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| Mel Parnell (1922-2012) |
Former Red Sox left-handed pitcher Mel Parnell passed away a few short months ago. If he had lived, he would have celebrated his 90th birthday today. Playing in the late forties and through the mid-fifties, Parnell was one of the team's most successful starters of the period. He had a career mark of
123-75, with an ERA of 3.50—all with the Red Sox. Amazingly, he was a career 70-30 at Fenway Park. In 1940, he finished fourth in the MVP voting —going 25-7 with a 2.77 ERA. He was also a two-time All-Star. After his playing career, he briefly served as a color man on Red Sox broadcasts. In this year when we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the park he pitched in, we should pause and remember one of the best lefties ever to hurl for the Carmine Hose.
