Mel Parnell 1922-2012

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Mel Parnell passed away a few days ago at the age of 89. Parnell was a mainstay in the Red Sox rotation in the late 40s and early 50s. During his 10-year career from 1947 to 1956, all with Boston, the Red Sox compiled a .554 winning percentage. When Parnell started, that shot up to a .647 clip.

Parnell was among the top major league pitchers during his career, placing 8th in ERA+, 10th in WAR and W-L %, and 3rd in lowest HR/9 for the 1947 to 1956 period.

Here’s the WAR list for 1947 to 1956.

Rk	Player	WAR	G	GS	CG	SHO	W	L	W-L%	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA	ERA+	HR	Tm	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	SH	SF	2B	3B	GDP	SB	CS	PO
1	Warren Spahn	60.0	386	351	216	37	195	130	.600	2818.2	2525	1043	923	813	1448	2.95	128	210	BSN-MLN	.342	.421	.338	.758	109	82	19	211	37	141	35	23	29
2	Robin Roberts	52.5	359	320	203	28	179	120	.599	2608.1	2468	1022	923	532	1300	3.18	123	248	PHI	.290	.339	.385	.724	93	88	21	354	82	147	54	31	1
3	Bob Lemon	41.9	396	327	185	31	197	111	.640	2613.1	2312	1060	923	1103	1185	3.18	122	167	CLE	.328	.441	.343	.784	120	72	23	239	36	209	40	48	5
4	Early Wynn	37.4	349	316	167	26	174	117	.598	2413.1	2204	1028	912	942	1186	3.40	114	178	WSH-CLE	.331	.428	.340	.768	115	104	22	232	42	133	43	57	4
5	Billy Pierce	35.3	301	238	123	24	114	98	.538	1884.0	1650	748	666	804	1189	3.18	127	128	DET-CHW	.266	.360	.340	.700	90	83	6	206	55	102	30	45	7
6	Murry Dickson	34.7	424	280	127	24	126	159	.442	2362.0	2364	1118	971	795	967	3.70	111	256	STL-PIT-PHI-TOT	.371	.459	.399	.858	121	73	17	207	52	117	24	36	16
7	Mike Garcia	33.4	324	245	101	26	126	82	.606	1846.2	1794	718	642	585	934	3.13	123	99	CLE	.279	.345	.341	.686	91	82	10	207	33	157	61	38	3
8	Bob Rush	31.1	308	263	107	13	104	124	.456	1927.1	1832	900	778	659	973	3.63	112	136	CHC	.301	.378	.353	.731	88	66	19	206	51	102	98	28	2
9	Ned Garver	29.2	275	232	123	10	97	108	.473	1778.1	1795	846	722	667	628	3.65	117	137	SLB-TOT-DET	.346	.438	.362	.800	106	74	11	159	21	112	28	38	7
10	Mel Parnell	29.0	289	232	113	20	123	75	.621	1752.2	1715	797	682	758	732	3.50	125	104	BOS	.376	.492	.369	.861	127	66	7	166	30	149	25	18	3
11	Virgil Trucks	28.9	333	246	91	27	122	99	.552	1890.1	1711	815	742	784	1062	3.53	114	136	DET-TOT-CHW	.371	.493	.355	.847	130	64	7	185	24	86	34	27	3
12	Sal Maglie	27.5	248	189	79	20	103	45	.696	1435.0	1330	571	503	473	743	3.15	127	137	NYG-TOT	.246	.310	.369	.679	79	51	13	169	43	133	37	29	1
13	Eddie Lopat	27.3	258	240	114	23	132	76	.635	1799.0	1805	731	632	487	621	3.16	121	141	CHW-NYY-TOT	.429	.515	.369	.884	145	63	7	130	30	123	22	17	6
14	Ellis Kinder	25.8	450	115	55	10	99	68	.593	1392.0	1343	592	532	502	690	3.44	126	108	SLB-BOS-TOT	.464	.585	.364	.949	149	64	9	107	20	43	13	10	1
15	Preacher Roe	25.2	239	195	78	13	97	52	.651	1421.1	1408	586	547	372	691	3.46	117	176	PIT-BRO	.416	.495	.421	.916	152	26	1	146	15	113	11	20	5
16	Harry Brecheen	25.0	196	157	77	13	78	62	.557	1191.0	1109	471	416	338	561	3.14	130	91	STL-SLB	.564	.688	.358	1.046	172	27	0	48	12	28	9	6	0
17	Hal Newhouser	24.3	227	174	95	10	93	71	.567	1384.0	1338	599	530	497	676	3.45	121	90	DET-CLE	.656	.829	.386	1.215	221	39	1	65	11	43	7	12	1
18	Allie Reynolds	24.2	295	209	96	27	131	60	.686	1700.0	1500	695	624	819	967	3.30	115	111	NYY	.405	.562	.317	.879	140	39	4	110	22	85	27	26	0
19	Larry Jansen	23.2	291	237	107	17	122	89	.578	1765.2	1751	804	703	410	842	3.58	112	190	NYG-CIN	.463	.540	.382	.922	144	36	4	124	22	74	13	17	2
20	Joe Dobson	22.9	225	178	75	13	89	61	.593	1344.0	1277	587	517	492	613	3.46	122	94	BOS-CHW	.517	.657	.357	1.014	173	29	0	77	14	67	19	13	2
21	Ken Raffensberger	22.1	260	212	96	26	91	105	.464	1531.0	1623	718	628	313	527	3.69	111	159	TOT-CIN	.451	.517	.410	.927	141	50	0	140	27	53	20	10	2
22	Vic Raschi	21.3	267	253	104	26	130	66	.663	1803.0	1652	821	745	722	933	3.72	105	138	NYY-STL-TOT	.367	.480	.355	.835	127	56	8	153	24	105	30	36	6
23	Whitey Ford	20.9	156	133	65	15	80	28	.741	1009.0	819	341	306	460	572	2.73	139	63	NYY	.225	.314	.319	.633	75	42	13	111	20	125	9	23	20
24	Don Newcombe	20.7	219	194	98	18	112	48	.700	1429.2	1315	609	542	372	807	3.41	119	150	BRO	.292	.354	.387	.741	99	37	10	218	16	119	18	23	1
25	Ewell Blackwell	19.6	201	144	59	10	73	65	.529	1123.2	987	496	429	480	738	3.44	119	66	CIN-TOT-NYY-KCA	.416	.559	.321	.880	133	39	0	82	11	44	36	11	2

