In one of the Red Sox most dramatic moments, Mel
Parnell became the first Red Sox pitcher since 1923 to pitch a
no-hit, no run game, and the first at Fenway Park since 1918, when he
stopped the White Sox 4 to 0. And a no-hitter didn't mean a thing to
the veteran left-hander. Then he wiped the sweat from his face and
realized what happened.Reporters and radioman by the dozen
descended upon him and the phone began to ring with offers from TV studios for
personal appearances. Then owner Tom Yawkey and general manager Joe Cronin
walked into the clubhouse. Yawkey informed Parnell that he was being given a
$500 bonus for pitching a brilliant, drama filled no-hitter. Parnell's face fell
astonished. Then the Red Sox brass informed Parnell that he would sign a new
contract to cover the bonus. This was a day Parnell would never forget.
Amazing was this performance in a ballpark so small that one little mistake
men any immediate wrecking of dreams. Parnell was throwing about 80% sinker
balls all the time.
Two months ago Parnell suffered a third major injury in his many seasons. The
washed up sign was hard on him. Nobody wanted to gamble trading for. Today, the
great southpaw was one more games than any left-handed pitcher in Red Sox
history at only two balls hit hard against him. He faced only 28 batters, one
above the minimum.
The 14,542 fans gathered had been built up to excited expectations as Parnell
went through eight innings, facing 24 batters, for the distance. Like
everyone in the ballpark and those listening on radio or watching on TV, Parnell
knew he had a no-hitter as he came out to pitch the final inning.
He walked leadoff batter Sammy Esposito on a 3-2 pitch as he appeared to be
working more cautiously. Luis Aparicio didn't delay the tingling finish. He went
after Parnell's first serve and wrapped a medium hard grounder back at the mound
which Parnell just missed. Fortunately for him, Billy Goodman was playing close
to second base trying for a doubleplay. Goodman took the ball a couple of feet
from second base and slipped, but flipped over to Don Buddin for the force play
on Esposito.
A right-handed pinch-hitter, Bubba Phillips, batted for pitcher Paul LaPalme.
He knocked Parnell second throw down to Billy Klaus and his throw over to
Goodman forced Aparicio at second base, but Phillips was too fast to be doubled
up. There would be one more batter left for Parnell to conquer.
Out of the dugout came Walt Dropo, the big right-handed firstbaseman and a
former teammate. Dropo swung on Parnell's first pitch, like a guy trying to
catch a train. The ball went right back to Parnell who scooped up cleanly took
one look toward drove home and then sprinted over first base to make the final
out.
