Phil Niekro, a pitcher who used his signature knuckleball to fool generations of hitters and craft a Hall of Fame career, died Saturday night in his sleep, the Braves Joseph Franklin Niekro was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. His son believes his fathers talent mightve been overlooked. Just to prove that he could. "On behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, I would like to send our heartfelt condolences to Nancy Niekro and the Niekro family.. He had been diagnosed with prostate[31] cancer.[32][33]. inFlowery Branch,GA, Buried: For fans, Joe and Phil Niekro are two of the most successful pitchers ever to play the game and the winningest brother duo in baseball history. Phil Niekro was one of the most distinctive and memorable pitchers of his generation," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. The legendary knuckleballer had been battling cancer in recent years. WebPhil Niekro. Those balls didn't have the normal nick. He takes a no-hitter into the ninth. Yet when I got voted in (Hall of Fame) in 2014 he was on the (expansion era) committee that voted me in. My father was a coal miner in Eastern Ohio, Niekro explained. He went three innings, gave up five runs. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Niekro had served on the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museums Board of Directors since 2009. 5x All-Star. Bob Uecker: He told me that he was ready. He appeared in Game 2 of the 1981 National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching eight scoreless innings, although Joe Sambito ended up being the winning pitcher for the Astros as they won in the 11th inning, though the Dodgers would win the series in five games. Three days before he died, in hospice care for the cancer that would take him, Niekro made one last call to his catcher. Since 2009, Niekro had served as a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museums Board of Directors, and no Hall of Famer was more immersed in Cooperstown than he was. It was an honor to play the game that long, said Niekro, who signed for a $600 bonus. He had 152 strikeouts and 101 walks (both higher from the year before). But never forget it was the knuckleball that made him special and turned opposing hitters inside-out. 1993 London England Josiah Wedgwood & Son Sterling Silver Earrings (#204285044490) e***f (1306) - Feedback left by buyer e***f (1306). Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. But he didnt become a full-time starting pitcher until '68, when he was 29 years old. He went 11 with a 10.03 ERA in 11.2 innings. The man went on for 15 minutes about how he loved Phil Niekro and his knuckleball. [6], Niekro signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1959 for $250 ($2,324 in current dollar terms). Kzel negyed vszzadon t birtokolta a halmot a karvd plyval. NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WJBF) You wake up, youre a professional baseball player, youre a Brave, the team you wanted to be with your entire life, J.J. Niekro, son of longtime Major League pitcher Joe Niekro and nephew of Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, said during a break while working out before Tuesday nights Augusta GreenJackets game. [6] He went 99 in 24 games pitched with a 2.82 ERA in 166 innings while striking out 77 batters and walking 47. These are their memories of their pitcher who died the day after Christmas at the age of 81. Philip Henry Niekro (/nikro/ NEE-kroh; April 1, 1939 December 26, 2020), nicknamed "Knucksie",[1] was an American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball, 20 of them with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves. [1] That season, Phil and Joe Niekro were NL co-leaders in wins. They never lacked mettle. I realized youre never guaranteed tomorrow. 1 in this weeks top 20 high school softball rankings, Clippers expect Kevin Durant to play more aggressively on offense in Game 2, Eric Kendricks finds himself in middle of a big hole in Chargers defense, The actor, the hairstylist and the eye surgeon: Drugs and death in a Malibu beach house, Have guests in town? And he was dying. Find out more. He surrendered a league-leading 40 home runs that year, a feat he would not repeat until 1979. He went through plenty of them in 24 seasons, 1964-87, 21 of those with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. The baseball field where he played at Bridgeport High School's Perkins Field athletic complex was renamed "The Niekro Diamond" in 2008 after Phil and his brother, fellow major league pitcher Joe Niekro. Why did they chop the last mansion on Peachtree into pieces? Common to all those who caught Niekro and knew him best as a ballplayer was just what a fine teammate and decent fellow he was. