LOS ANGELES, January 22, 2026 – FOX Sports Radio’s Rob Parker—co-host of The Odd Couple with Rob Parker & Kelvin Washington, MLB Network analyst, and founder/editor of MLBbro.com— is among the 2026 inductee class for the Black Sportwriters Hall of Fame.

Parker started his career as a sportswriter in 1986 at the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. By age 22, he was a full-time sportswriter at the New York Daily News. Throughout his career, Parker became a trailblazer—serving as the first African American sports columnist at the Detroit Free Press (1993) and at Newsday in New York (1995). In 1991, he became the first African American beat writer to cover the Cincinnati Reds for The Cincinnati Enquirer. He later spent nine years as an award‑winning sports columnist at The Detroit News.

Parker will be joined by fellow 2026 inductees Clifton Brown, Garry D. Howard and Ron Thomas. The Hall of Fame induction dinner and ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at North Carolina A&T State University's Deese Ballroom at the Student Center. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

“What an honor to be recognized by your peers, your people,” said Parker, who celebrated his 40th year in journalism earlier this month. “I’m thrilled to be inducted alongside such a groundbreaking sports editor and accomplished writers. What a class! I’m both humbled and grateful.”

The Black Sportwriters Hall of Fame was founded by Parker in 2025 to recognize and honor Black sportswriters and editors for their excellence in journalism. Inaugural inductees included Bryan Burwell, Thom Greer, Sam Lacy, Wendell Smith, Larry Whiteside and Ralph Wiley. The Hall is located in North Carolina A&T State University's Crosby Hall in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. Click HERE for more information.

This is the latest accolade for Parker, who was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Hall of Fame in 2023. His alma mater, Southern Connecticut State University, also recently honored him with a press box dedication at Jess Dow Field. In December 2025, he was named a 2026 National Sports Media Association (NSMA) Hall of Fame Sportswriter finalist.

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