1953 Topps #19 Mel Parnell
1953 Topps #19 Mel Parnell
About Mel Parnell
Melvin Lloyd Parnell, a left-handed pitcher signed by the Red Sox out of a New Orleans high school (scouts Eddie Montague and Herb Pennock inked him after he fanned 17 in an early game), spent his entire ten-year major-league career with Boston (1947-1956). A two-time All-Star (1949, 1951), he started the 1949 All-Star Game for the American League and posted his finest season that year, going 25-7 with a 2.77 ERA while leading the AL in wins, complete games, and innings — surpassing Babe Ruth's franchise record for lefty wins. In this card's 1953 season he went 21-8 with a 3.06 ERA. On July 14, 1956, he threw a 4-0 no-hitter against the White Sox at Fenway Park, Boston's first since 1923, retiring Walter Dropo unassisted on the final play. Nicknamed "Dusty" by a coach for his low, in-the-dirt pitches, Parnell finished 123-75 with a 3.50 ERA and 732 strikeouts, still the Red Sox's career leader in wins, starts, and innings among left-handers. He was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
Double Print
Marked DP. Roughly 50% more of these cards were printed than their neighbors (the hobby calls it 'double-printed'), so they are the most plentiful cards in the set. TCDB flags 103 of them, concentrated in the low series. Five cards normally in the low run - #94, #107, #131, #145 and #156 - were also printed on the more-plentiful #166-220 sheet. A print-quantity designation, not an error or a separate card.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 637 | 0 | 15 | 92 | 142 | 182 | 103 | 103 | 0 |
| SGC | 100 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 9 | 25 | 34 | 6 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Boston Red Sox cards
- Ted Lepcio
- Willard Nixon
- Clyde Vollmer
- Johnny Lipon
- Ellis Kinder
- Faye Throneberry
- Maurice McDermott
- Gus Niarhos
- Dick Brodowski
- Bill Kennedy
- George Kell
- Sammy White
- Dom DiMaggio
- Dizzy Trout
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Mel Parnell card?
It is card #19 of the 1953 Topps Baseball set - one of the most beautiful sets ever made, with hand-painted color portraits numbered to 280 (274 cards issued). It pictures the Boston Red Sox player.
What does 'double print' mean for this card?
Roughly 50% more of these cards were printed than their neighbors, so double prints (DP) are the most plentiful cards in the set. It is a print-quantity note, not an error or a separate card.
Is the 1953 Topps Mel Parnell valuable?
Value depends on grade and eye appeal. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Baseball-Almanac. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.