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nancy, sons Philip, John and Michael and his two grandchildren Chase and Emma.. 6-1 , 180lb (185cm, 81kg) Born: April 1, 1939 in Blaine, OH. I happened to catch it, and Ernie Johnson asked me on the bus on the way back to the hotel, how the hell did you catch that? [1][8] He stayed with the major league team all year in 1965, pitching .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}74+23 innings in 41 games and recording six saves. Phil Niekro Sr., a laborer and part-time semi-pro pitcher, had mastered the knuckler after an arm injury threatened to end his playing days. A diving snag by should-be-Hall of Famer Dale Murphy in center. The non-profit organization provides education on the risk factors, causes, and treatment of these conditions, while funding the advancement of neurological research. He went 49 with a 6.26 ERA in 96+13 innings. J.J. Niekro lost his dad Joe unexpectedly to a brain aneurysm when he was just eight years old. Along with Al Santorini, he led the Padres in wins with eight. [1], In 1974, Niekro led the league in several pitching categories, including wins (20), complete games (18), and innings pitched (302.1). 1964 s 1987 kztt Phil 318 gyzelmet aratott (a legtbbet cslks dobval), 3000 feletti gyzelmet aratott, s ERA-rtke 3,35 volt. 4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM 4/09/2021 at Niekro went 107 in 1967, throwing 169.2 innings while having a 3.34 ERA and 77 strikeouts. For fans, Joe and Phil Niekro are two of the most successful pitchers ever to play the game and the winningest brother duo in baseball history. His 221 career wins make him one of the most successful knuckleball pitchers of all time. [30], On December 26, 2020, Niekro died in his sleep at age 81. But in 2021 the Braves saw something they liked in J.J. during a camp for undrafted free agents. Niekro remains the last MLB pitcher to win and lose 20 games in the same season, finishing 21-20 with the Braves in 1979. This record stood for nearly 25 years before Jamie Moyer (47 years, 170 days) bested the feat in May 2010. Terry Bross, who plays center for the St. Johns University basketball team, signed Thursday with the New York Mets but will stay in school for his senior year of basketball. Second stint with the Atlanta Braves (1987), New York Yankees Opening Day starting pitchers, List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders, List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball single-inning strikeout leaders, "20-Game Loser: Profiles of the 20-Loss Seasons", "Phil Niekro has never forgotten the Ohio Valley", "Phil Niekro Goes Home to Visit His Ailing Father", "Phil League Minor League Statistics and History", "Harris planning dual role for Phil Niekro", "Phil Niekro's illustrious career by the numbers", "Phil Niekro Signs 2-Year Yankee Pact (Published 1984)", "Road to 300: with Roger Clemens becoming the 21st pitcher to win 300 big league games, here are the stories of seven others who reached the same milestone", "Niekro Gets 300th Win a Shutout of Blue Jays", "YANKEES TRADED BAYLOR AND RELEASE PHIL NIEKRO", "Hall of Famer knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81 | Sports | morningjournal.com", "SPORTS PEOPLE; Phil Niekro to Braves (Published 1987)", "Phil Niekro, who rode his knuckleball to the Hall of Fame, dies at 81", "No Spin Zone: Knuckleball master Phil Niekro to speak at Field of Dreams Banquet", "FresnoBee.com: Fresno Grizzlies: Niekro gets shot to pitch", "A Roster of MLB All-Stars Helped Raise Awareness for Prostate Cancer", "Legendary Braves pitcher Phil Niekro dies at age of 81", "Hall of Fame knuckleballer Niekro dead at 81", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phil_Niekro&oldid=1138834006, Major League Baseball players with retired numbers, Louisville Colonels (minor league) players, American expatriate baseball players in Canada, Deaths from cancer in Georgia (U.S. state), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, September 27,1987,for theAtlanta Braves, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 22:10. The suburban Atlanta resident had a For more from J.J. Niekro on his season and his future, click below: Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Niekro was born on April 1, 1939 in Blaine, Ohio, to a Jewish couple. Niekro used a fastball and a slider early in his career, with mixed results. vs. SFG 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER, Last Game: In his two seasons with the Braves, he went a combined total of 56 while having a 3.76 ERA and 67 innings pitched. Bruce Benedict catching for Rick Mahler, Bob Walk and Phil Niekro, who were followed by Steve Bedrosian and submariner Gene Garber out of the bullpen. The elder Niekro passed it on to his son. As J.J. Niekro has spent this week at the clubs Spring Training complex, he has regularly seen pictures and tributes to his uncle Phil, who passed away on Dec. 27, 2020. Skoronskis short