NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Mel Parnell doesn’t get up to Boston to see the Red Sox much anymore.

The bad back that keeps him from playing golf also makes travel uncomfortable.

“That’s an old pitcher’s problem,” Parnell, who’ll be 83 June 13, laughed.

For a man who has beaten a stroke, heart trouble and cancer, back trouble is not so bad.

“It could always be worse,” the New Orleans native said.

And that’s exactly what expects for the Boston Red Sox — things to get worse.

Parnell spent his entire 10-year major league career with the Red Sox, knows about battling the New York Yankees. He did it back in the days of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio.

Last year, Boston won its first World Series since 1918. A title, made especially sweet since it meant getting past its chief rival, the Yankees, in the American League playoffs.

Repeating will be tough with the addition of Randy Johnson to the New York pitching staff. In fact, it will be impossible, Parnell said.

“I knew when they got him it would give them another 15 or 20 wins,” Parnell said. “I think that means everyone else in the league is going to be bridesmaids. That’s a lot of victories to overcome.”

Watching Johnson mow down the Red Sox in the season opener did nothing to change Parnell’s mind.

“They’re going to be runners-up, just like before,” Parnell said. “They took care of one curse, now they get another.”

Parnell, a left-hander who had a 123-75 record, but he was 70-30 lifetime at Fenway.

He still holds the club career record for left-handed pitchers in games started, innings and victories. Parnell’s career victory total ranks second in team history, behind only Cy Young and Roger Clemens, who each have 192 victories.

Parnell’s best season was 1949 when he went 25-7, leading the league in victories, ERA (2.77), complete games (27), and innings (295.1).

He helped fuel the Red Sox pennant run that year, which came down to the final two games of the season.

Boston lost both, 5-4 and 5-3, to the Yankees in Yankee Stadium.

“It was a fierce rivalry,” Parnell said. “We just couldn’t get past them.”

Parnell watches most of his baseball on television these days, although he attends Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs games.

Parnell still loves the game, but dislikes the modern system of limiting pitches.

“You got guys that go five or six innings and everyone thinks its great,” said Parnell, who pitched 113 complete games and had 20 shutouts, including a no-hitter in 1956. “In 1949 I started 35 games and completed 27 of them. In the minors I pitched an 18-inning game and was thrown out at the plate in the 17th inning.”

Pitchers in Parnell’s day prided themselves on completing games, said baseball historian Arthur Schott.

“They had some guys with strong arms,” Schott said. “But I think it was really a matter of pride for guys like Mel. He just hated to give the ball to someone else.”

Parnell had a stroke in 1984. A tumor was removed from his heart in 1999, after which he was diagnosed with Lymphoma, which is now in remission.

“I feel pretty good,” Parnell said. “Baseball season always makes you feel better.”

AP-ES-04-09-05 1506EDT