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.

Bespectacled and unassuming, Kent Tekulve was one of the better Relief Pitchers in the National League for years.

Tekulve was in the Pirates organization from 1969 to 1985, debuting for the parent club in 1974.  Having never started a game for Pittsburgh, the submarine-style hurler settled in with the Pirates bullpen, becoming their closer in 1978.  That year, and the year after, Tekulve led the National League in Games Pitched, Games Finished and was fifth in Cy Young balloting.  Tekulve was also instrumental in Pittsburgh's 1979 World Series Championship, saving three games, including the deciding one.

Tekulve continued to be a top reliever in the early 80s but was traded to their in-state rival, Philadelphia, before the 1985 Season.  With the Pirates, Tekulve appeared in 722 Games, saved 158, and finished 470.