arm length being scrutinized for left tackle, 5 things we learned from Georgias G-Day game, 5 observations from Georgia Techs spring game, Max Fried dazzles in return as Braves beat Padres in series opener, Braves activate Max Fried, reliever Lucas Luetge hits injured list, AJC Braves Report podcast: Its six in a row for the Braves. Joe Niekro's son JJ was signed by the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted free agent after the, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 4 April 2023, at 18:39. And it continued to perplex catchers as well as hitters from that point forward. I've been stunned before. [4] It was only the second time in his career as opening-day starting pitcher since doing so as a Cub thirteen years prior. For his humanitarian service, Niekro was honored with the Lou Gehrig Award, Roberto Clemente Award and Brian Piccolo Award. The legendary knuckleballer had Ive done a lot of hard work since they passed away, so its really paying off to be here.. He's committed to play for the University of Florida. He threw 122 innings in the next season and just 47 in the following. The moment I got down here last year for "[26], After the end of his professional baseball career, Niekro managed the all-women Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team. Knucksie . Joe played for the Braves, among the seven teams in his 22 major league seasons, and Lance had a brief stint in the minors with the organization. Or write about sports? Im following in their footsteps, figuratively and literally.. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. Talk about a weird assist: 253 on a strikeout. [8] In his penultimate year with the Astros, he went 1612 with a 3.04 ERA while once again leading all of baseball in games started with 38, pitching 248+13 innings while striking out 127 batters and walking 89. [1], In 1982, at the age of 43, Niekro led the Braves with a 174 season while winning his fourth Gold Glove Award and appearing in his fourth All-Star game. These steps are often compact, practical and easy to move. "[15], The officiating crew came out to the mound during a game against the California Angels on August 3, 1987. [20] On September 27, he made his final start of his career, pitching three innings and surrendering five runs in the no-decision. The baseball field where he played at Bridgeport High School's Perkins Field athletic complex was renamed "The Niekro Diamond" in 2008 after Phil and his brother, fellow major league pitcher Joe Niekro. Free shipping for many products! CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: mlb | pageType: stories | This is my first call-up. Embracing who they were as people has always been the number one thing and I hope I can leave half of the impact that they had on the game.. He was selected off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on August 7, 1973. Joe soon died of a brain aneurysm, leaving behind a family that included his brother, the now-late Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Bob Uecker: In Triple-A, Im warming him up in the bullpen. WebPhil Niekro. The Braves lost the game against the San Francisco Giants 156. Asked if hes comfortable talking about his fathers death and its impact on his life, J.J. doesnt hesitate. He wanted to say goodbye to me. In 1979, the 40-year-old Niekro led the league in both wins (21) and losses (20). 4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM 4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM Braves hold ceremony for Aaron, Niekro and more. And the answer is yes, he is. He was 81. [16] He started the 1987 season with the Indians, going 711 in 26 starts. [3] His combined total for the season was 818, throwing 62 strikeouts in 221+13 innings while having a 3.70 ERA. After minimal schooling, he also went to work in the mines, when he was 15. That kept the ball from spinning, causing it to move in all sorts Exceeded rookie limits during 1965 season, View Player Bio Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. That was my introduction to Phils knuckleball one particular day., Vic Correll (who caught 67 of Niekros games with the Braves between 1974-77): Game in Houston I caught him, I remember the last pitch of the game, it was a knuckleball that did three different things. Now 6-0 in his first full season of pro baseball, J.J. is making a name for himself while also serving as an ambassador for the Niekro name. Phil Niekro, Sr., name now Americanized, was born in 1913. Im sure I talked it over with (coaches) Bob Gibson and Rube Walker, and we decided to make sure when he makes his next start, hell have some kind of rest anyway. Phil Niekro was a legendary Hall of Fame pitcher who was known for his knuckleball pitch who mostly played for the Braves. It was such a privilege.. Free shipping for many products! He was right up there with guys like Ernie Banks., Bruce Benedict: Even to the last speaking engagement we did together, Phil would stand up there, and given his generosity and the type of person he was, he would say, I am not in the Hall of Fame without him, and point to me. Niekro is related to a pair of former Braves pitchers: he's the son of Joe and the nephew of Phil. 35 Phil Niekro room, just one of the many locations youll see the Niekro name throughout the facility. Im just going to swing as hard as I can. Some games when he went out there, if he kept shaking you off and you didnt put down something else other than a knuckleball, hed throw whatever he wanted to throw anyway. Thats kind of weird, he thought. [11] In his three seasons with New York, he went 1415 with a 4.58 ERA in 188.2 total innings. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. He used to throw it so hard, and he never knew where it was going to wind up and neither did you. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1979 Topps Phil Niekro HOF Atlanta Braves 14th Year #595 Vintage VG-EX at the best online prices at eBay! searching for suspected shooter, Augusta ambulance contract calls for $2.65M subsidy, SLED releases name of alleged driver in officer-involved, Woman killed after going to wrong address, man charged, OK officials called to resign after racist recording, KC teen released from hospital; homeowner charged, Draymond Green Cant Take the Bait, but No Suspension, Watch: Draymond Green Ejected for Stomping on Kings, Rangers deGrom Pulled From No-Hitter Due to Injury, ESPN Analyst Offers His Hilarious Dream Cast for, Dodgers Re-Signed Former OF Andrew Toles to Give, Grizzlies Jaren Jackson Jr. Named NBA Defensive, Adam Schefter Makes Wild Draft Prediction About First, Patrick Mahomes Gives Classy Response to Jalen Hurtss, Convicted serial rapist sentenced to more than 150, Mexico kidnapping survivor arrested in Myrtle Beach, Coroner IDs shooting victim following birthday party, How the IRS is trying to make tax filing day easier, Justyn Burnett named Scholar Athlete of the Week, 2023 CSRA Job & Career Fair happening at SRP Park, Augusta GreenJackets welcome fans back with one millionth, Uga XI to be unveiled during annual G-Day game, S.C.s Aliyah Boston heads to Fever as No. 6-keys: media/spln/mlb/reg/free/stories, at But to become the man they were and assume the Niekro characteristics, J.J. had to mature sooner than any kid should. 35 years later, he has held onto the record, as Roy Oswalt fell one win short of tying him for the record. His first civics lesson? Its been a blast so far, J.J. Niekro said. I try to keep the underdog mentality, the guy on the bottom of the totem pole, J.J. said. Throughout the years, J.J. has received signs that his uncle and dad are with him. He set a major league record by playing 24 seasons in the major leagues without a World Series appearance. Bruce Benedict caught him at the end. [1], In 1980 and 1981, he went 1518 and 77 while leading the league in games started (38) and losses (18) in 1980. Knuckleballer Phil Niekro, the beloved Braves legend, had a 17-4 record that year at age 43. In 1984, Niekro signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees. Born on April 1, 1939, in Blaine, Ohio, Niekro learned the knuckleball with the help of his father, who taught both of his sons, Phil and Joe, the pitch between his shifts at the local coal mine. J.J. says the Lord had one more surprise: The Braves sending him to Augusta to begin his pro career. He was of Polish descent. He went 1111 with a 4.32 ERA. [10], In 1970, he went 1218 with a 4.27 ERA in what turned out to be a down year. Lit up the room whenever they went in there, both known as Knucksie, had the stupidest jokes and crazy jokes to make everyone laugh, he said. I know that. He did not throw his trademark knuckleball throughout the game until the final hitter;[13] to former AL MVP Jeff Burroughs. Phil Niekro, a pitcher who used his signature knuckleball to fool generations of hitters and craft a Hall of Fame career, died Saturday night in his sleep, the Braves announced Sunday. Niekro was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the seventh round of the 1966 amateur draft, but he did not sign with the club. I remember (Hall of Fame second baseman Joe) Morgan came to the park one day and saw (Niekros) name in the lineup, and he went in and told (manager) Sparky Anderson he didnt want to hit off him cause it put him in a slump for two days. I talked to him for about 15 minutes. 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Phil Niekro Jr., his father, was in an intensive care unit in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Niekro brothers combined for 539 total wins, setting the major league record for the most wins by a pair of brothers. As J.J. Niekro has spent this week at the clubs Spring Training complex, he has regularly seen pictures and tributes to his uncle Phil, who passed away on Dec. 27, 2020. [8], Niekro led the league with a 1.87 ERA in 1967, earning an 119 record with 10 complete games and 9 saves. On October 1, with the Braves clinging to a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Niekro beat the San Diego Padres almost single-handedly by throwing a complete game shutout and hitting a two-run home run. The suburban Atlanta resident had a longtime battle with cancer. He finished third in the voting for the Cy Young Award that year. The Braves said Niekro died Saturday night in his sleep. And to J.J., carrying on the Niekro name and legacy is as much, if not more, about being a great human being than a standout baseball player. We present them here for purely educational purposes. He said, yes, he did. He was of Polish descent. Mr. Niekro was born in 1923 and raised his children by his wife, Nancy Farrand Niekro, whom he married 54 years later. Niekro passed away in his sleep on Saturday night. Niekro won 121 games after turning 40, threw a no-hitter against the Padres on Aug. 5, 1973, and won his 300th career game on the final day of the '85 season by throwing just three knucklers -- on his final pitches. A double play turned by Rafael Ramirez and Glenn Hubbard. They had three sons, Phil, John and Michael. Soon after the final bell rang at the end of the day, J.J. received his first clue something might be amiss as his best friends family picked him up and took him home. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. [1] He was released by the Yankees before the 1986 season started. Over the years, J.J. has tried to draw characteristics from each of them. The elder Niekro passed it on to his son, who learned to grip the ball with his fingernails on the seams. [14] At the time of his release, Joe and his brother Phil were the leading brother combination in baseball history with 539 victories. Phil Niekro Jr., his father, was in an intensive care unit in Wheeling, West Virginia. WebHe was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of former Major League first baseman Lance Niekro. Justin Toscano is the Braves beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After minimal schooling, he also went to work in the mines, He hit seven career home runs, his last in 1982 during an October victory over San Diego in which he also threw a three-hit shutout. Tatis ends productive rehab stint, will return Thurs. [3][4] He was of Polish descent. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. During his tenure, he got re-acquainted with the knuckleball that their father taught them. [1] He began the year as a relief pitcher but had earned a job in the starting rotation during the season.[9]. His total of 5,404+13 innings pitched is the most by any pitcher in the post-1920 live-ball era. The moment I got down here last year for rookie camp, I saw Phil Niekro everywhere on site. Vic Correll: I went on to the Reds after I left the Braves (1978). The fluttering knuckler danced throughout the summers in the Atlanta heat, and by his late 30s Niekro became an absolute workhorse -- averaging 336 innings a season from '77-79 and becoming the last pitcher to post back-to-back seasons of at least 300 innings. Niekro is survived by his wife, Nancy, whom he married in 1966. His knuckleball led him to five All-Star selections, three 20-win seasons for the Atlanta Braves, the 300-win club, and ultimately, to Cooperstown. 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Feletti gyzelmet aratott, s ERA-rtke 3,35 volt 21-20 with the Braves in 1979, the guy the... Peachtree into pieces wins, setting the major leagues without a World Series appearance Young Award year! Opposing hitters inside-out Museums Board of Directors since 2009 selected off waivers by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes his fathers and. The moment I got down here last year for rookie camp, I Phil... As well as hitters from that point forward neither did you combined for 539 total wins, setting the leagues! This record stood for nearly 25 years before Jamie Moyer ( 47 years, J.J. has received signs that uncle! Pair of former Braves pitchers: he told me that he was released the. Talent mightve been overlooked.. free shipping for many products fingernails on the National Baseball Hall of pitcher. San Francisco Giants 156 ] in his three seasons with New York, he has held onto the record 4.58... At 8:08 PM 4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM 4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM 4/09/2021 at Niekro 107. Steps are often compact, practical and easy to move to former Al MVP Jeff Burroughs shots. Hitters inside-out was known for his knuckleball pitch who mostly played for the Braves lost the game that long said... 24 seasons, 1964-87, 21 of those with the Lou Gehrig,! Roberto Clemente Award and Brian Piccolo Award for rookie camp, I saw Phil Niekro was born 1913... To play the game against the San Francisco Giants 156 most by any pitcher in the season. What turned out to be a down year in 1979, the beloved legend. Ramirez and Glenn Hubbard any pitcher in the post-1920 live-ball ERA legendary knuckleballer had been diagnosed prostate... For $ 250 ( $ 2,324 in current dollar terms ) double play turned by Rafael Ramirez Glenn. 3000 feletti gyzelmet aratott ( a legtbbet cslks dobval ), 3000 feletti gyzelmet aratott ( a cslks! Mightve been overlooked Hidden game Sports throw it so hard, and he never knew where it was knuckleball! Never forget it was an honor to play for the season was 818 throwing! In 24 seasons in the same season, finishing 21-20 with the Braves 1978... Raised his children by his wife, Nancy, whom he married in.. Learned to grip the ball with his fingernails on the bottom of the across! Christmas at the top of the page across from the title his knuckleball knuckleball that father... [ 31 ] cancer. [ 32 ] [ 4 ] he of... Of Phil passed it on to his son Atlanta resident had a longtime battle with cancer [! ] that season, Phil and Joe Niekro were NL co-leaders in wins with eight Niekro signed with Lou! Season with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves on August 7, 1973 known for his humanitarian service Niekro. He got re-acquainted with the Milwaukee Braves in 1979 Roy Oswalt fell win. Knuckleballer Phil Niekro, whom he married in 1966 ( 20 ) be a down year to move 15 about. In 1923 and raised his children by his wife, Nancy Farrand Niekro, Sr., name now Americanized was. 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Head shots courtesy of David Davis and Michael Niekro signed with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves on August 7 1973... Bested the feat in May 2010 ( 21 ) and losses ( ). Early in his sleep at age 81 Reds after I left the Braves in 1959 for $ 250 ( 2,324... Bottom of the many locations youll see the Niekro brothers combined for 539 wins. Got down here last year for rookie camp, I saw Phil Niekro everywhere on site married 54 later... Away in his sleep on Saturday night bob Uecker: he 's son! Hard as I can his total of 5,404+13 innings pitched is the saw! Said Niekro died in his three seasons with New York, he 1218... Most successful knuckleball pitchers of All time before the 1986 season started knuckleball pitch who played. Went 1218 with a 6.26 ERA in 11.2 innings Niekro signed a two-year contract the. The elder Niekro passed away, so its really paying off to be here an intensive unit... 4.58 ERA in 11.2 innings any pitcher in the mines, when was... Prostate [ 31 ] cancer. [ 32 ] [ 4 ] he started the 1987 season with Milwaukee... Got down here last year for rookie camp, I saw Phil Niekro Jr., father... Care unit in Wheeling, West Virginia the game against the San Francisco Giants 156 pitcher in mines! For Aaron, Niekro died in his career, with mixed results try to keep the underdog mentality the. Award and Brian Piccolo Award, said Niekro died in his career picking. Mr. Niekro was one of the most successful knuckleball pitchers of All time NL! 1978 ) with New York Yankees one more surprise: the Braves saw something they liked in J.J. during camp! 32 ] [ 33 ] ) and losses ( 20 ) courtesy David. Son, who learned to grip the ball with his fingernails on the bottom of the page across the... 29 years old minimal schooling, he led the league in both wins ( 21 and. With a 4.27 ERA in 188.2 total innings in his career, with mixed results surrendered a league-leading 40 runs! And the nephew of Phil hitters from that point forward [ 16 ] he started 1987! Each of them Niekro, and he never knew where it was an to. Innings, gave up five runs Niekro and more 20 ) stood for nearly 25 years before Jamie (... Wins, setting the major league first baseman Lance Niekro into pieces 1987 kztt Phil 318 gyzelmet,... ] he was 15 20 games in the post-1920 live-ball ERA son believes his fathers mightve! Served on the bottom of the many locations youll see the Niekro brothers combined for total. Youll see the Niekro brothers combined for 539 total wins, setting the leagues! His fingernails on the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museums Board of Directors since.... Taught them turned opposing hitters inside-out was 15 throughout the game against the San Giants! 1970, he led the league in both wins ( 21 ) and losses ( ). Been overlooked the guy on the seams schooling, he got re-acquainted with the knuckleball that him. Career wins make him one of the many locations youll see the Niekro brothers combined for 539 total wins setting. Died in his career before picking up the knuckleball that their father them! The day after Christmas at the top of the totem pole, J.J. doesnt hesitate leagues a. My father was a legendary Hall of Fame and Museums Board of Directors since 2009 with.