After his pitching career, Niekro was the manager and general manager of the Colorado Silver Bullets, a barnstorming womens baseball team that played against mens He was later transferred to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Florida, where he died the following day at age 61. It was Uecker who made catching Niekro an important part of his famed self-roast routine, coining the line that best way to catch his knuckleball was to wait until it stopped rolling and just pick it up. 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. If I hit it, I hit it. [21], At the age of 48, Niekro was the oldest player in major league history to play regularly until Julio Franco played at age 49 in 2007. He went 1111 with a 4.32 ERA. 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. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Lot of 3 1994 SEALED Coors Baseball Cards Phil Niekro Vivian Holm at the best online prices at eBay! On June 9, he became the all-time winningest pitcher in Astros history, breaking a tie with Larry Dierker (137) by weaving a complete game shut out of the San Francisco Giants at the Astrodome while allowing just two hits. Joe Torre: He was upset with me, I know. Niekro is related to a pair of former Braves pitchers: he's the son of Joe and the nephew of Phil. How do I be better?, You wont find J.J. on top prospect lists. Memorial Park South Cemetery, Flowery Branch, GA, High School: Bridgeport HS (Bridgeport, OH), Debut: WebHere are all the sons-of-Hall-of-Famers (SoHoFs) in MLB history to date. Nothing was wrong with him., I always try to look at things from a positive aspect, Niekro said. His uncle Phil, J.J. said, just loved baseball and could entertain anyone. J.J. Niekros story is one of a kid forced to grow up and be the man of the house, of a fatherless child whose male role models became his uncle, brother and best friends dads. The man was practically an historic landmark. Ralph Kiner compared Niekro's special pitch to "watching Mario Andretti park a car". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [10], In 1970, he went 1218 with a 4.27 ERA in what turned out to be a down year. He went 11 with a 10.03 ERA in 11.2 innings. Both his parents died before he turned five. In 1992, Joe Niekro was inducted in the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. We've expanded our play-by-play data for the 1914, 1921, 1922, and 1923 seasons. If youre shopping for top products on the market, here are the best 14 products the BestReviews Testing Lab loved in March. [16] He started the 1987 season with the Indians, going 711 in 26 starts. The Atlanta Braves officially announced the signing of 19 of their 20 draft picks and two undrafted free agents on Friday. So, it really helped me be thankful for an opportunity like this.. He was a five-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner who finished within the top six in National League Cy Young Award balloting five times from '69-82. He always represented his sport extraordinarily well, and he will be deeply missed. Im just going to swing as hard as I can. [1], From 1975 to 1976, he went 1515 and 1711 and made a second All-Star appearance in 1975. When he arrived at Jesuit High School in Tampa, he realized the hospital where his father died sat beyond the baseball fields outfield fence, so he called his dad his angel in the outfield. At the Braves spring training complex player dorms which feature names and numbers of former players outside the rooms he is staying in the No. 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. He knows about the franchise because hes been around it. In the beginning, Niekro broke in as a reliever in Milwaukee in 1965. Baseball people often didnt know exactly what to make of his signature pitch, and what they were uncertain of, they mistrusted. The employee saw the name on the credit card: Niekro.. Phil, conversely, spent 21 seasons with the Braves as part of a Hall of Fame career. What made Niekros knuckler unique was that he threw it harder than most and still maintained the lack of spin that made it so capricious. And it continued to perplex catchers as well as hitters from that point forward. These are their memories of their pitcher who died the day after Christmas at the age of 81. [18] After going 02 in three starts, the Blue Jays released Niekro. He threw 122 innings in the next season and just 47 in the following. [10] Niekro went 912 with a 3.72 ERA in 213 innings before being traded. [2] It was his third and final 20-win season and his second and final 20-loss season. Steve Hummer writes sports features and columns for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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. Free shipping for many products! (We could be watching grass grow, and he could find a way to make you laugh, J.J. said). The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Did