth honoring, even if it meant changing course midseason.
“Logistically, I don’t know if I can change that in the middle of a season,” Gonzales told MLB’s Alex Stumpf. “But I’m definitely in the process of trying to make that happen.”
The Pirates have not announced formal plans to retire No. 39, but gestures like Gonzales’ speak volumes — perhaps louder than any front office announcement ever could. In a sport defined by lineage, where legends pass their fire down to the next generation, this gesture is both quiet and seismic.
Parker, nicknamed “The Cobra,” was a seven-time All-Star, the 1978 NL MVP, and one of the fiercest hitters of his era. He passed away just weeks before Cooperstown finally called his name — a long overdue moment many in the baseball community believed should’ve come years earlier.
Now, as the world remembers Parker for the powerhouse he was, a young Pirate pays tribute not with words, but with the simple decision to step aside and let No. 39 belong only to the one who made it iconic.