Kent Tekulve Stats

Kent Tekulve was born on Wednesday, March 5, 1947, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tekulve was 27 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 20, 1974, with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Kent Tekulve baseball stats page.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"Picture a tall, extremely skinny guy skipping stones across a lake with that full sidearm delivery so necessary for stone skipping. Put a Pittsburgh Pirate uniform on the guy, substitute a baseball for the flat stones, and move him from the lakeshore to the pitcher's mound at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh and you have Kent Tekulve, relief pitcher." - Columnist Scott Ostler in Baseball Digest (December 1978)

Kent Tekulve

Kent 'Teke' Tekulve Autograph on a 1987 Donruss Baseball Card (#453)

Kent 'Teke' Tekulve Autograph on a 1987 Donruss Baseball Card (#453)

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Birth Name:   Kenton Charles Tekulve
Nickname:   Kent, Teke
Born On:   03-05-1947  (Pisces)
Place of Birth Data Born In:   Cincinnati, Ohio
Year of Death Data Died On:   Still Living (1,000 Oldest Living)
Place of Death Data Died In:   Still Living
Cemetery:   n/a
High School:   Catholic High School (Hamilton, OH)
College:   Marietta College
Batting Stances Chart Bats:   Right   Throwing Arms Chart Throws:   Right
Player Height Chart Height:   6-04   Player Weight Chart Weight:   180
First Game:   05-20-1974 (Age 27)
Last Game:   07-16-1989
Draft:   Undrafted Free Agent

Kent Tekulve

Kent Tekulve Pitching Stats

1974 27 Pirates 8 0 5 1 1 .500 6.00 0 0 0 9.0 44 12 6 6 1 5 2 6 0 1 0 -
1975 28 Pirates 34 0 9 1 2 .333 2.25 0 0 5 56.0 232 43 14 20 2 23 6 28 3 1 0 -
1976 29 Pirates 64 0 33 5 3 .625 2.45 0 0 9 102.2 409 91 28 30 3 25 7 68 0 0 0 -
1977 30 Pirates 72 0 35 10 1 .909 3.06 0 0 7 103.0 422 89 35 41 5 33 6 59 2 1 1 -
1978 31 Pirates 91 0 65 8 7 .533 2.33 0 0 31 135.0 573 115 35 44 5 55 18 77 5 2 0 -
1979 32 Pirates 94 0 67 10 8 .556 2.75 0 0 31 134.1 550 109 41 46 5 49 20 75 4 2 0 -
1980 33 Pirates 78 0 57 8 12 .400 3.39 0 0 21 93.0 407 96 35 39 6 40 16 47 0 1 0 -
1981 34 Pirates 45 0 27 5 5 .500 2.49 0 0 3 65.0 268 61 18 19 1 17 5 34 1 1 0 -
1982 35 Pirates 85 0 64 12 8 .600 2.87 0 0 20 128.2 541 113 41 47 7 46 23 66 1 3 0 -
1983 36 Pirates 76 0 56 7 5 .583 1.64 0 0 18 99.0 398 78 18 27 1 36 12 52 1 0 0 -
1984 37 Pirates 72 0 51 3 9 .250 2.66 0 0 13 88.0 370 86 26 30 4 33 12 36 0 1 0 -
1985 38 Pirates 3 0 1 0 0 .000 16.20 0 0 0 3.1 21 7 6 7 1 5 1 4 0 0 0 -
1985 38 Phillies 58 0 41 4 10 .286 2.99 0 0 14 72.1 306 67 24 28 4 25 9 36 0 2 0 -
1986 39 Phillies 73 0 34 11 5 .688 2.54 0 0 4 110.0 446 99 31 35 2 25 10 57 3 0 1 -
1987 40 Phillies 90 0 38 6 4 .600 3.09 0 0 3 105.0 432 96 36 38 8 29 13 60 2 0 0 -
1988 41 Phillies 70 0 35 3 7 .300 3.60 0 0 4 80.0 347 87 32 34 3 22 11 43 0 2 0 -
1989 42 Reds 37 0 20 0 3 .000 5.02 0 0 1 52.0 235 56 29 35 5 23 8 31 1 0 1 -
16 Years 1,050 0 638 94 90 .511 2.85 0 0 184 1,436.1 6,001 1,305 455 526 63 491 179 779 23 17 3 -

