Phil Niekro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phil Niekro |
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Niekro in 1974
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: April 1, 1939 Blaine, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Died: December 26, 2020 (aged 81) Flowery Branch, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 15, 1964, for the Milwaukee Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 1987, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 318–274 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.35 | ||
| Strikeouts | 3,342 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1997 | ||
| Vote | 80.34% (fifth ballot) | ||
Philip Henry Niekro (pronounced NEE-kroh; born April 1, 1939 – died December 26, 2020), also known as "Knucksie", was an American baseball pitcher. He played for 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent 20 of those seasons with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves.
Niekro was famous for throwing a special pitch called a knuckleball. He won 318 games in his career, which is the most wins by any knuckleball pitcher ever. It also ranks him 16th on MLB's all-time wins list. He won the National League Gold Glove Award five times for his excellent fielding. He was also chosen for five All-Star teams. He led the league in wins twice and in earned run average (ERA) once.
Phil Niekro and his younger brother Joe were both pitchers. Together, they won 539 games, which is the most combined wins by brothers in baseball history. Phil Niekro played for a very long time. He won 121 games after he turned 40 years old, which is an MLB record. His long career was possible because of his knuckleball. This pitch is hard for hitters to hit because it moves in unpredictable ways. It's also easy on a pitcher's arm.
Niekro is the last MLB pitcher to win and lose 20 games in the same season. He finished with a 21-20 record for the Braves in 1979. That year, Phil and Joe Niekro were tied for the most wins in the National League. Phil Niekro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Phil Niekro was born in Blaine, Ohio, and grew up in Lansing, Ohio. His parents were Henrietta and Philip Niekro. His father was a coal miner who also played semi-pro baseball. He learned to throw a knuckleball from another coal miner. Phil's father then taught the knuckleball to Phil and his brother Joe in their backyard.
Phil went to Bridgeport High School. He was friends with future Basketball Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek. In 2008, the baseball field where Phil and Joe played in high school was renamed "The Niekro Diamond" in their honor. Phil also played American Legion Baseball as a young player.
In 1959, Niekro signed with the Milwaukee Braves for $250. For the next few years, he played for several minor league teams. He mostly pitched as a relief pitcher, coming into games after the starting pitcher. He spent time with teams like the Louisville Colonels and the Jacksonville Braves. He missed the 1963 season because he was serving in the military.
Major League Career Highlights
Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves (1964–1983)
First Years and All-Star Seasons (1964–1969)
Niekro started his major league career with the Milwaukee Braves in 1964. He pitched in 15 games that year. In 1965, he stayed with the major league team all season. He pitched in 41 games and earned six saves (when a relief pitcher finishes a game and protects a lead).
In 1967, Niekro had an amazing year. He led the league with a 1.87 earned run average (ERA), which means he gave up very few runs. He started the year as a relief pitcher but became a starting pitcher during the season. He finished with an 11–9 record and 10 complete games (pitching the entire game himself).
In 1969, Niekro had his first All-Star season. He won 23 games and lost 13, with a 2.56 ERA. He finished second in the voting for the Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in each league. The Braves made it to the playoffs that year.
Leading the League (1970–1979)
From 1971 to 1973, Niekro continued to be a strong pitcher for the Braves. On August 5, 1973, Niekro pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres. This means no player on the other team got a hit during the entire game. It was the first no-hitter for the Braves since they moved to Atlanta.
In 1974, Niekro led the National League in several important pitching categories. He had 20 wins, 18 complete games, and pitched the most innings (302.1). He finished third in the voting for the Cy Young Award again. He also made his second All-Star appearance in 1975.
Between 1977 and 1979, Niekro was a workhorse, leading the league in complete games and innings pitched. In 1979, at 40 years old, Niekro led the league in both wins (21) and losses (20). He made his third All-Star appearance in 1978. He also won three Gold Glove Awards in a row from 1978 to 1980.
Later Braves Years (1980–1983)
In 1982, when Niekro was 43 years old, he led the Braves with a 17–4 record. He won his fourth Gold Glove Award and played in his fourth All-Star game. On October 1, he helped the Braves win a crucial game against the San Diego Padres. He pitched a complete game shutout (meaning the other team scored no runs) and hit a two-run home run himself! The Braves won their division that year. After the 1983 season, the Braves released him.
New York Yankees (1984–1985)
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| Phil Niekro's number 35 was retired by the Atlanta Braves in 1984. |
In 1984, Niekro signed with the New York Yankees. He won 16 games and made his fifth and final All-Star appearance.
On October 6, 1985, Niekro achieved a huge milestone: his 300th career win! He did it with a shutout victory against the Toronto Blue Jays. At 46 years old, he became the oldest pitcher to throw a shutout in the major leagues. He didn't even throw his famous knuckleball until the very last batter of the game, Jeff Burroughs, whom he struck out to end the game. He finished the 1985 season with 16 wins.
Cleveland Indians (1986–1987)
After playing for the Yankees, Niekro pitched for the Cleveland Indians in 1986 and part of 1987.
Toronto Blue Jays (1987)
In August 1987, Niekro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched in three games for them before being released.
Return to the Atlanta Braves (1987)
On September 23, 1987, Niekro signed with his old team, the Atlanta Braves, for one last time. On September 27, he made his final start in baseball. He pitched three innings before leaving the game. Niekro retired at the end of that season.
At 48 years old, Niekro was one of the oldest players to play regularly in major league history. He also set a record by playing 24 seasons in the major leagues without ever playing in a World Series. He pitched over 5,400 innings in his career, which is the most by any pitcher since 1920.
The Knuckleball Pitch
Phil Niekro was a sidearm pitcher, meaning he threw the ball from a lower angle. His main pitch was the knuckleball, which was very hard for major league hitters to hit. The knuckleball moves very slowly and unpredictably. It "dances" through the air because the pitcher holds it with his fingertips (or knuckles) and throws it with very little spin. This makes it hard for hitters to guess where it will go.
Baseball legend Pete Rose once said about Niekro's knuckleball, "I work for three weeks to get my swing down pat and Phil messes it up in one night... Trying to hit that thing is a miserable way to make a living." Even catchers had trouble with it! Catcher Bob Uecker joked, "The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and pick it up."
Career Statistics
| W | L | PCT | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | SO | WP | HBP |
| 318 | 274 | .537 | 3.35 | 864 | 716 | 245 | 45 | 29 | 5404.0 | 5044 | 2012 | 2337 | 482 | 1809 | 3342 | 226 | 123 |
Later Life and Legacy
After his baseball career, Phil Niekro managed the Colorado Silver Bullets, an all-women's baseball team. He also taught his nephew, Lance Niekro, how to throw a knuckleball.
In 1997, Phil Niekro was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the only player chosen that year. He said he was "stunned" when he got the call.
Niekro was also involved in his community. He was on the board of directors for a toy company and advised them on baseball toys. A restaurant at the Gwinnett Braves' baseball field, Coolray Field, is named Niekro's. It even serves a "Knucksie Sandwich," which was said to be his favorite. Phil and his family also supported students at his old high school through an annual golf tournament called "The Niekro Classic."
Phil Niekro passed away in his sleep on December 26, 2020, at the age of 81. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He is remembered as one of baseball's most unique and successful pitchers.
See also
In Spanish: Phil Niekro para niños
- 3,000 strikeout club
- 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
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- List of Major League Baseball single-inning strikeout leaders