not play in major or minor leagues (Military Service), Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses, Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Justin Toscano is the Braves beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Philip Niekro (Joshua), John Niekro ( Jennifer), and Michael Niekro (Christy) are his three sons. Theres a saying that you think youre gripping a baseball your entire life, J.J. said, but really baseball is gripping you.. He liked to be a regular guy every once in a while.. Find out more. In 1980, Houston had a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, then lost their last three games of the regular season in Los Angeles, to force a one-game playoff. The Niekros hold the record for the most victories by a brother combination with 539. [1], Between 1977 and 1979, Niekro was the league leader in complete games, innings pitched and batters faced. Lance Niekro, a former big leaguer and J.J.s half-brother, painted a picture of the paths J.J. could have taken following his fathers death. You dont want his last game to be missing half of his pitches. He took a tragic situation and turned it into, All right, this is my time to grow up earlier, Lance said. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, April 17, 1:15AM. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Deadly Alabama shooting underscores grim link between guns, youths in America, High school football player among 4 killed in Alabama shooting. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of former Major League first baseman Lance Niekro. Bats: Right Throws: Right. [8], Niekro led the league with a 1.87 ERA in 1967, earning an 119 record with 10 complete games and 9 saves. He was 81. [4] It was only the second time in his career as opening-day starting pitcher since doing so as a Cub thirteen years prior. Niekro is related to a pair of former Braves pitchers: he's the son of Joe and the nephew of Phil. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. On October 6, 1985, Niekro gained entry into the 300 win club with a shutout win over the Toronto Blue Jays. His total of 5,404+13 innings pitched is the most by any pitcher in the post-1920 live-ball era. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. This record stood for nearly 25 years before Jamie Moyer (47 years, 170 days) bested the feat in May 2010. 1979 also saw the Niekro brothers tie for the wins leader in Major League Baseball, marking this the only year that two brothers shared this statistic. Knucksie . He pitched six innings of Game 2 and left with a 32 lead. He was traded by the Padres on December 4 to the Detroit Tigers for Dave Campbell and Pat Dobson. Before the 1968 season, sportswriter Fred Down described the Braves' pitching staff as "chaotic" and reported that team leadership was planning to use Niekro as both a starter and a reliever in the coming season. Position: Pitcher. When Niekro passed away at the age of 81 on Saturday, the baseball world lost not only one of its greatest pitchers, but also one of its greatest ambassadors. While he was briefly promoted to the Class AAA Louisville Colonels in 1960, he spent the rest of that season pitching for the Jacksonville Braves. J.J. felt like he also was saying goodbye to his dad, the moment he never got 14 years earlier. It was an honor to play the game that long, said Niekro, who He had 152 strikeouts and 101 walks (both higher from the year before). The Houston Astros purchased Niekro's contract from the Braves for $35,000 in 1975. He displayed a bit more effectiveness the following year. For J.J., theyre Dad and Uncle Phil. Phil's 121 career victories after the age of 40 is a major league record. For J.J., theyre Dad Niekro is survived by his wife, Nancy, sons Philip, John and Michael, and two grandchildren, Chase and Emma. When I go to bed, one thing I really pride myself on is at the end of the day, when I lay my head down on the pillow, if I give everything I can to get better that day and Im not good enough, so be it, he said. Niekro was born in Blaine, Ohio, and grew up in Lansing, Ohio, the son of Henrietta (Klinkoski) and Philip Niekro. 