#790) BOBBY PARNELL

Bobby Parnell was selected by the New York Mets in the ninth round of the free agent draft on June 7, 2005. The right-hander was used as a starting pitcher with much success during his time in the minor leagues. Parnell was named an All-Star in each of three leagues, and led the New York-Penn League with a 1.73 ERA in 2005.

The Mets promoted Bobby from Triple-A New Orleans to New York when rosters expanded in September 2008. Armed with a 97-98 mph fastball the team placed the North Carolina native as a member of the bullpen. Two weeks later he made his major league debut on September 15th. Parnell pitched the eighth inning facing the Nationals in Washington, D.C. Retiring all three hitters he faced. "It felt like I was floating to the mound," Bobby remembered. "You go to get the ball, and after that I looked down at the mound and said, 'It's the same mound you've always been pitching on. It's nothing new.'" New York eventually lost the contest 7-2. "We lost and we're in a playoff race, so it was subdued in there," Parnell said, "but it was still cool for everyone to come over and congratulate me."

On September 22, 2008, he had the distinction of becoming the last new Mets player to appear in a game during the Shea Stadium era. Bobby would make it into six total games to close that year. He was actually the final Mets pitcher, getting the final out, in the last game played at Shea. The infamous 4-2 season-ending loss to the Florida Marlins.

Bobby Parnell signed his card in the set for me before the Buffalo Bisons faced the Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field on May 8, 2010. Adding his Shea Stadium debut inscription.