COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — David Parker II leaned back against a cement wall, sipped his drink and cracked a familiar smile at Upstate Bar & Grill in Cooperstown late Saturday night. Pictures depicting his famous father and black-and-gold table settings adorned the event space. A video of the many highlights from “The Cobra” played overhead.

For the younger Parker, who delivered his dad’s speech as part of Sunday’s induction ceremony for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, this was a setting he had always imagined.

Just not under these circumstances, the Pirates legend passing away on June 28 at age 74.

Much like his dad, however, Davidhas stepped to the plate and embraced the moment, remaining positive and doing his best to carry on his dad’s legacy throughout a busy — and emotional — weekend here.

“Even though the situation might not be what everyone wants, we feel like he’s still here,” David told me. “No, he won’t get the autograph sessions or public appearances. But he’s here. That’s all that matters to us.”

The timing of Parker’s induction is impossible to ignore considering this should have happened long ago, David agreed. When his dad was alive and able to properly appreciate and celebrate the honor.

“I’m 40 years old,” David said. “This should have happened in my early-to-mid 20s.”

The only kernel of “good news” is that the Hall of Fame did take the show on the road.

As his father's battle with Parkinson’s disease worsened earlier this year, Hall of Fame president Josh Rawitch flew to Cincinnati for a de facto ceremony with the Parkers.

His father got his jacket and celebrated with loved ones. David said his dad was fully aware of what was happening, though that obviously doesn’t make his absence here any less heartbreaking.

“Seeing the reaction on his face meant more than anything,” David said. “But he knew he was gonna be up here.

"It was like waiting on aged bourbon. He knew he was coming. It was just a matter of when.”

Also, how. That’s where Parker’s story has taken another incredible turn.

‘Walk in the park’

It doesn’t take much to spot the resemblance between the Parker men. David could be a ringer for his dad, right down to the eyes, beard and the way they talk. It’s actually been an ongoing joke for the Parker family in Cooperstown.

“Crazy,” said Danielle Parker, Dave’s oldest daughter, just shaking her head. “Someone actually stopped me in the lobby [Saturday] and said, ‘You look like Dave Parker. Are you related to him?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m his daughter.’

“But I do love how much my brother has embraced this.”

The younger Parker isn’t a baseball legend. He was actually a high-level basketball player in high school and started his own concrete company in their native Cincinnati about a dozen years ago.

But as the Hall called and the Parkers figured someone else would have to deliver the speech, the move felt natural. David called his dad “his casino buddy.” They talked constantly. The younger Parker was eager to let the world know a little more about his dad.

David estimated Sunday’s speech was about a 60-40 split in favor of his dad. He also insisted he wasn’t nervous because every so often, the younger Parker will help out a friend and speak to groups of troubled youth back home.

“It’s gonna be a walk in the park,” he said.

And it was. David nailed it, alternating between his own thoughts and what his dad always told him about his various MLB stops.

When it came to the Pittsburgh stuff, David quoted his dad while talking about local icons such as Fred Rogers: “You see legends. I see old friends.”

Dave Parker, through his son, thanked Roberto Clemente for “teaching him how to love,” as well as Al Oliver, Willie Stargell and Dock Ellis.

“Each and everyone of you meant the world to me,” David said. “Dave Parker was a Bucco.”

Another classic line was directed at Dave’s widow, Kellye, who “when the leaves turned brown he’d do everything in his power to keep around.” But the stunner was the ending, a poem Dave apparently asked his son to read.

“Here I am — 39. About damn time,” it started. “I know I had to wait a little. But that’s what you do with fine, aged wine.

“I’m a Pirate for life. Wouldn’t have it no other way. That was my family.”

‘Loved to play the game’

No one in Pittsburgh needs to be reminded of Parker’s Pirates legacy — the 1978 NL MVP, the ’79 World Series, the ridiculous stretch from 1975-79 where he was second or third in batting average, slugging and OPS. But his Cincinnati roots run deep, too.

Parker was a huge mentor to Hall of Fame Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, who also attended Saturday’s party.

In fact, the minute Larkin arrived at the Parker party he made a beeline for Kellye and thanked her for all she’s done caring for Dave, reminding her that she’s a Hall of Famer, too.

“It’s about respect for Dave,” said Larkin, a fellow Cincinnati native. “Dave was not only a great person and player, but he helped me a lot as a young player [to] learn how to deal with certain things. He protected me from many of the negative influences out there. And he helped to motivate me.

“He didn’t talk to me about the Xs and Os of baseball. He talked to me about a mindset and instilled in me that football-like attack mentality.”

The on-field product was also part of our discussion, of course, Larkin gushing over Parker’s five tools and physical dominance, as well as the many awards that he won.

“What did he not do in the game?” Larkin wondered aloud. “There was nothing lacking with Dave. Nothing.”

I told Larkin he’s not wrong — like he needs my endorsement — and that Dave should’ve been here long ago.

I said the same to Eric Davis, another player Parker mentored with the Reds. Davis arrived with Larkin. They both interacted with the Parker family like they were part of it — which they basically are.

“It’s bittersweet because I’ve always dreamt about him being here,” Davis told me. “We talked so much about getting to this point. But when the time came, he wasn’t able to enjoy it.

“I guess the most important thing is that he knew he was a Hall of Famer, even though I wanted to hear him give that speech. With his charisma and how articulate he was, that would have made it even more special.”

Former Pirate Mike Easler had plenty of his own Parker thoughts.

They, too, were rooted in the Cobra’s mentorship but also how Dave played the game — all out all the time, the ability to do darn near everything on a baseball field.

Easler joked that he liked to call Parker “the Muhammad Ali of baseball” for how he could back up the trash talk. We also discussed prime Parker, which statistically stacked up against anyone, as well as the outsized presence Parker had on those 70s Pirates teams.

The thing I liked the most was the intensity Easler described. It wasn’t hard to see that Parker was talented. But there was so much more, whether it was bringing teammates out of their shell (like Easler), instilling confidence in the group, playing elite defense or Parker’s toughness.

“He loved to play the game,” Easler said. “You never saw a lack of hustle with him. He ran everything out.

“I think he put the fear of God in catchers. When there was a base hit and he was going from second to home, they didn’t like to see Dave coming in there. He used to take pride in running people over. I hate to say it, but it’s true.”

‘A lot of love’

The Parker family did its best to remain positive and composed this weekend. However, that became difficult during Saturday’s parade down Main Street. That’s when it really hit David, Kellye and others, the moment arriving without Dave here.

But what occurred throughout the event floored the Parker family. Whether it was fellow Hall of Famers or fans, everyone seemed to voice their support for Dave. There was also a consistent message delivered, which I’ll let David describe.

“They showed us a lot of love,” David said. “I heard a lot of, ‘It’s been too long. It’s about time!'”

It has been, no doubt. Little debate there.

But what might’ve been most impressive about the Parker family this weekend involves the dignity and class they’ve shown, penning a fresh chapter when it comes to how we think of Parker.

Especially with his lookalike son front and center.

“We’re all representing my dad,” David said. “We could be bitter or nasty, but for what? He knew he was gonna be a Hall of Famer, and now he’s here. That’s all that matters to us.”

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