Talk:Mel Parnell

From BR Bullpen

I was reading about Mel Parnell coining the phrase "Pesky's Pole". Most sources agree that Parnell coined the phrase after Pesky hit a home run down the right field line to win a game Parnell was pitching. Doing reserch for this didn't take very long since Pesky hit only 17 home runs in his career and just six in Fenway Park. He also hit only one dinger at home while Parnell was pitching (June 11, 1950). However, Parnell took the loss (9-6 to Detroit) and Pesky's blast came in the bottom of the first of a game that lasted for 14 innings. So both details squash the phrase "game winner" when associated with that particular home run. Pesky hit only two more home runs at Fenway while Panell was active. One was in the 7th inning of a 9-7 loss to Cleveland ((June 18, 1951) and the other came in the 4th inning of a 12-1 romp over the Browns. Again niether shot could be considered a "game winner". Pesky's other three homers at Fenway were hit 1942-46, all before Parnell made his Major League debut. I was wonder what other people's thoughts were on this subject.

Jack