Mel Parnell Dies

[a700hitter]

Former Sox pitcher Mel Parnell dies

Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff March 21, 2012 07:55 AM

 

Former Sox lefthander Mel Parnell died Tuesday after battling cancer, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported. Parnell, 89, pitched for Boston from 1947-56. He had a 123-75 record with a 3.50 ERA in 289 games (232 starts).

A few of our members probably saw him pitch. It would be interesting to hear from them. I remember that he was a Red Sox announcer in 1967.

[OrtizFan]

RIP

[RedSoxNC84]

Knew the name, never really got a chance to see him play though, it was before my time. RIP

[Flynnatic10]

RIP.

[Spudboy]

Research has shown that one hundred percent of the worlds population will die.

 

Never saw him play.

[SoxSport]

Saw him pitch many times at Fenway. He was the best Red Sox starter in the late 40s , early 50s.

The ONLY decent Red Sox starter--in those days. He was a lefty with a good sinker. Kept the ball low and was tough to hit in Fenway. He and Kinder (Ellie in the bullpen after 1950) were the only decent Red Sox pitchers in those days. Yawkey never paid much attention to pitching in those days.

 

Those teams had the best hitting lineups in baseball, but it was Parnell against Raschi, Reynolds and Lopat of the Yankees. And the Yankees won out every time. It's all about pitching with the Red Sox vs the Yankees. Always has been. The Yankees know it, too. Maybe the Red Sox know it also by now.

 

RIP, Mel. Happy memories.

[seabeachfred]

A few of our members probably saw him pitch. It would be interesting to hear from them. I remember that he was a Red Sox announcer in 1967.

 

Mel Parnell went 25-7 in 1949 and Ellis Kinder went 23-5, a great one-to punch, yet they were one ahead of the Yankees with two to play at the end of the season at YS and f ound a way to blow both games. They were 4-0 in the lead with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth inning I believe and couldn't get another run and eventually Johnny Lindell hit a two run homer in the eighth and won it for the damn Yankees, 5-4. By that time this then nine year old boy hated those bastards with a fury. The next day, losing 1-0 in the 8th, manager Joe McCarthy pinched it for Kinder and the bullpen gave the Yankees four more runs. Irony? The Red Sox scored three runs in the ninth. If Kinder had stayed in the game the Sox would have won the pennant.

 

Parnell also went 21-8 in 1953 and that year had the Yankees number. He shut them out four times that season.

 

See I told you guys that though I wasn't a Red Sox fan in those days, I knew a lot about them. And consider this: If they had won the '46 WS, won the one game Playoff in '48 and beat the Yankees in '49 they would have been looked upon much differently. Those four games defined the Red Sox as chokers or what have y ou for generations.

[Spudboy]

Saw him pitch many times at Fenway. He was the best Red Sox starter in the late 40s , early 50s.

The ONLY decent Red Sox starter--in those days. He was a lefty with a good sinker. Kept the ball low and was tough to hit in Fenway. He and Kinder (Ellie in the bullpen after 1950) were the only decent Red Sox pitchers in those days. Yawkey never paid much attention to pitching in those days.

 

Those teams had the best hitting lineups in baseball, but it was Parnell against Raschi, Reynolds and Lopat of the Yankees. And the Yankees won out every time. It's all about pitching with the Red Sox vs the Yankees. Always has been. The Yankees know it, too. Maybe the Red Sox know it also by now.

 

RIP, Mel. Happy memories.

 

Mel Parnell went 25-7 in 1949 and Ellis Kinder went 23-5, a great one-to punch, yet they were one ahead of the Yankees with two to play at the end of the season at YS and f ound a way to blow both games. They were 4-0 in the lead with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth inning I believe and couldn't get another run and eventually Johnny Lindell hit a two run homer in the eighth and won it for the damn Yankees, 5-4. By that time this then nine year old boy hated those bastards with a fury. The next day, losing 1-0 in the 8th, manager Joe McCarthy pinched it for Kinder and the bullpen gave the Yankees four more runs. Irony? The Red Sox scored three runs in the ninth. If Kinder had stayed in the game the Sox would have won the pennant.

 

Parnell also went 21-8 in 1953 and that year had the Yankees number. He shut them out four times that season.

 

See I told you guys that though I wasn't a Red Sox fan in those days, I knew a lot about them. And consider this: If they had won the '46 WS, won the one game Playoff in '48 and beat the Yankees in '49 they would have been looked upon much differently. Those four games defined the Red Sox as chokers or what have y ou for generations.

 

Thanks you two. This is the best historical perspective a fan can enjoy. The memories of another die-hard fan.

[SoxSport]

Mel Parnell went 25-7 in 1949 and Ellis Kinder went 23-5, a great one-to punch, yet they were one ahead of the Yankees with two to play at the end of the season at YS and f ound a way to blow both games. They were 4-0 in the lead with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth inning I believe and couldn't get another run and eventually Johnny Lindell hit a two run homer in the eighth and won it for the damn Yankees, 5-4. By that time this then nine year old boy hated those bastards with a fury. The next day, losing 1-0 in the 8th, manager Joe McCarthy pinched it for Kinder and the bullpen gave the Yankees four more runs. Irony? The Red Sox scored three runs in the ninth. If Kinder had stayed in the game the Sox would have won the pennant.

