Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives. As such, it is important to us that the Pittsburgh Pirates have announced the second class for their franchise Hall of Fame.

Last year, the Pirates enshrined 19 former greats into their inaugural class, and we now have four former players; Dick Groat, Bob Friend, Elroy Face and Kent Tekulve will be joining them.

Groat played for Pittsburgh for nine years (1952 & 1955-62), and the Shortstop won the 1960 National League MVP in a year he anchored them to a World Series while individually winning a Batting Title. An All-Star six times with Pittsburgh, he batted .290 with 1,435 Hits for the team.

Face played for the Pirates for 15 seasons (1953 & 1955-68), where the pitcher’s career was instrumental in discussing the evolution of relief Pitching. A member of Pittsburgh’s 1960 World Series Champions, Face led the NL in Saves three times, Games Finished four times and was a six-time All-Star. He compiled 186 Saves with a 100-93 Record for the Pirates.

Friend was also a key member of Pittsburgh’s 1960 World Series squad. The Starting Pitcher went to four All-Star Games, won the 1955 ERA Title, and played 15 of his 16 Years with the Pirates. He has a record of 191-128 and 1,682 Strikeouts with Pittsburgh.

Tekulve was Pittsburgh’s closer during their 1979 World Series win. The bespectacled hurler had 158 Saves and 470 Games Finished for the Pirates.

The four players will be officially inducted in a pre-game ceremony on August 26 before their game against the Chicago Cubs.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the Pittsburgh Pirates for earning this impending honor.

Bob Friend played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1951-63), where he quietly had one of the better decades of the National League's Pitchers.

Friend cracked the Majors in 1951, but it was not until 1955 where he proved himself as a bona fide Starting Pitcher.  While his record was only 14-9, he led the NL in ERA (2.83) and bWAR for Pitchers (6.0).  Over the next three seasons, Friend was a workhorse leasing the league in Games Started in the first three years and Innings Pitched in the first two.  The three-time All-Star had his most decorated season in 1958, where he led the NL in Wins (22) and finished third for the Cy Young and sixth for the MVP.  Two years later, Friend was a large part of the Pirates surprise World Series win over the New York Yankees.

Friend played for Pittsburgh until 1965, and he had quick stops with both New York teams before retiring after 1966.  He would have a losing record of 197-230 but was still highly regarded.

Despite his accomplishments, Friend was left off the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot when he was first eligible in 1972.

Bob Friend played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1951-63), where he quietly had one of the better decades of the National League's Pitchers.