Kent Tekulve

Kent Tekulve Hitting Stats

1974 27 Pirates 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
1975 28 Pirates 34 11 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 7 0 0 0 0 .091 .167 .091
1976 29 Pirates 64 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
1977 30 Pirates 72 12 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 .250 .250 .250
1978 31 Pirates 91 21 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 0 0 0 0 .095 .136 .095
1979 32 Pirates 94 15 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 8 1 0 0 0 .133 .188 .133
1980 33 Pirates 78 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 0 0 0 0 .000 .100 .000
1981 34 Pirates 45 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
1982 35 Pirates 85 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 .071 .071 .071
1983 36 Pirates 76 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000
1984 37 Pirates 72 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
1985 38 Pirates 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
1985 38 Phillies 58 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
1986 39 Phillies 73 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .000 .167 .000
1987 40 Phillies 90 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .000 .500 .000
1988 41 Phillies 70 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
1989 42 Reds 37 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500 .500 .500
16 Years 1,050 121 8 10 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 61 5 0 0 1 .083 .126 .083

Kent Tekulve

Kent Tekulve Fielding Stats

1974 Pirates P 8 0 27 5 0.6 5 2 3 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 5.00
1975 Pirates P 34 0 168 23 0.7 22 5 17 1 1 n/a n/a n/a .957 3.54
1976 Pirates P 64 0 308 31 0.5 30 6 24 1 0 n/a n/a n/a .968 2.63
1977 Pirates P 72 0 309 39 0.5 39 7 32 0 1 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 3.41
1978 Pirates P 91 0 405 50 0.5 46 8 38 4 1 n/a n/a n/a .920 3.07
1979 Pirates LF 1 0 0 1 1.0 1 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 0.00
1979 Pirates P 94 0 403 36 0.4 35 7 28 1 0 n/a n/a n/a .972 2.34
1980 Pirates P 78 0 279 24 0.3 23 5 18 1 1 n/a n/a n/a .958 2.23
1981 Pirates P 45 0 195 20 0.4 20 4 16 0 2 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 2.77
1982 Pirates P 85 0 386 39 0.5 38 11 27 1 2 n/a n/a n/a .974 2.66
1983 Pirates P 76 0 297 23 0.3 23 3 20 0 2 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 2.09
1984 Pirates P 72 0 264 31 0.4 31 6 25 0 3 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 3.17
1985 Pirates P 3 0 10 1 0.3 1 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 2.70
1985 Phillies P 58 0 217 17 0.3 17 4 13 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 2.12
1986 Phillies P 73 0 330 29 0.4 26 4 22 3 2 n/a n/a n/a .897 2.13
1987 Phillies P 90 0 315 32 0.4 31 11 20 1 0 n/a n/a n/a .969 2.66
1988 Phillies P 70 0 240 21 0.3 21 7 14 0 1 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 2.36
1989 Reds P 37 0 156 11 0.3 11 2 9 0 1 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 1.90
P Totals 1,050 0 4,309 432 0.4 419 92 327 13 17 n/a n/a n/a .970 2.63
LF Totals 1 0 0 1 1.0 1 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 0.00
16 Years 1,051 0 4,309 433 0.4 420 93 327 13 17 n/a n/a n/a .970 2.63