 

Parnell also went 21-8 in 1953 and that year had the Yankees number. He shut them out four times that season.

 

See I told you guys that though I wasn't a Red Sox fan in those days, I knew a lot about them. And consider this: If they had won the '46 WS, won the one game Playoff in '48 and beat the Yankees in '49 they would have been looked upon much differently. Those four games defined the Red Sox as chokers or what have y ou for generations.

 

 

Kinder never spoke to McCarthy again for that blunder. McCarthy by the time he managed the Red Sox was an over the hill drunk who also cost them the '48 playoff game against Cleveland, starting Galehouse over, I believe, Parnell. He was the Grady Little of his era in Boston.

[a700hitter]

Kinder never spoke to McCarthy again for that blunder. McCarthy by the time he managed the Red Sox was an over the hill drunk who also cost them the '48 playoff game against Cleveland' date=' starting Galehouse over, I believe, Parnell. He was the Grady Little of his era in Boston.[/quote']That's cionsistent with every account that I ever read. Supposedly, Galehouse had been drinking the night before and was not prepared to pitch. He was shocked when he found the ball in his shoe-- which meant he got the start.

[seabeachfred]

Thanks you two. This is the best historical perspective a fan can enjoy. The memories of another die-hard fan.

 

Glad you got something out of it Spudboy, but if truth be known that part of the end of the 1949 season was painful to type out. We were following races in both leagues back then and this guy Larry McGee, the only Red Sox fan in our housing apartment in Queens had convinced me that a Red Sox-Dodgers World Series would be an ideal way to end t he season only to see the fu@@in' Yankees win those two games and win the pennant and then the WS against my childhood team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. From that moment on I solidified a deep and unabiding hatred of the Yankees, and, strange to say since I am a Dago myself, I hated the Italians on that team most of all---that little squirt Rizzuto, super a=hole Vic Raschi, the babbling blimp Yogi Berra and most of all, Mr. Godlike himself, Joe DiMaggio. From that point on I was convinced that the Gods of Fate were all with that ballclub. Kind of orderly that I eventually became a Red Sox fan later in life, don't you think? I had the pre-requisites for being a Sox fan----despising the Yankees.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[kapsis21]

RIP sir!

[seabeachfred]

Kinder never spoke to McCarthy again for that blunder. McCarthy by the time he managed the Red Sox was an over the hill drunk who also cost them the '48 playoff game against Cleveland' date=' starting Galehouse over, I believe, Parnell. He was the Grady Little of his era in Boston.[/quote']

 

Man alive, I have a contemporary on this board. That's terrific---and you're absolutely right about Kinder. He called McCarthy "an old bastard" who couldn't manage himself after that game. In fact, as I now am convinced you remember SoxSport, McCarthy lost the team and resigned in 1950 and I think Steve O'Neill took over the team that season---a season that was the last one a team hit 300 as a club.

 

To this very day now that I am a Red Sox fan myself, I cannot understand how he could throw Denny Galehouse in that one game do or die playoff game in 1948. Hell, he was even their third best pitcher, let alone their ace. Now don't get pissed off at me for saying this but I w as only eight years old at that time and my uncle married an Ohio girl and convinced me that if I should have an American League team it should be the Guardians so they became my second team as a kid. Y es, I rooted for Gene Bearden and Lou Boudreau and Kenny Keltner to win that game. Now don't drum me out of the core because of that because I nearly yelled my voice completely hoarse in 2007 when we came from 3-1 down to beat the Guardians for the AL Title.

[Spudboy]

Glad you got something out of it Spudboy' date=' but if truth be known that part of the end of the 1949 season was painful to type out. We were following races in both leagues back then and this guy Larry McGee, the only Red Sox fan in our housing apartment in Queens had convinced me that a Red Sox-Dodgers World Series would be an ideal way to end t he season only to see the fu@@in' Yankees win those two games and win the pennant and then the WS against my childhood team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. From that moment on I solidified a deep and unabiding hatred of the Yankees, and, strange to say since I am a Dago myself, I hated the Italians on that team most of all---that little squirt Rizzuto, super a=hole Vic Raschi, the babbling blimp Yogi Berra and most of all, Mr. Godlike himself, Joe DiMaggio. From that point on I was convinced that the Gods of Fate were all with that ballclub. Kind of orderly that I eventually became a Red Sox fan later in life, don't you think? I had the pre-requisites for being a Sox fan----despising the Yankees.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:[/quote']

 

Lol.

 

Great stuff! Did you see Pete Reiser play?

[a700hitter]

Lol.

 

Great stuff! Did you see Pete Reiser play?

My Dad saw him. I think he won the batting title in 1941, but ran into too many walls.

[seabeachfred]

Lol.

