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