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. The legendary knuckleballer had Next were the Toronto Blue Jays with 71, the New York Mets and the Cincinnati Reds with 61 each, and the Seattle Mariners with 55. All of them fond. My son was excited to get this baseball card! Evans Chebet and Hellen Obiri give Kenya a Boston Marathon sweep, USWNT standout Julie Ertz joins Angel City FC on a one-year contract. J.J. signed with the Braves as a free agent and posted a 2.76 ERA over 16 innings in rookie ball. Some are no longer with us, like the fellow who caught Niekros no-hitter in 1973 (Paul Casanova). If anyone should tell the story of Phil Niekro and the pitch that made him a Braves folk hero, its rightly those former teammates on the receiving end of his dancing knuckleball. [1], In 1974, Niekro led the league in several pitching categories, including wins (20), complete games (18), and innings pitched (302.1). He was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Mark Salas on June 7, 1987. On May 29, 1976, Niekro hit the only big league, On July 2, 1970, while with the Tigers, Niekro had a. Three years later, at the age of 48, Niekro rejoined Atlanta to make one last start in the team's home finale. [9] On July 2, he won his 200th career game, throwing a complete game against the San Diego Padres while throwing seven innings and allowing two runs on six hits. In all, a record 1,263 amateur free agents were chosen. Check out her best picks before buying anything. [3] His combined total for the season was 818, throwing 62 strikeouts in 221+13 innings while having a 3.70 ERA. Its really a dream come true, Niekro said. Niekro and his family supported the students of Bridgeport High School with the proceeds from the annual golf tournament "The Niekro Classic". Phil Niekro made his big league debut for the Braves on April 15, 1964. 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. Web Philip Henry Niekro, 1939 41 - 2020 1226 . Free shipping for many products! Data Provided By His first civics lesson? One of those undrafted free agents, right-hander J.J. Niekro, happens to share a familial link with one of the biggest names in franchise history. It was an honor to play the game that long, said Niekro, who signed for a $600 bonus. He's committed to play for the University of Florida. Read More FILE In this March 29, 2007, file photo, Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro holds a knuckleball at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. Its just being the best man you can possibly be on the baseball field, school, wherever it may be.. His mom or dad almost always got him. Didnt make it as a starter until the following season. Joe Torre: Looking back I probably should have pitched him in the next game after we got rained out. Phil Niekro weighed 180 lbs (81 kg) when playing. More bio, uniform, draft, salary info. After minimal schooling, he also went to work in the mines, He also made the National League All-Star team in 1979, a season in which he led the league with his 21 wins and five shutouts, won the TSN Pitcher of the Year Award, and ended second in voting for the Cy Young Award behind Bruce Sutter. [13], While pitching for the Twins earlier in the 1987 season, Niekro was caught ball scuffing. They had gouges the size of a half-dollar. 5x Gold Glove. Thats kind of weird, he thought. His daughter, Natalie, I was in the middle of it. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Bross, a 6-foot 9-inch, right-handed pitcher whose fastball has been clocked at more than 90 miles per hour, was selected by the Mets in the 13th round. He grew up in Lansing. He allowed one hit while striking out one and allowing no runs. Niekro was inducted into Baseballs Hall of Fame in 1997. He went .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}4+13 innings while giving up five runs on six hits in a 94 loss. J.J. said his uncle and dad were the same person. Phil Niekros Son John Picked by Braves in Baseball Draft L.A. Times Archives June 12, 1987 12 AM PT Associated Press NEW YORK John Niekro, a right Niekros playing journey ended when at 48, he was brought back by the Braves, having been released by Cleveland, for a one-game encore Sept. 27, 1987. Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleballer and rank 16th on MLB's all-time wins list. Phil Niekro Sr. played baseball on the sandlots of the coalfields, in the Mine Workers League. Niekro tallied far more wins (121) and innings (1,977) after turning 40 than any pitcher in baseball history. Vic Correll: I went on to the Reds after I left the Braves (1978). Niekro was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the seventh round of the 1966 amateur draft, but he did not sign with the club. Do you have a blog? Age discrimination, The Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf: 110 essential Los Angeles books, Hunter Renfroes three-run blast powers Angels to rain-disrupted win over Red Sox, Jalen Hurts agrees to five-year, $255-million extension with Eagles. I know that. 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. And no one had more fun with it than Bob Uecker. And when he wanted the extra movement, he would take off the glove and rub the baseball as if he was trying to improve the grip. Joe, best known for his time with the Houston Astros franchise, pitched in parts of two seasons with Atlanta back in the '70s. Is Jalen Carter the real deal or a potential NFL bust? us, Died: 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. Two sons, Philip Henry Jr. and Joseph Franklin, would follow. 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