Mel Parnell, Former Boston Red Sox Lefty, Dies at 89
After he arrived in Boston out of his native New Orleans in 1947, Parnell went on to lead the American League in wins in 1949. He was 25-7 with a 2.77 ERA that year and started the All-Star Game.
He achieved All-Star honors again in 1951.
Most famously, Mel pitched a no-hitter in 1956, his final season, with a 4-0 victory against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park. It was the first no-hitter by a Red Sox pitcher in 33 years.
“This is something a pitcher dreams of,” Parnell told The Times-Picayune in a 2002 interview, recalling his 1956 performance.
“On that particular day, I had a very good screwball. My slider was working good. That gave me pitches that I could work in and out on hitters. I pretty much was able to get the ball right where I wanted it with each pitch, and things fell in line for me.”
Forced to retire by a bad elbow in 1957, Parnell managed in the minor leagues from 1959-63 and broadcast with the Red Sox for a few years until he moved back home to New Orleans. He was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 1997.
Over the course of his amazing 10-year career with Boston, Parnell was 123-75 with a 3.50 ERA making him the winningest left-hander in Red Sox history and the fourth-best of either arm, trailing only Cy Young, Roger Clemens and Tim Wakefield.
In addition to his wife, Velma (Buras), Mel Parnell leaves behind a son, Mel Jr.; and three daughters, Barbara Jean, Sheryl, and Patti.
via ESPN
