3/5: HBD Al & Teke; Foxy Joins HoF; Cutch Signs on the Dotted Line

• 1917 - Coach Al Monchak was born in Bayonne, NJ. After his playing days (he had a cup of coffee with the Phils), he was a scout, instructor and minor league manager. Then he hooked up with Chuck Tanner and coached for the White Sox, Athletics, Braves and Pirates (1977-84) as Chuck’s first base coach and infield tutor. He was named the 2009 winner of the Roland Hemond Award by Baseball America in December 2009. The award recognizes baseball figures who have made long-term contributions to scouting and player development operations.
• 1947 - RHP Kent Tekulve was born in Cincinnati. The rubber armed reliever pitched 12 years for the Pirates (1974-85) with a record of 70-61-158/2.68, and appeared in 90 games twice, making 722 Pittsburgh outings for 1,017-1/3 IP. He saved three of the four wins against the Orioles in the 1979 World Series, and Teke & Mike Marshall are the only pitchers to make 90 appearances three times during their career. Tekulve is now a Root Sports analyst, special spring instructor and oh yah - heart transplant recipient.

• 1996 - “Foxy” Ned Hanlon was selected to the Hall of Fame. He played and managed for the Alleghenys, Burghers and Pirates (1889-91) but his glory years were as skipper of the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas. Noted as a keen tactician, he came up with innovations still in play today such as the hit-and-run, double steal and “Baltimore chop.” He was inducted on August 4th.
• 2012 - Andrew McCutchen signed a team-friendly six-year, $51.5 M contract extension with the Pirates, with a $14.75M option for 2018, carrying him through his age 31 season. And they’re already clamoring for an extension...