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/23/2012.

Those with a keen eye will have noticed that Parnell was not a control pitcher, averaging almost 4 BB/9 for his career, and compiling a career WHIP above 1.4. Mel, in fact, had a WHIP above 1.3 every year of his career.

Despite his wildness, Parnell remained an effective pitcher throughout his career. His 125 career ERA+ is the best among all pitchers since 1901 having a career (min. 1000 IP) with more walks than strikeouts.

Rk	Player	ERA+	BB	SO	IP	From	To	G	GS	CG	SHO	W	L	W-L%	ERA	HR	Tm
1	Mel Parnell	125	758	732	1752.2	1947	1956	289	232	113	20	123	75	.621	3.50	104	BOS
2	Eddie Rommel	122	724	599	2556.1	1920	1932	500	249	147	18	171	119	.590	3.54	138	PHA
3	Greg Minton	118	483	479	1130.2	1975	1990	710	7	0	0	59	65	.476	3.10	43	SFG-TOT-CAL
4	Ted Lyons	118	1121	1073	4161.0	1923	1946	594	484	356	27	260	230	.531	3.67	222	CHW
5	Johnny Murphy	118	444	378	1045.0	1932	1947	415	40	17	0	93	53	.637	3.50	52	NYY-BOS
6	Wes Ferrell	117	1040	985	2623.0	1927	1941	374	323	227	17	193	128	.601	4.04	132	CLE-BOS-TOT-NYY-BRO-BSN
7	Bucky Walters	116	1121	1107	3104.2	1934	1950	428	398	242	42	198	160	.553	3.30	155	PHI-TOT-CIN-BSN
8	Al Benton	115	733	697	1688.1	1934	1952	455	167	58	10	98	88	.527	3.66	106	PHA-DET-CLE-BOS
9	Lew Richie	114	495	438	1359.1	1906	1913	241	137	87	20	74	65	.532	2.54	21	PHI-TOT-CHC
10	Ivy Andrews	114	342	257	1041.0	1931	1938	249	108	43	2	50	59	.459	4.14	59	NYY-TOT-BOS-SLB
11	Monte Pearson	112	740	703	1429.2	1932	1941	224	191	94	5	100	61	.621	4.00	82	CLE-NYY-CIN
12	Fritz Ostermueller	110	835	774	2066.2	1934	1948	390	246	113	11	114	115	.498	3.99	105	BOS-SLB-TOT-PIT

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/22/2012.

As mentioned above, Parnell didn’t give up many HRs. But, when he did, he did it in a big way, allowing 2 homers in a game 14 times, and 3 homers 3 times. The 37 dingers in just those 17 games are more than 35% of his career total. The Yankees were Parnell’s principal long-ball nemesis, going deep off him 24 times, including 3 apiece for DiMaggio and Mantle.

