Kent Tekulve

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Kenton Charles Tekulve (born March 5, 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1974 to 1989 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds. He was known as a workhorse relief pitcher who led the major leagues in games pitched four times, appearing in 90 or more games three times. 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 and Mike Marshall are the only pitchers in baseball history to appear in 90 or more games more than once. Tekulve also threw the baseball in a unique manner, pitching with an unusual submarine delivery. His best season came in 1979 when he appeared in 94 games, posting a 10-8 won-loss record and 31 saves. He also saved three games in the World Series that year as the Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles. He later led the NL in games pitched with 90 in 1987 while pitching for the Phillies at the age of 40. Tekulve owns the career record for most appearances without making a single start. In 1986 he broke Roy Face's NL record of 846 career games pitched; he held the record until John Franco passed him in 2004. He currently holds the record of most losses giving up 0 earned runs with 12.

Tekulve is a 1969 graduate of Marietta College in Ohio.

After several years involvement with the Washington Wild Things, Tekulve took a job as the Pirates' advance scout in 2006.

[edit] See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
• Games finished

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference