1951 Topps Red Back #10 - Mel Parnell

Mel Parnell (b. 1922 - d. 2012) played in the majors from 1947 to 1956 for the Red Sox.  He had a brief, yet stellar career.  He went 123-75, had a 3.50 ERA and 732 strikeouts.  He won 25 games for the Red Sox in 1949, a season in which he was named to the All Star team and finished 4th in the AL MVP voting.  For six seasons (1948 to 1953) he would win 15 or more games in 5 of those seasons, and would win more than 20 twice (25 in 1949 and 21 in 1953).  Parnell threw a no hitter for the Red Sox in 1956 shortly before his career was prematurely ended with a torn muscle in his throwing arm.  I would think that if the types of surgeries that exist today were used back when he played, Parnell would have likely went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

I looked up two other pitchers who are in the Hall of Fame with similar length of career as Parnell, Addie Joss (pitched 9 seasons) and Sandy Koufax (pitched 12 seasons) and although his won-loss record is similar (a career .621 win percentage) to those other two (Koufax had a career winning percentage of .655 {165-87} and Joss had a career winning percentage of .623 {160-97}), he doesn't hold a candle to Koufax's accolades (one MVP, 3 Cy Young Awards and 3 World Series Rings) or Joss' other career numbers (1.89 ERA or 4 seasons with 20 or more wins).

I feel like Parnell could get some HOF consideration via the Veterans Committee, but I doubt he will ever be enshrined in Cooperstown.

I do wish I had tried to get him TTM last year before he passed, his autograph would be a nice addition to my collection.

Deceased: 8

Tobacco Card/Hall of Fame Pickup - 1909-1911 T-206 Addie Joss

I have been watching Ken Burns' 'Baseball' lately in preparation of the upcoming release of 'Inning 10.' During my viewing of this groundbreaking documentary, I have been trying to research some of the historic players of the early days of baseball. I have been checking out ebay auctions, seeing if I can get some cards of a few of these hall of famers at a decent price.

I happened upon a T-206 Addie Joss last week and was able to win it for less than $20. Not bad. As you can see it is all effed up. The back of the card is what I had shown last week. I do intend on watching the youtube video of the glue/paper removal once I can tell that my connection is dependable. I'm still a little leery of putting a 100-year old card in boiling water. I have enough geology books here (studying for part II of the ASBOG exam) to dry the card out, but I'm still scared I'm going to mess it up (worse than it already it is).

Joss is the only Hall of Famer to have played less than 10 years. He was forced to retire at age 30 when he contracted tubercular meningitis. It was this disease that took his life a year later at age 31.

The first 'All-Star Game' was played for the benefit of Joss' family.

Joss was elected to the Hall of Fame via the Veteran's Committee in 1978 with a career won-loss record of 160-97 (for 9 seasons... WOW), a career ERA of 1.89 and 920 strikeouts. Joss played his entire career with the Cleveland Bronchos/Naps (Indians) from 1902-1910.