Parnell’s top season was 1949, as Mel went 25-7 with 27 CGs, 4 shutouts and a 158 ERA+. Those were league-leading totals for Wins and CGs, with Parnell also garnering black ink for IP, BF and fewest HR/9.

In the memorable AL pennant race of 1949, the Red Sox led the Yankees by a game with two to play. Manager Joe McCarthy gave the ball to Parnell to clinch the pennant at Yankee Stadium on Oct 1. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be – Boston took a quick 4-0 lead after 3 innings, but Parnell couldn’t hold it, allowing two in the fourth and two more in the fifth, before getting the hook. Boston, of course, lost that day and the next as New York came from behind to claim the pennant.

Parnell had a second 20-win season in 1953, going 21-8 with 5 shutouts and a 137 ERA+. But, that was to be his last dominating season. Parnell pitched just 269 innings over his final 3 seasons, going 12-16 with a 99 ERA+ and a HR/9 rate more than double his career mark.

Does anyone have any interesting Mel Parnell stories?

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Andy

12 years ago

Doug–pretty cool. I wrote some stuff about Parnell for an outside media source, and found the exact same list for best ERA+ w/ more BB than K. It’s also true that over the peak of Parnell’s career, league-average K/BB was just a shade over 1, so he was only slightly below average.

Author

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Andy

Good point, Andy, about the low K/BB rate.

I looked again at that list of pitchers having careers with more walks than strikeouts. Only 125 such pitchers since 1901, but 43 of them (over a third) had careers overlapping Parnell’s.

Other interesting thing about that list – the median ERA+ is right at 100 with Parnell at 125 and the last guy at 80. Tight and pretty close to symmetrical.

Editor

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Andy

Good point. BTW, Parnell’s career SO/BB was indeed a whisper below the combined AL average for that period — but in each of his 6 full seasons, it was a shade better than average:

Year — M.P. — AL
’48 — .86 — .82
’49 — .91 — .78
’50 — .88 — .84
’51 — 1.00 — .94
’52 — 1.20 — 1.11
’53 — 1.17 — 1.10

Hub Kid

12 years ago

Nifty card, and great statistically based career appreciation. Ranking Parnell within his career/era reminds me of Andy’s great Best Pitchers and Position Players of the 90s, which also had cards… It is a great way to remember what constituted a good baseball player in a decade or era, along with other successful peers; the cards really help create (re-create?) some of the feel of that era (which is well before my time, sorry not to have any stories). Now who the heck designed that quirky (and not particularly attractive) Red Sock?

Richard Chester

12 years ago

Parnell did not fare too well in the last game of the 1949 season either. In that game he was called in to relieve in the last of the 8th after Ellis Kinder was pinch-hit for, with the Yankees leading 1-0. (Tells you a lot about the Sox’s relief corps). He pitched to 2 batters, Henrich homered and Berra singled, and then was removed for Joe Dobson who let 3 more runs score. The Sox scored 3 in the 9th off a tiring Vic Raschi. If Parnell could have slammed the door the game may have had a different ending.… Read more »

Editor

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Richard Chester

Well, but nobody had a “relief corps” in 1949. Teams averaged 15 saves. Joe Page of the Yanks was the only guy with more than 10; all by himself Page had 11% of all MLB saves.

Richard Chester

12 years ago

Reply to Richard Chester

My mistake, it was Tex Hughson who relieved Parnell.

Dr. Remulak

12 years ago

Second greatest Mel, after Ott?

12 years ago

Reply to Dr. Remulak

Nope he’s not even the best Mel among pitchers. That would have to be Mel Harder followed by Mel Stottlemyre.

BTW, the greatest name has to be Mel Almada whose real name was Baldomero Melo (Quiros) Almada.

Howard

12 years ago

Reply to Ed

Stottlemyre was my favorite pitcher when I was a kid. If not for a bum rotator cuff we’d be having frequent and heated discussions on whether or not he was a legit HOF candidate.

