#346) AL PEDRIQUE

Al Pedrique was signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Mets on July 21, 1978. The seventeen year-old from Venezuela played in the Mets' minor league system for nine years before making his major league debut on April 14, 1987. He entered the contest as a late-inning defensive replacement that day in Philadelphia. Al would appear in just five games as a member of the New York Mets before being traded along with Scott Little to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Bill Almon on May 29, 1987.

Pedrique, who had been hitless while with the Mets, collected his first hit at Shea Stadium on June 7th only days after his trade to the Pirates. It was only the second one of his young major league career.

Once his playing career was concluded in 1989 he would become a minor league manager and later a major league coach. The mid-season release of Bob Brenly allowed Pedrique to become the interim manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004. He accomplished his first win as a major league manager on July 4th after a complete game victory by Randy Johnson. "I made sure to hold on to the last out ball and presented him the ball as we walked off and said, 'Congratulations on your first major league win'." Johnson shared. "It feels real nice." Pedrique would say that day, "I feel the monkey is off my shoulder now."

After his time in Arizona he has served as the bench coach of the Houston Astros.

Al Pedrique signed his card in the set for me before the Houston Astros faced the Atlanta Braves in a spring training game on March 7, 2010 at Champions Field in Orlando, Florida.