All four of these pitchers had a baseball WHIP below 1.35, which shows how effective they were at reducing hits and limiting walks per inning. By 1967, Niekro was one of the top pitchers in the game, leading the NL that year with an ERA of 1.87. 11/19/2013 added GIFs for Tim Wakefield, Charlie Hough and Phil Niekro 1/2/2013 added RA Dickey knuckleball slomotion from FanGraphs. He took the mound for nearly a quarter of a century using the arm-saving pitch. "We are heartbroken on the passing of our treasured friend, Phil Niekro," the Braves said in a statement. Phil Niekro's playing days ended in 1987, but he would don a uniform one more time, as manager of the women's barnstorming Colorado Silver Bullets (1994-97). (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), Phil Niekro (left) greets members of Team Knucksie, including Alan Trammell (center), before the 2015 Hall of Fame Classic Game in Cooperstown. Join our linker program. First called up by Milwaukee in 1964, Niekro seesawed between the majors and minors, a pitcher struggling to find a niche and willing catchers. Toad Ramsey, a pitcher from 1885 to 1890, is credited in some later sources with being the first knuckleballer, apparently based primarily on accounts of how he gripped the ball; however, based on more contemporary descriptions of his pitch as an "immense drop ball", it may be that his pitch was a form of knuckle curve. [33], Varitek holds the postseason record with three passed balls in the 13th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 American League Championship Series while catching Wakefield.[34]. Phil Niekro achieved . Niekro threw a no-hitter against the Padres on Aug. 5, 1973, and won his 300th career game on the final day of the 1985 season by throwing just one knuckler on the last pitch of the game. Coaches are quick to banish the pitch after one bad outing. It feels comfortable to me. Well, three fingers gives you a much better chance of spinning the ball, and heres why: To eliminate the spin you need to apply even pressure from two fingertips. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The Niekro brothers would face each other nine times in their career, with Joes team winning five. Phil Niekro, Baseball Hall of Famer known for knuckleball, dies Even a ball thrown without rotation will "flutter", due to the "apparent wind" it feels as its trajectory changes throughout its flight path.[5]. Support provided by Market New York through I LOVE NY/ New York States Division of Tourism as a part of the Regional Economic Development Council awards. [1], On August 9, 1987, Niekro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Darryl Landrum and a player to be named later,[17] who was later revealed to be Don Gordon. Phil Niekro - New Georgia Encyclopedia He did not throw his trademark knuckleball throughout the game until the final hitter;[13] to former AL MVP Jeff Burroughs. Failed to subscribe, please contact admin. It hit me in the shinguard, bounced out to Clete Boyer at third base and he threw out the runner at first. His brother Joe Niekro even pays him . Only Cy Young, "Pud" Galvin and Walter Johnson pitched more innings than Niekro's 5,404. Nancy and I are deeply saddened by the news today of the passing of Phil Niekro. No pitcher since the dead-ball era spent more time on a major league mound. Philip Henry Niekro (/ n i k r o / NEE-kroh; April 1, 1939 - December 26, 2020), nicknamed "Knucksie", was an American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball, 20 of them with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves.Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleballer and rank 16th on MLB's all-time wins list.He won the National League Gold Glove Award five . "He was a constant presence over the years, in our clubhouse, our alumni activities and throughout Braves Country and we will forever be grateful for having him be such an important part of our organization. Hall Of Famer Phil Niekro, Pitcher Known For Knuckleball, Dies - Forbes December 27, 2020 I was not going to get myself so high. Baseball Hall Of Famer, Knuckleballer Phil Niekro Dies At 81 Phil Niekro showing his grip at the Baseball Hall of Fame. This change adds a deflecting force to the baseball, making it difficult for batters to hit but also difficult for pitchers to control and catchers to catch; umpires are challenged as well, as the ball's irregular motion through the air makes it harder to call balls and strikes. [2] It was his third and final 20-win season and his second and final 20-loss season. [1] Niekro's playoff loss came against Seaver. By the end of 1987, his final season, Niekro ranked 10th among major leaguers in number of seasons played. Most of his career was spent with mostly with the Atlanta Braves. Phil Niekro pitched a no . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). Phil Niekro's top moments - MLB.com The brothers were the sons of a coal miner[5] who had pitched semi-pro baseball and learned to throw a knuckleball from another coal miner. The Baseball 100: No. 83, Phil Niekro - The Athletic Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. "Knucksie was woven into the Braves fabric, first in Milwaukee and then in Atlanta. I got to meet a lot of important people. [9] He appeared in 37 games, finishing with a 1412 record and 15 complete games. Phil Niekro (19392020), legendary knuckleball pitcher. pic.twitter.com/bGjFBMJZrL, Full Obituary: Atlanta Journal Constitution. Tom Candiotti, a notable knuckler in his time and a teammate of Niekro's with the 1986 Cleveland Indians, said that talking to Knucksie was "like talking to Thomas Edison about light bulbs.". He was the master of the most uncontrollable pitch baseball has ever seen an offering so confusing that its name, the knuckleball, is actually a misnomer. "[26], After the end of his professional baseball career, Niekro managed the all-women Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team. 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. Knuckleball Grips, Part 2 - Knuckleball Nation Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that baffled big league hitters for more than two decades . The 24 best players in Atlanta Braves history | Yardbarker Get breaking news alerts& today's headlines inyour inbox. Phil Niekro dug his fingernails into the baseballs seams and carved out a legend eventually earning a plaque in Cooperstown. ATLANTA Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that baffled big league hitters for more than two decades, mostly with the Atlanta Braves, has died . Niekro was the king of the knuckleballers, ranking first in victories and strikeouts (3,342). It was Oct. 6, 1985, the final day of the season. As of 2021, four primary knuckleball pitchers are in the Baseball Hall of Fame today. The Braves lost the game against the San Francisco Giants 156. Phil Niekro showing his grip at the Baseball Hall of Fame. [18] After going 02 in three starts, the Blue Jays released Niekro. Phil Niekro - Wikipedia He was 81. He was the best knuckleball pitcher in baseball history. The Polish and Ohio Valley Origins of Hall of Famer Phil Niekro (1939 Photo is at @Dana_Pump @David_Pump Foundation dinner with @STLWizard #RickeyHenderson pic.twitter.com/RccUiq0rJO, PHIL NIEKRO YOU WERE ALWAYS GOOD MAN WHENEVER WE SEE YOU AT THE MATCHES IN THE ATLANTA. "Catching Niekro's knuckleball was great," said Uecker, now a Hall of Fame announcer. Rich in anecdotes and interviews, this book shares the unique stories of Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, Jim Bouton, Tom Candiotti, Tim Wakefield, R.A. Dickey, and many others. By all accounts, Niekro, like Murphy and legendary former Braves manager Bobby Cox Niekro's manager from 1978-81 and the general manager when the Braves brought Niekro back in 1987 are . [12] Niekro was given the nickname "Knucksie" during his career. [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. Knuckleball - Wikipedia Collectibles; Stamps; Books & Magazines; Pottery & Glass; Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. As a mentor, leader and friend, Phil brought out the best in all of us in Cooperstown. This change adds a deflecting force to the baseball, making it difficult for batters to hit but also difficult for pitchers to control and catchers to catch . Another drawback is that runners on base can usually advance more easily than if a conventional pitcher is on the mound. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro has died at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced on Sunday. The lower physical strain also fosters longer careers. Former catcher Bob Uecker, who caught for Phil Niekro, said, "The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and pick it up. Chris Haft. And todays two tips are all about reducing those variables. 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 after a long battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced Sunday. They clawed against each other as mound opponents, with Joe defeating his big brother 5-4 in their careers. [15][16], Perhaps as a result, knuckleball pitchers often view themselves as members of an exclusive club, with its own uniform number (49, first worn by Wilhelm) and leader (Phil Niekro, whom The New Yorker in 2004 called "the undisputed Grand Poobah" of the group after Wilhelm's death). In 24 seasons with the Braves, Yankees, Indians and Blue Jays, Niekro was 318-274 with a 3.35 ERA. But the knuckleball carried Niekro to more than 300 . His younger brother Joe was also a Major League pitcher, who won more than 200 games. The two things about Phil Niekro that I remember most - MLB Also featured are the stories of the best knuckleball catchers, from Bob Uecker and Doug Mirabelli to Rick Ferrell and Paul Richards. [32] For a catcher, a key disadvantage to using a first baseman's glove mitt is that they are not designed for easy extraction of the ball from the glove, making it harder to prevent baserunners from stealing. (Age 25-014d, Phil Niekro elected to Hall of Fame | Baseball Hall of Fame A team will sometimes employ a catcher solely for games started by a knuckleballer. But because the pitch is so difficult to throw, even on a good day, you want to reduce as many variables as possible. Niekro was remembered by the Hall as "master of the knuckleball and a great mentor, leader and friend." Niekro didn't make it to the big leagues until 1964, when he pitched 10 games in . [1] A pitcher who throws knuckleballs is known as a knuckleballer. Phil, Trying to hit him, said Yankees All-Star outfielder Bobby Murcer, is like trying to eat Jell-O with chopsticks.. Phil Niekro, the Hall of Fame pitcher who confounded batters with his fluttering knuckleballs . Since it developed during a period when the spitball was legal and commonly used, and was similarly surprising in its motion, the knuckleball was sometimes called the "dry spitter". (A common phrase for hitting a knuckleball is "if it's low, let it go; if it's high, let it fly"; meaning that a batter should attempt to hit a knuckleball only if it crosses the plate high in the strike zone due to lack of break.) BL-1598-92 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), Phil Niekro posing with his plaque during the 1997 Hall of Fame Weekend. [10], Coaches have also been seen as a barrier to succeeding with the knuckleball. He taught the boys the pitch in the backyard. I don't think of his 318 wins. Other names for the knuckleball have generally alluded to its motion and slower speed. Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, and Jesse Haines, three pitchers who primarily relied on the knuckleball, have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. December 30, 2020. September 27, 1987 Niekro remembered for mastery of the knuckleball Burroughs struck out, giving the Yankees an 8-0 victory and Niekro his milestone. Knuckleball paved Phil Niekro's path to Hall. I led the league in ERA [1.87], and he led the league in passed balls. From an interview with ESPN, Master of the knuckleball and a great mentor, leader and friend, Hall of Famer and @braves legend Phil Niekro passed away overnight at the age of 81. https://t.co/aj7uScYnuy pic.twitter.com/F1GmX9Yb1n. He found both in 1967, when he was united with Bob Uecker, a veteran reserve backstop with many quips and sage advice. During his twenty-one seasons with the Atlanta Braves, "Knucksie," as he was known, became one of the most popular players in franchise history. Phil Niekro, Baseball Hall of Fame knuckleballer, dies at 81 - USA TODAY Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Phil Niekro Dies: Hall Of Fame Knuckleball Pitcher Was 81 He played most of his many seasons with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves alongside brief stops with the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Cleveland. He was 81. Niekro and his brother Joe, another knuckleballer, hold the record for the most victories by a brother combination with 539. Our hearts go out to Nancy Niekro, the kids and grandkids. Phil Knucksie Niekro used his expertise with the knuckleball pitch to win 318 games during a Hall of Fame career. from the SABR BioProject, Relatives: Brother ofJoe Niekro; Uncle ofLance Niekro, More Phil Niekro Pages at Baseball Reference. Baseball Hall of Famer, knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81 Ralph Kiner compared Niekro's special pitch to "watching Mario Andretti park a car". The asymmetric drag that results tends to deflect the trajectory toward the side with the stitches. vs. SFG 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER, Last Game: Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that . "Very few pitchers make a living throwing the knuckleball," says Sain, "simply because they can't make it work. Knucksie was one of a kind. Baseball Hall of Famer, knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81 Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. [28], Niekro was a member of the board of directors for Kiz Toys, a toy company based out of Cumming, Georgia, and Niekro advised the company on the KizSport baseball line, reviewing product designs and development. KNUCKSIE HASN'T LOST HIS GRIP - Sports Illustrated We present them here for purely educational purposes. [19] At the same time, pitchers rarely focus on the knuckleball if they have reasonable skill with more standard pitches. On March 2, 2010, she trained with Tim Wakefield at the Boston Red Sox minor-league training facility. If staying in the majors could be owed to the knuckler, the same factor might also explain Niekro's initial difficulty in reaching the big leagues. Joe Niekro died in 2006 at age 61. However, since a typical major league starting rotation exceeds the length of a series against any one opponent, one way a manager can mitigate this disadvantage is to adjust his team's pitching rotation so as to eliminate (or at least minimize) games in which a knuckleballer would pitch against teams with a preponderance of fast baserunners. Yet the knuckler was all Niekro had, all he believed in. https://www.youtube.com/MLBClassicsFollow us elsewhere too:Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlb/ \u0026 https://www.instagram.com/mlbvault/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlbTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/share/user/656Visit our site for all baseball news, stats and scores! Hij doelde daarmee op top-knuckleballers in de Major League als Tim Wakefield en Phil Niekro . During the 1945 season, with talent depleted by call-ups to fight in World War II, the Washington Senators had a pitching rotation which included four knuckleball pitchers (Dutch Leonard, Johnny Niggeling, Mickey "Itsy Bitsy" Haefner, and Roger Wolff) who combined for 60 complete games and 60 wins, carrying the Senators to second place. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. When done correctly, the float serve is hard for opponents to predict where the ball will end up, thus rendering it hard to pass. 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. The Braves went to the playoffs, where Niekro was 01 with four earned runs allowed in an eight-inning appearance against the New York Mets. ", "Will R. A. Dickey's Angry Knuckleball Change The Game? But the knuckleball carried Niekro to more than 300 wins, earned him a . [2], Pitchers like Bouton have found success as knuckleballers after their ability to throw hard declined. December 27, 2020, 9:39 AM. Find out more. Niekro remains the last MLB pitcher to win and lose 20 games in the same season, finishing 21-20 with the Braves in 1979. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from laminar to turbulent flow. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. $2.49 . 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. Other prominent knuckleball pitchers have included Joe Niekro (Phil's brother), Charlie Hough, Dave Jolly, Ben Flowers, Wilbur Wood, Barney Schultz, Tom Candiotti, Bob Purkey, Steve Sparks, Eddie Rommel, Tim Wakefield, Steven Wright, and Dickey. In addition, Phil played American Legion Baseball. Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro dies at 81 - MLB | NBC Sports Talk about a weird assist: 253 on a strikeout. "[10], In 1991, Hall of Fame catcher Rick Ferrell was quoted as saying, "I think the knuckleball is fading out." 5.0. Signed in 1958, he didn't break through for good for nearly a decade. Phil Niekro Phil is probably the best known knuckleball pitcher. [18], When originally developed, the knuckleball was used by a number of pitchers as simply one pitch in their repertoire, usually as part of changing speeds from their fastball. He would teach his sons, Phil Jr. and Joe, the pitch when they were youngsters. in Blaine, OH Their win total still stands as a major league record for siblings, as they surpassed another brother combination featuring a Hall of Famer: Gaylord and Jim Perry (529 wins combined). Regardless of how the ball is gripped, the purpose of the knuckleball is to have the least possible amount of rotational spin. Phil Niekro, the only knuckleball pitcher to win 300 Major League Baseball games, died in his sleep Saturday night after a long battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced. They all sit behind home plate.". Trying to hit that thing is a miserable way to make a living. Dedicated daily to memorializing notable personalities. Phil Niekro was born in Blaine, OH. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 5/08 - initial page AKA This grip is also called knuckler, dancer, or floater. He spent six long years in the minor leagues, and once he got to the majors his fluttering knuckleball never lit up the radar gun. [20], As of 2019[update], Steven Wright of the Boston Red Sox was considered to be the last active knuckleballer in the MLB; he has since been released from the team. In 1984, Niekro signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees. All rights reserved. When I think of Phil Niekro, two things come to mind. Though Phil and Joe Niekro did twice team together, with the 1973-74 Braves and the 1985 Yankees, the two self-declared best friends were more often friendly rivals. Baseball Hall of Famer, knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81 Baseball Hall of Famer, Knuckleballer Phil Niekro Dies at 81 "But even more than his signature pitch and trademark durability, Phil will be remembered as one of our game's most genial people. Thats a long phrase, but it is an important one to learn, A solid knuckleball grip with no fatal flaws. 4.9. He finished the 1985 season with a 1612 record, the final time he won 15 or more games in a single season. Through Sunday he was 7-2, with an American League-leading ERA of 1.20. [3] In 1917, Druery taught the pitch to Eddie Rommel who became successful with it for the Philadelphia Athletics.[4]. Two later pitchers, Jesse Haines and Freddie Fitzsimmons, were sometimes characterized as knuckleball pitchers even by their contemporaries, but in their cases it again refers to a harder-thrown, curving pitch that would probably not be called a knuckleball today. He pitched in the major leagues from 1964 to 1987. Phil Niekro (1939-2020), legendary knuckleball pitcher 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., Born April 1, 1939 in Blaine, Ohio, Philip Henry Niekro was taught the knuckler by his father. [16] He started the 1987 season with the Indians, going 711 in 26 starts. The fingertip grip is more commonly used today by knuckleball pitchers, like retired Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, who had a knuckleball with a lot of movement. If you have any question, please contact me at knuckleballnation@gmail.com, Monday Friday: 10am 9pmSaturday: 10am 4pm, Copyright OceanWP Knuckleball Nation. and he is still predominantly recognized as the premier knuckleball pitcher in the game's history. It is for this reason that the knuckleball is widely regarded as unreliable, and knuckleball pitchers are prone to extended slumps, such as when Tim Wakefield was released from the Pirates in a mid-career slump during spring training in 1995. [50], This article is about the baseball pitch. (Voted by BBWAA on 380/473 ballots) Seams are raised. He finally went to the knuckler for the game's final batter, striking out former teammate Jeff Burroughs on three pitches to cap the 8-0 victory and become the 18 th 300-game winner in history. This shooting technique is frequently used by players for long-range shots and free kicks. "[24] Catcher Bob Uecker was also frustrated by the pitch at times, saying, "Niekro struck out a hitter once and I never touched the ball. I don't think of his Hall of Fame plaque. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. The fingers that stabilize the ball shouldnt be on any seams.