Hartvig

12 years ago

Perhaps the most impressive thing about his record is not only did he not give up many home runs but that he did it as a left-hander while pitching in Fenway. And I had no idea that Greg Minton gave up more walks than strikeouts. The idea that a post-1950’s pitcher can do that and still be successful completely baffles me. Heck, the idea that a pitcher in the 50’s could do it and be successful baffles me. In 1949 you could have walked 117 batters and not even cracked the top 10 in the American League. Tommy Byrne led… Read more »

Voomo Zanzibar

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

I was very surprised to see Minton there, too, for the same reasons.
Even in the five years he was a closer from 1980 – 1984:

216 BB
215 K
1.390 WHIP
122 era+
__________________

His line as a BATTER in 1983 is surprising
Career slashes of .146 .212. .204

But in 1983:

.545 .615 .909

And .5 oWAR in 13 PA

He had 21 TB in 16 years.
10 of them in 1983.

bstar

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

“Moon-man” Minton’s strength was the same as Parnells’: he gave up a ridiculously low amount of HRs. In fact, he still holds the MLB record for most consecutive innings without allowing a HR(269.1 IP). Minton went effectively three full seasons in between HR allowed. For his career, Minton allowed 0.3 HR/9.

bstar

12 years ago

Reply to bstar

Minton’s record is for the modern era. Ed Killian went 1,001 consecutive innings without allowing a home run between 1903 and 1907.

12 years ago

Are Parnell’s 3 wins in 1954 the fewest following a 20 win season? (not counting things like Mussina retiring)

Hartvig

12 years ago

Reply to Ed

Steve Stone won 4 the year after his big season so he’s safe there.

Richard Chester

12 years ago

Reply to Ed

I did some random searching. Pete Alexander won 30 games in 1917. In 1918 he won 2 but his season ended early when he went into military service.

In 1941 Thornton Lee won 22 and in 1942 won only 2, no time in military service.

In 1924 Carl Mays won 20 and then 3 in the following year.

LJF

12 years ago

Reply to Ed

Ed – had a few minutes while eating lunch so I poked around some. I find two other instances where a pitcher won 3 games the year following a 20 win season – both from 1969-70! Denny McLain followed his 31 win seaon in 1968 with a 24 win season in 1969. He was out until July 1 of 1970 and his season was done my Aug. 26. Dave Boswell won 20 games for the Twins in 1969 and the info page at Bref indicates he suffered a shoulder injury during Game 2 of the ALCS – a major pitchers… Read more »

LJF

12 years ago

I notice that Mort Cooper is one of the 10 most similar for both pitching and batting (according to the Sim Scores). I wonder how common that is?

Lawrence Azrin

12 years ago

Parnell was also part of the Red Sox broadcasting team from 1965-68, and delivered these memorable lines when the Red Sox won the last game of the Impossible Dream season: “Little soft pop-up…Petrocelli will take it…he does! The ball game is over! The Red Sox win it! And what a mob on this field! They’re coming out of the stands from all over!” – Parnell on WHDH-TV, calling the last out of the final game of the Red Sox’ regular season at Fenway Park, October 1, 1967, against the Minnesota Twins. Other factoids: He was mentioned in the 1981 Terry… Read more »

Bix

12 years ago

Reply to Lawrence Azrin

Here’s the video of that 1967 call. Amazed at how many fans ran onto the field.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GjrpnQjQf4

Lawrence Azrin

12 years ago

Reply to Bix

Yeah, I don’t think the term “crowd control” came up around the park, did it? It reminds me of the craziness when Chambliss hit the ALCS-winning HR in Yankee Stadium (1976?), and he literally couldn’t get near home plate.

Why did management allow that sort of stuff to go on for so long? Does anyone know when MLB stopped allowing fans to come on the playing field for celebrations?

Editor

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Lawrence Azrin

Can’t say for sure, but I think the fans’ near-destruction of Shea after the Mets clinched the 1973 pennant was one of the last straws. And if there were any lingering uncertainties, the 1979 “Disco Demolition Night” riot in Comiskey sealed the deal. The laissez-faire attitude may have been a mixture of: – a remnant of a simpler time, when fans walking on big-league ballfields was no big deal (I believe one of the main fan exit routes in the Polo Grounds involved walking across the field); – the social upheaval prevalent at the time, with all kinds of institutions… Read more »

Richard Chester

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

You are right about the Polo Grounds and it was also true for Yankee Stadium. I remember standing in CF and looking in awe at the Stadium.

Bells

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

It took you until 1980 to realize the 60s were over? Well, I guess that’s fair, I have an uncle who I think still doesn’t realize they are…

Author

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Lawrence Azrin

Thanks, Lawrence.

I saw a bit of that game on TV a while back. It was a replay of the TV broadcast, presumably the one you identified. Seemed strange to just see the game, without all the extra graphics around the edges and corners of the screen. Other strange thing was how quickly the pitchers worked compared to most pitchers today.

no statistician but

12 years ago

To me the most interesting similarity on the chart is that between Parnell and Mike Garcia, whose career rise and fall encompassed the same approximate time frame. Their stats, except for BB/SO, are remarkably close. I think Bill James noted this fact and picked Parnell as the better. Seeing the extended stats this way shows what he was getting at.