Kent Tekulve
Encyclopedia
Kenton Charles Tekulve (born March 5, 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio
) is a former Major League Baseball
right-handed relief pitcher
. During a 16-year baseball career, he pitched for three different teams, but spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates
. Pitching with an unusual submarine
delivery, he was known as a workhorse relief pitcher who holds several records for number of games pitched
and innings pitched
.
in Ohio
. He signed that year as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, and remained with that organization for 16 years. He made his major league debut in 1974.
His best seasons came in and , in both of which he saved 31 games and posted ERAs
of 2.33 and 2.75, respectively. He saved three games in the 1979 World Series
including the winner, as his Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles
. He was selected an All-Star
in 1980.
Early in the 1985 season, Tekulve was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
for Al Holland
and a minor leaguer. He continued to be an effective reliever into his 40s. Only in his first season (1974) and his last season (1989) did he post an ERA
above 4. While with the Phillies, he led the NL in games pitched
for the fourth time, with 90 in 1987 at the age of 40.
Tekulve signed with the Cincinnati Reds
before the 1989 season and pitched in 37 games before retiring in July.
four times, appearing in 90 or more games three times. He and Mike Marshall are the only pitchers in baseball history to appear in 90 or more games more than once (each did it three times). Tekulve is also the oldest pitcher ever to appear in 90 games, when he did so in 1987 at age 40. He holds the National League
record for career innings pitched
in relief (1,436⅔), and formerly held the major league record for career relief appearances; his 1,050 career games, all in relief, ranked second in major league history to Hoyt Wilhelm
's 1,070 when he retired. Tekulve owns the career records for most appearances and innings pitched without making a single start. In he broke Roy Face
's NL record of 846 career games pitched; he held the record until John Franco passed him in .
Tekulve also holds the record for most career losses without having given up any earned runs, with 12, as well as the record for most intentional walks issued, with 179.
television broadcast team from 1991 to 1997.
After several years involvement with the Washington Wild Things
of the independent Frontier League
, Tekulve took a job as the Pirates' advance scout in 2006.
Tekulve currently works for Root Sports Pittsburgh and appears as an analyst after each Pittsburgh Pirates
game.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right-handed relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. During a 16-year baseball career, he pitched for three different teams, but spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Pitching with an unusual submarine
Submarine (baseball)
In baseball, a submarine pitch is one in which the ball is released underhand and just above the ground, with the torso bent at a right angle and shoulders tilted so severely that they rotate around a nearly horizontal axis...
delivery, he was known as a workhorse relief pitcher who holds several records for number of games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
and innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
Career
Tekulve is a 1969 graduate of Marietta CollegeMarietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He signed that year as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and remained with that organization for 16 years. He made his major league debut in 1974.
His best seasons came in and , in both of which he saved 31 games and posted ERAs
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 2.33 and 2.75, respectively. He saved three games in the 1979 World Series
1979 World Series
The 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates against the American League's Baltimore Orioles , with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games...
including the winner, as his Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He was selected an All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in 1980.
Early in the 1985 season, Tekulve was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Al Holland
Al Holland
Alfred Willis Holland is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who mostly pitched in the Major Leagues from to ....
and a minor leaguer. He continued to be an effective reliever into his 40s. Only in his first season (1974) and his last season (1989) did he post an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
above 4. While with the Phillies, he led the NL in games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
for the fourth time, with 90 in 1987 at the age of 40.
Tekulve signed with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
before the 1989 season and pitched in 37 games before retiring in July.
Records
Tekulve led the major leagues in games pitchedGames pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
four times, appearing in 90 or more games three times. He and Mike Marshall are the only pitchers in baseball history to appear in 90 or more games more than once (each did it three times). Tekulve is also the oldest pitcher ever to appear in 90 games, when he did so in 1987 at age 40. He holds the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
record for career innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
in relief (1,436⅔), and formerly held the major league record for career relief appearances; his 1,050 career games, all in relief, ranked second in major league history to Hoyt Wilhelm
Hoyt Wilhelm
James Hoyt Wilhelm was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985....
's 1,070 when he retired. Tekulve owns the career records for most appearances and innings pitched without making a single start. In he broke Roy Face
Roy Face
Elroy Leon Face is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953–1969, pitching primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
's NL record of 846 career games pitched; he held the record until John Franco passed him in .
Tekulve also holds the record for most career losses without having given up any earned runs, with 12, as well as the record for most intentional walks issued, with 179.
Post-retirement
Tekulve was a member of the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
television broadcast team from 1991 to 1997.
After several years involvement with the Washington Wild Things
Washington Wild Things
The Washington Wild Things are a professional baseball team based in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Wild Things are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the independent Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
, Tekulve took a job as the Pirates' advance scout in 2006.
Tekulve currently works for Root Sports Pittsburgh and appears as an analyst after each Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
game.