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Kent Tekulve was a side-arm reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Source: Facebook/Baseball in Pics (May be subject to copyright) |
Earlier this week, when I saw Cleveland Guardian reliever Nick Sandlin throw side arm, I was reminded of two relief pitchers who not only used that delivery to great effect, but led their respective teams to World Series championships.
Nick Sandlin may in effect be the heir apparent to Kent Tekulve and Dan Quiseberry.
He sure looks like them when he throws.
We are family
The 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates used “We are family” as their theme, taking them all the way to the World Series.
The 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates used “We are family” as their theme, taking them all the way to the World Series.
I remember them for beating my beloved Montreal Expos for the National League East Division title, on their way to a World Series date with the American League champion Baltimore Orioles. After falling behind 3-1, the Pirates mounted a furious comeback, winning three straight game to claim the championship in seven games.
Reliever Kent Tekulve saved three of those games, including the Game 7 series clincher, for the Pirates. When the Pirates got the lead, it was lights out, because Tekulve would shut the door and extinguish any rally that started.
Work horse
Tekulve played with the Pirates from 1974 until 1985, was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1985 where he stayed until 1989, signed as a free agent with Cincinnati, and retired after the 1989 season.
Tekulve played with the Pirates from 1974 until 1985, was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1985 where he stayed until 1989, signed as a free agent with Cincinnati, and retired after the 1989 season.
He was an all-star in 1980; led the National League in games pitched four times, the last time being at age 40; is one of two pitchers to appear in 90 games in a season more than once, and did it three times; is the oldest pitcher to appear in 90 games, at age 40; holds the National League record for most career innings pitched in relief with 1,436 2/3; was second when he retired in career games with 1,050; and owns career records for most appearances and innings pitched without making a single start.
I believe he was able to pitch as long and as effectively as he did because of that side arm delivery he used.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
Dan Quisenberry made his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals in 1979. In spring training in 1980, his manager Jim Frey suggested he learn the submarine style delivery of Kent Tekulve, because Quisenberry did not have a fastball to overpower hitters.
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Dan Quisenberry was a side-arm reliever for the Kansas City Royals. Source: Facebook/Baseball by BSmile (May be subject to copyright) |
Dan Quisenberry made his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals in 1979. In spring training in 1980, his manager Jim Frey suggested he learn the submarine style delivery of Kent Tekulve, because Quisenberry did not have a fastball to overpower hitters.
So he did.
He went on to lead the American League for each season from 1980 to 1985, except for the strike-shortened 1981 season. He also won the Rolaids Relief Man Award each season, and finished in the top five in Cy Young voting during that same span. He set a single-season record for saves in 1983 with 45, that was later broken, and was the first pitcher in major league baseball to save more than 40 games twice in his career. He was also an all-star in 1982, 1983, and 1984.
He helped the Royals win the American League Championship Series in 1980, before losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in six games in the World Series. In 1985, he helped the Royals beat my beloved Toronto Blue Jays in seven games in the American League Championship Series. He then helped them win the World Series by beating the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. In both series, the Royals came back after falling behind 3-1.
Quisenberry was released by the Royals part way through the 1988 season. He was picked up by St. Louis, where he finished out the 1988 season and pitched through the 1989 season. He signed with San Francisco for the 1990 season, but was hampered by injuries and retired at the end of that season.
He finished with 244 career saves, the fifth most to that point in major league history.
Parting thoughts
I first saw both Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry pitch in the World Series. Back in the 1980s, very little baseball was on television so you really couldn’t get a sense of how good someone was.
I first saw both Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry pitch in the World Series. Back in the 1980s, very little baseball was on television so you really couldn’t get a sense of how good someone was.
In the World Series, you could see that, because they played a lot of games in a short period of time. And Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry were really good.
I also thought it was cool that one learned from the other, linking them together in history forever.
I even recall being on my lawn, throwing a baseball against a tree and fielding the rebound, pretending to throw side arm like them. It really didn’t feel that awkward either.
Since then, from time to time when I think back to those days, I wondered if throwing side arm was a lost art.
Then I saw Nick Sandlin pitch.
As it turns out, he throws side arm but Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry are actually submarine pitchers.
Interestingly, it is Adam Cimber of my very own Toronto Blue jays who is a true submarine pitcher. The first time I saw him this season, his delivery did remind me of Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry.
So Adam Cimber carries the torch for submarine pitchers into the next generation.
It isn’t a lost art.
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