Mel Queen (pitcher)

{{Short description|American baseball player (1918–1982)}}

{{For|the outfielder and pitcher born 1942, MLB player/manager|Mel Queen (pitcher/outfielder)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{no footnotes|date=March 2017}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Mel Queen

|position=Pitcher

|image=Mel Queen 1951.jpg

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1918|3|4|mf=y}}

|birth_place=Maxwell, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|1982|4|4|1918|3|4}}

|death_place=Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 18

|debutyear=1942

|debutteam=New York Yankees

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=May 1

|finalyear=1952

|finalteam=Pittsburgh Pirates

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=27–40

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=328

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=5.09

|teams=

• New York Yankees ({{baseball year|1942}}, {{baseball year|1944}}, {{baseball year|1946}}–{{baseball year|1947}})
• Pittsburgh Pirates ({{baseball year|1947}}–{{baseball year|1948}}, {{baseball year|1950}}–{{baseball year|1952}})

}}

Melvin Joseph Queen (March 4, 1918 – April 4, 1982) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1942 through 1952, he played for the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. Born in Maxwell, Pennsylvania, he batted and threw right-handed.

In an eight-season career, Queen posted a 27–40 record with 328 strikeouts and a 5.09 ERA in 556{{fraction|2|3}} innings pitched. His best season was in 1951 when he led the National League pitchers with a 6.58 SO/9 (123 SO in 168{{fraction|1|3}} IP).

On August 27, 1951, Queen became a notable footnote in baseball history when he was thrown out by two feet at first base by strong-armed Brooklyn Dodger outfielder Carl Furillo after Queen had apparently singled into right field.

His son, Melvin Douglas Queen, was an MLB outfielder-turned-pitcher who played with the Reds and Angels and also coached and managed for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Queen died in Fort Smith, Arkansas, at the age of 64.