Kent Tekulve

Kent Tekulve Miscellaneous Stats

1974 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.20 6.00 5.00
1975 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 1.6 11.0 1.22 4.50 3.70
1976 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 1.5 0.0 2.72 5.96 2.19
1977 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 3.0 0.0 1.79 5.16 2.88
1978 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 2.3 0.0 1.40 5.13 3.67
1979 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 1.9 15.0 1.53 5.02 3.28
1980 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 1 n/a 0.0 1.3 0.0 1.18 4.55 3.87
1981 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 2.0 0.0 2.00 4.71 2.35
1982 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 2.3 0.0 1.43 4.62 3.22
1983 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.44 4.73 3.27
1984 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 1.8 0.0 1.09 3.68 3.38
1985 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.80 10.80 13.50
1985 Phillies 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 3.0 0.0 1.44 4.48 3.11
1986 Phillies 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 5.0 0.0 2.28 4.66 2.05
1987 Phillies 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.07 5.14 2.49
1988 Phillies 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.95 4.84 2.48
1989 Reds 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.35 5.37 3.98
16 Years 0 0 .000 0 1 n/a 0.0 2.0 60.5 1.59 4.88 3.08

Kent Tekulve

Kent Tekulve Miscellaneous Items of Interest

1974 Pittsburgh Pirates 50 $15,000.00 - -
1975 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $16,200.00 - -
1976 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $26,500.00 - -
1977 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $60,000.00 - -
1978 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $120,000.00 - -
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $215,000.00 - Stats
1980 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $325,000.00 Stats -
1981 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $500,000.00 - -
1982 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $500,000.00 - -
1983 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $500,000.00 - -
1984 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $500,000.00 - -
1985 Pittsburgh Pirates 27 $830,000.00 - -
1985 Philadelphia Phillies 27 "     "     - -
1986 Philadelphia Phillies 27 $890,000.00 - -
1987 Philadelphia Phillies 27 $925,000.00 - -
1988 Philadelphia Phillies 27 $850,000.00 - -
1989 Cincinnati Reds 43 $800,000.00 - -

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Kenton Charles Tekulve was a Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1974-1985), Philadelphia Phillies (1985-1988), and Cincinnati Reds. Kent, his nickname, was a true workhorse-style relief pitcher, known for his legendary submarine delivery.

Besides being former relief pitchers, what do Trevor Hoffman, John Franco and Kent Tekulve have in common that no other pitcher in has duplicated? Hoffman took the mound 1,035 times, but never started a game. Franco took the mound 1,119 times, but never started a game. Tekulve took the mound 1,050 times, but never started a game—the only pitchers in baseball history with 1,000+ appearances, no starts.

Kent Tekulve Rookie Baseball Card

Kent Tekulve Rookie Card | 1976 Topps Baseball Card (#112 | Checklist) | Baseball Almanac Collection

In 1978, Kent Tekulve became the first Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to take the mound at least ninety times during the same season, crushing the record of 72 appearances set in 1972, by Goose Gossage and Tekulve himself! In 1979, Tekulve broke his own record again, taking the mound in a franchise record 94 games, a mark that has never been broken, and tied once, by Salomon Torres in 2006.

In 1987, Kent Tekulve became the first Philadelphia Phillies pitcher to take the mound at least ninety times during the same season, crushing the record of 74 appearances set in 1950, by Jim Konstanty. No Phillie since Tekulve has appeared in 90-or-more games (Rheal Cormier, 84 appearances in 2004, is next closest).

Kent Tekulve Pitching Motion

Kent Tekulve | Pittsburgh Pirates Submariner | Photoshopped by Baseball Almanac

Did you know that Roy Face (1960 World Series) was the first pitcher to ever save three games during a World Series? The next? Kent Tekulve (1979 World Series), and both twirlers pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The World Series record for saves in a Fall Classic (regardless of the series length) has since been broken, by John Wetteland, who had four saves with the New York Yankees in the 1996 World Series, but no National League pitcher has passed Face or Tekulve.

Kent Tekulve Delivery | 1979 World Series Game 6 | October 16, 1979