Mel Parnell
Born: 6/13/1922 in New Orleans, LA, USA
Died: 3/20/2012 in New Orleans, LA, USA
MLB Debut: 1947-04-20 | Final Game: 1956-09-29
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Melvin Lloyd Parnell
Biography
Mel Parnell was a prominent Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1947 to 1956. Born in 1922, he made a name for himself during a transformative period in baseball, characterized by the shift from the deadball era to a game increasingly defined by power hitting and dynamic pitching. Parnell was known for his impressive left-handed pitching, which contributed to his successful career record of 123 wins and 75 losses. With a career earned run average (ERA) of 3.5 and a total of 732 strikeouts, he established himself as a reliable and formidable presence on the mound.
Throughout his career, Parnell was selected to the All-Star Game twice, showcasing his talent and consistency among the league's elite pitchers. He was also credited with 10 saves, demonstrating his versatility and ability to close out games when needed. Parnell's contributions to the game were significant during a decade that saw the rise of new baseball stars and the integration of the sport, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the solid pitchers of his time. His performance and dedication to the game have made him a respected figure in baseball history.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 123 | 75 | 289 | 232 | 113 | 20 | 10 | 1752.7 | 1715 | 682 | 104 | 758 | 732 | 3.50 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | BOS | AL | 2 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50.7 | 60 | 36 | 27 | 23 | 6.39 | 490.1 |
| 1948 | BOS | AL | 15 | 8 | 35 | 27 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 212.0 | 205 | 74 | 90 | 77 | 3.14 | 2376.5 |
| 1949 | BOS | AL | 25 | 7 | 39 | 33 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 295.3 | 258 | 91 | 134 | 122 | 2.77 | 5255.1 |
| 1950 | BOS | AL | 18 | 10 | 40 | 31 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 249.0 | 244 | 100 | 106 | 93 | 3.61 | 1789.0 |
| 1951 | BOS | AL | 18 | 11 | 36 | 29 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 221.0 | 229 | 80 | 77 | 77 | 3.26 | 3271.6 |
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 12 | 12 | 33 | 29 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 214.0 | 207 | 86 | 89 | 107 | 3.62 | 1145.1 |
| 1953 | BOS | AL | 21 | 8 | 38 | 34 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 241.0 | 217 | 82 | 116 | 136 | 3.06 | 2357.5 |
| 1954 | BOS | AL | 3 | 7 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 92.3 | 104 | 38 | 35 | 38 | 3.70 | 393.4 |
| 1955 | BOS | AL | 2 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 46.0 | 62 | 40 | 25 | 18 | 7.83 | -3105.6 |
| 1956 | BOS | AL | 7 | 6 | 21 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 131.3 | 129 | 55 | 59 | 41 | 3.77 | -1401.3 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 293 | 668 | 52 | 132 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 50 | 2 | 29 | 94 | 0.198 | 0.233 | 0.234 | 0.467 | -3108.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | BOS | AL | 15 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.056 | 0.0 |
| 1948 | BOS | AL | 35 | 80 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0.163 | -717.8 |
| 1949 | BOS | AL | 39 | 114 | 9 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0.254 | -486.8 |
| 1950 | BOS | AL | 40 | 98 | 7 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 0.194 | -625.5 |
| 1951 | BOS | AL | 37 | 81 | 12 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0.309 | -11.5 |
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 35 | 84 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 0.095 | -786.1 |
| 1953 | BOS | AL | 38 | 94 | 7 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 0.223 | -480.8 |
| 1954 | BOS | AL | 19 | 34 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.088 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | BOS | AL | 14 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.316 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | BOS | AL | 21 | 46 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0.152 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 289 | 44 | 69 | 327 | 12 | 27 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | BOS | P | 15 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 1948 | BOS | P | 35 | 0 | 9 | 48 | 1 | 3 |
| 1949 | BOS | P | 39 | 0 | 8 | 53 | 0 | 5 |
| 1950 | BOS | P | 40 | 0 | 7 | 67 | 1 | 6 |
| 1951 | BOS | P | 36 | 0 | 8 | 42 | 3 | 2 |
| 1952 | BOS | P | 33 | 0 | 15 | 38 | 0 | 4 |
| 1953 | BOS | P | 38 | 0 | 10 | 27 | 2 | 4 |
| 1954 | BOS | P | 19 | 15 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | BOS | P | 13 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | BOS | P | 21 | 20 | 7 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 289 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | P4 |
| 1949 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | P3 |
| 1949 | TSN All-Star | P |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 27.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1951 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 24th | 7.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1950 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 7.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1949 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 151.0 | 336 | 1 |