Did You Know…

Nine pitchers have appeared in more than 1,000 games, but John Franco and Kent Tekulve are the only two who never started a game in their career.

**factoid courtesy of ‘Big League Trivia’

TTM Success – Former Pirates Pitcher Kent Tekulve!!!

TTM Success – Former Pirates Pitcher Kent Tekulve!!!

19 days was all that it took for this former Pirates relief pitcher to hurl 3 signed cards back to me.

As a relief pitcher, ‘Tek’ had some every successful seasons as he collected 14 or more saves 7 different times.  He also helped dig his team out of losing games as he had 4 seasons with double-digit wins(all in relief appearances).  Kent Tekulve was a serviceable pitcher, and part of the Pittsburg Pirates 1979 World Series championship team.  He was a 1-time All-star and finished in 5th place for the Cy Young award two-time in his career.

Thank you for the great autographs ‘Tek’!!!

1983 Topps Super Veteran – Kent Tekulve

1983 Topps Super Veteran – Kent Tekulve

Super isn’t a word I would use to summarize Kent Tekulve’s 16-year career.  ‘Tek’ was a nice pitcher and he put up some very solid numbers, but not enough to garner the label of super. 

As a relief pitcher, ‘Tek’ had some every successful seasons as he collected 14 or more saves 7 different times.  He also helped dig his team out of losing games as he had 4 seasons with double digit wins(all in relief appearances).  Still, with a lifetime record of 94-90 with 184 career saves he doesn’t really make the cut in the ‘Super’ group. 

Kent Tekulve was a serviceable pitcher, and part of the Pittsburg Pirates 1979 World Series championship team.  He was a 1-time All-star and finished in 5th place for the Cy Young award two time in his career.

Kent Tekulve is the kind of pitcher that every team needs.  He is that guy that bales you out when your starter can’t get out of trouble.  He is that guy that gets no credit.  He is that guy who works hard to get his team back into position to win games.  Every team needs a Kent Tekulve!!!

1983 Topps Super Veteran Set Update

30 down and just 5 to go. 

This set has been a blast to collect and I have learned quite a bit about these guys as I have shown them off to you.  I am eager to obtain the last 5 cards of this set so I can mark off another piece to my collection as being complete.  And I am sure that I will learn more about Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan, Tony Perez, Kent Tekulve, and Sparky Lyle in the process.

Stay tuned – the final 5 cards should be all mine in the coming weeks!!!