Sun Sentienel
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 after a long fight with cancer, the team announced Sunday. He was 81.
The Braves said Niekro died Saturday night in his sleep. He lived in the Atlanta suburb of Flowery Branch, where a main thoroughfare bears his name. More
RIP, Knucksie.
Niekro was local to my childhood hometown. Everyone in that Valley knew who he was. RIP.
His brother Joe was a hell of a pitcher also.
One of the few “modern-era” pitchers who actually earned their money in innings pitched most seasons and starts. He wasn’t boring – when he was good he was very good and when he was bad he was very bad.
He was not a mystery pitcher. God bless his family in their loss.
Was, thinking about this this week 2020 has been a bad year for pitchers Seaver, whitey Ford, Gibson. All my fans. I am feeling old loved watching those guy when I was a Kid. Then I remembered late 60′ early 70’s was an era of great pitchers 50 years later they are all in their 70’s and 80’s. 🙁
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Phil and Joe Niekro also won more MLB baseball games then any other brother duos….539….Gaylord and Jim Perry won 529….Gaylord Perry and Phil Niekro both threw junk, but REALLY good junk….sometimes with a nail file or a chunk of sandpaper in their pocket….LOL
I am reminded of another earlier 1950’s and 1960’s knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm.