Joe Niekro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joe Niekro |
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Niekro in 1976
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: November 7, 1944 Martins Ferry, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Died: October 27, 2006 (aged 61) Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 16, 1967, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| April 29, 1988, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 221–204 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.59 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,747 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Joseph Franklin Niekro (born November 7, 1944 – died October 27, 2006) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played for 22 years, from 1967 to 1988. Joe Niekro pitched for seven different teams during his career. He is best known for his time with the Houston Astros.
Joe was the younger brother of another famous pitcher, Phil Niekro. His son, Lance Niekro, also played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman. Joe Niekro grew up in Martins Ferry, Ohio. He went to Bridgeport High School and later to West Liberty University.
Contents
Joe Niekro's Baseball Journey
Starting with the Cubs
Joe Niekro began his professional baseball journey when the Chicago Cubs drafted him in 1966. In his first year, 1967, he had a good record of 10 wins and 7 losses. He pitched over 169 innings with a 3.34 ERA (Earned Run Average). The next year, he started the Cubs' Opening Day game. He finished the 1968 season with 14 wins and 10 losses.
Moving to the Padres
In 1969, Niekro was traded to the new San Diego Padres team. He finished that season with a combined record of 8 wins and 18 losses. He also had 62 strikeouts. He was one of the Padres' top pitchers that year, leading the team in wins.
Time with the Tigers and Braves
Joe Niekro then played for the Detroit Tigers for three seasons. His best year with the Tigers was 1970, when he won 12 games and lost 13. He later joined the Atlanta Braves in 1973. Early in his career, Niekro mainly threw a fastball and a slider. While with the Braves, he started using the knuckleball pitch more often. His father had taught both Joe and his brother Phil this tricky pitch. Joe's knuckleball became a key part of his pitching style.
Becoming a Star with the Astros
The Houston Astros bought Joe Niekro's contract in 1975. This is where he really became a star pitcher. He perfected his knuckleball and had amazing seasons. In 1979, he won 21 games and lost 11. The next year, 1980, he won 20 games and lost 12. This made him the first Astros pitcher to win 20 games in two years in a row.
In 1979, Joe was chosen for the National League All-Star team. He led the league with 21 wins and five shutouts. That same year, Joe and his brother Phil both led Major League Baseball in wins. This was the only time two brothers shared this achievement.
In 1980, Niekro helped the Astros reach the playoffs for the first time. He pitched a great game in a special playoff match against the Los Angeles Dodgers, helping the Astros win 7-1. He also pitched 10 scoreless innings in a playoff game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Niekro continued to pitch well for the Astros. In 1981, he reached 1,000 career strikeouts. He had a strong year in 1982, with 17 wins and a low 2.47 ERA. He also had a career-high 16 complete games. On June 9, 1985, he became the winningest pitcher in Astros history. He won his 200th career game on July 2, 1985.
Later Years with the Yankees and Twins
In 1985, Joe Niekro was traded to the New York Yankees. There, he briefly played alongside his brother Phil again. He spent three seasons with the Yankees.
In 1987, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins. That year, he made his only appearance in the 1987 World Series. He pitched two innings in Game 4, helping the Twins win the World Series. He pitched in five games in 1988 before retiring. At that time, Joe and Phil Niekro held the record for the most combined wins by brothers in baseball history, with 539 victories.
Ball-Scuffing Incident
During the 1987 season, while pitching for the Twins, Joe Niekro was involved in a notable incident. Umpires found that he had objects that could be used to change the baseball's movement. This is against the rules in baseball. Niekro said he was just filing his nails. However, he was suspended for 10 games by the American League president.
Death
Joe Niekro passed away on October 27, 2006, at the age of 61. He suffered a brain aneurysm.
Joe Niekro Foundation
Joe Niekro's daughter, Natalie, created The Joe Niekro Foundation. This organization helps patients and families dealing with brain aneurysms, AVMs, and hemorrhagic strokes. The foundation teaches people about these conditions and helps fund research to find better treatments.
Amazing Records and Statistics
- Joe Niekro's 221 career wins make him one of the most successful knuckleball pitchers ever.
- He and his brother Phil combined for 539 wins. This is a Major League record for the most wins by two brothers.
- On May 29, 1976, Joe hit his only career home run. It was special because he hit it off his own brother, Phil!
- In the 1987 World Series, Niekro set a record. He had the longest time between his first Major League game and his first World Series appearance.
- On July 2, 1970, Niekro almost pitched a no-hitter. He allowed only one hit in the ninth inning. If he and Phil had both pitched no-hitters, they would have been the first brothers to do so.
Legacy
- Joe Niekro once appeared on Late Night with David Letterman. He wore a carpenter's apron and carried a power sander. This was a humorous nod to his suspension for having a nail file on the mound.
- The Minnesota Twins released a bobblehead of Joe Niekro. It included a tiny nail file in his back pocket.
- In 1992, Joe Niekro was honored by being inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
See also
- Houston Astros award winners and league leaders
- List of knuckleball pitchers
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
