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July 15 (UPI) -- Vito "Babe" Parilli, a New England Patriots Hall of Famer, died this weekend at 87-years-old. The former Boston Patriots quarterback was a member of the 1960s All-Decade Team. The franchise announced Parilli's death Saturday.
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"Babe" played 94 games for the Patriots after being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1952 NFL Draft. The Green Bay Packers originally drafted the Kentucky product. He played his first two seasons for the Packers, before joining the Cleveland Browns in 1956. He returned to Green Bay for two seasons and played the 1960 season for the Oakland Raiders before joining Boston in 1961.
It was in Boston where Parilli flourished.
He made his first AFL All-Star team in 1963 after passing for 2,345 yards, 13 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He also ran for five touchdowns that season. In 1964, Parilli was an All-Pro, AFL All-Star and led the team to a Super Bowl victory. That season, he passed for a league-high 3,465 yards, 31 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He was also named to the AFL All-Star team in 1966. Parilli finished his career playing his final two seasons with the New York Jets in 1968 and 1969.
Parilli was the AFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 1966. He was also named to the All-AFL 10 Year Anniversary Team in 1971. Parilli's 31 touchdown passes in 1934 were a Patriots record until Tom Brady threw a then-NFL record 50 throwing scores in 2007.
Parilli was inducted into the Patriots' Hall of Fame in 1993. He is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
