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Wednesday, Mar 21, 2012 1:46 PM UTC

Former Red Sox lefty Mel Parnell dies at 89

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Topics: From the Wires,

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mel Parnell, the left-handed pitcher who faced the infamous Green Monster at Fenway Park and some of the best hitters of the 1940s and early 1950s, has died at age 89.

His son, Dr. Mel Parnell Jr., said Wednesday he informed the team of his father’s death.

Parnell, a New Orleans native, spent his entire 10-year major league career with the Boston Red Sox. His house was a monument of memorabilia to the team, which remained an important part of his life long after his career ended.

Parnell was masterful in Fenway Park, where pitchers fought the green wall, a home run hitter’s dream only 310 feet down the left field line. Parnell had a lifetime record of 123-75, but was 70-30 at Fenway.

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