When MLB icon Dave Parker revealed the infamous drug supplier for Pittsburgh Pirates who precipitated their cocaine culture of '80s

In September 1986, former Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Dave Parker testified that he introduced alleged cocaine dealer, Shelby Greer, to his ex-teammates in 1979.

Parker met Greer on a flight to Denver as the Pirates went to Japan for a series of exhibition games after beating the Baltimore Orioles in the 1979 World Series. Apparently, Parker introduced Greer to his Pirates teammates not as a cocaine dealer but as a man dealing in gas and oil investments.

The 1985 Pittsburgh drug trials involved the use of amphetamines by players and made national headlines every day. During the time of testimony, the former 2× World Series champion (1979, 1989) was playing with the Cincinnati Reds (1984–1987).

"It came to a point Shelby Greer was selling directly in front of the park after games," Dave Parker said. "I introduced Shelby Greer to the whole team."

@RealTreatTweets Agreed.

Speculation is that The Pittsburgh Drug Trials taint continues to keep
Dave Parker out of the HOF. https://t.co/wMSvw2U5vD

"Speculation is that The Pittsburgh Drug Trials taint continues to keep Dave Parker out of the HOF." - Sean Mc

Apart from arranging cocaine purchases for his former Pittsburgh Pirates teammates, Parker also arranged drug deals for players on other teams, including Steve Howe, Dusty Baker, J.R. Richard and Derrell Thomas. Moreover, between 1976 to 1982, Parker confessed to using cocaine himself.

Parker received a conditional one-year suspension along with Keith Hernandez, Joaquin Andujar, Lonnie Smith, Enos Cabell, Jeff Leonard and Dale Berra for the 1987 season. However, the sentences were reduced in return for consenting to random drug testing, providing time and giving 10% of their base salaries to drug-related community services.

1985 drug scandal tainted Pittsburgh Pirates' MLB success

The 1985 Pittsburgh Drug Scandal was seen as a major contributing factor to the decline of the Pirates in the MLB in the mid-1980s.

The team had won the World Series in 1979, but after the scandal, they suffered a long stretch of losing seasons. It was not until 2013, when the Pirates returned to the MLB playoffs for the first time since 1992, that the team experienced success again.