 

Great stuff! Did you see Pete Reiser play?

 

I saw Pete Reiser play in 1947 and 1948 when I was seven and eight years old. He was pretty much through by then even though he was only 28. He ran into too many walls and suffered head injuries that led to dizzy spells the rest of his life. By 1952 he was out of baseball. My dad saw him in 1941 and 1942 and believes back then he was as good as Willie Mays and better than Duke Snider. He was the batting king in the NL in '41 with a 343 average as a rookie, and was hitting around 380 when he ran into a wall in St. Louis in the summer of '42. That began a long slide for him.

 

I wonder why you mentioned Pete Reiser. Do you know something about him that your dad might have told you? Too many people today don't even remember who he was, but if you followed the Brooklyn Dodgers at any time in your life the name jumps out at you.

[VA Sox Fan]

Lol.

 

Great stuff! Did you see Pete Reiser play?

 

RIP Mel!

[BOSOX11]

Never saw Mel Parnell play. Being in Los Angeles, I didn't get into baseball until the Dodgers moved here in 1958, as I was starting Little League. Anyways, I've always been a Red Sox fan and read every book I could get my hands on to learn the history of the club. I had a nice 8x10 photo of MP that I mailed off to him several years ago. Not only did he autograph it for me, he also sent another autographed 8x10 accompanied by a nice letter. A damn fine pitcher and a class act, to boot. RIP, Mr. Parnell.

[Spudboy]

Originally Posted by Spudboy View Post

Lol.

 

Great stuff! Did you see Pete Reiser play?

 

@ SBF: I don't know if my Dad ever saw him play but I am interested in him. See below.

 

@ VA: Hahahahahahahahaha....... I asked about him just to see if you would notice! And of course, you did! Lol. You know that spelling is not exactly my Forte. But I do remember learning "i before e except after c and sometimes w". I wonder how Pete Reiser lived his whole life misspelling his own name?

 

Seriously Fred, that is very close to my name so as a child people would call me "Pistol Pete" and ask me if I was related to him. I had no idea who he was until I started to like baseball in 1966 at ten years old.

 

Just the other day a man who lives in my building saw me and said "Pistol Pete". I had to laugh. I explained that I had not heard anyone call me that for many years. He responded by asking "wasn't he a great basketball player?" (my neighbor is about 12 years younger than me so he does not remember "Pistol Pete Marovich"). I explained it all. Anyway, it's good to get a historical perspective from you all.

[Spitball]

I remember Mel Parnell joining the Red Sox announcers after Art Gleeson died. I was a fan of his.

[SoxSport]

Rieser was obviously a victim of concussions. Today, he wouldn't be allowed to play. In those days, none of the walls were padded. Even today, not all the walls are padded. Player safety could be better.

Baseline coaches could wear protective helmuts. Reinforced liners might be put in pitchers' caps. The head is what you want to protect.

 

It's incredible the players union doesn't stress player safety the way they stress the top dollar.

[Spudboy]

Rieser was obviously a victim of concussions. Today, he wouldn't be allowed to play. In those days, none of the walls were padded. Even today, not all the walls are padded. Player safety could be better.

Baseline coaches could wear protective helmuts. Reinforced liners might be put in pitchers' caps. The head is what you want to protect.

 

It's incredible the players union doesn't stress player safety the way they stress the top dollar.

 

Hahahahahahaha!!!!

 

Sorry Soxsport, that is my name, not his!

[TeddyBallGame9]

Man alive, I have a contemporary on this board. That's terrific---and you're absolutely right about Kinder. He called McCarthy "an old bastard" who couldn't manage himself after that game. In fact, as I now am convinced you remember SoxSport, McCarthy lost the team and resigned in 1950 and I think Steve O'Neill took over the team that season---a season that was the last one a team hit 300 as a club.

 

To this very day now that I am a Red Sox fan myself, I cannot understand how he could throw Denny Galehouse in that one game do or die playoff game in 1948. Hell, he was even their third best pitcher, let alone their ace. Now don't get pissed off at me for saying this but I w as only eight years old at that time and my uncle married an Ohio girl and convinced me that if I should have an American League team it should be the Guardians so they became my second team as a kid. Y es, I rooted for Gene Bearden and Lou Boudreau and Kenny Keltner to win that game. Now don't drum me out of the core because of that because I nearly yelled my voice completely hoarse in 2007 when we came from 3-1 down to beat the Guardians for the AL Title.

 

...and another!! I saw Mel Parnell pitch in Cleveland many times and was considered throughout baseball as one fine pitcher and a class act. In fact, I'm looking at his autographed picture right now along with Teddy, Yaz, Jackie Jensen and the Hawk.

 

I knew he must be old but not that old. Time is fleeting. Probably most on this board don't know much about him but I am saddened by his passing. May God bless you, Mel Parnell.

[TeddyBallGame9]

deabeachfred - One could say the same about Boudreau starting a lefty Bearden in the Fens. It was simply the Guardians' year!

 

Btw, when did you become a Red Sox fan?