STRUTHERS — Andy “Pudge” Kosco, who replaced Mickey Mantle at first base in the famed New York Yankee’s final game in 1968, died on Dec. 19 at the age of 84. One of Struthers High School’s greatest athletes, Kosco was offered 44 football scholarships and 27 basketball scholarships. But instead of taking those paths, Kosco signed with the Detroit Tigers at the age of 17 in 1959. Kosco never played for the Tigers but was eventually brought up to the Major Leagues by the Minnesota Twins in 1965 to replace an injured Harmon Killebrew. With the Yankees in 1968, Kosco batted .240 with 15 home runs and 59 RBIs in 131 games played. In December 1968 Kosco was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Mike Kekich and would bounce around from the Milwaukee Brewers, California Angles and Boston Red Sox before ending his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1973-74. Kosco ended his career with a .236 average with 73 home runs and 267 RBIs. Following retirement from baseball in 1975, he started an insurance business with offices in Struthers and Boardman.