4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM 4/09/2021 at He was later transferred to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Florida, where he died the following day at age 61. I know that. For fans, Joe and Phil Niekro are two of the most successful pitchers ever to play the game and the winningest brother duo in baseball history. vs. SFG 3.0 IP, 6 H, 0 SO, 6 BB, 5 ER. More bio, uniform, draft, salary info. 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. Deadly Alabama shooting underscores grim link between guns, youths in America, High school football player among 4 killed in Alabama shooting. Learn more. Phil Niekro weighed 180 lbs (81 kg) when playing. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, April 17, 1:15AM. He struggled early in his career before picking up the knuckleball. Free shipping for many products! We present them here for purely educational purposes. [19], On September 23, 1987, Niekro signed again with his old team, the Atlanta Braves. His son believes his fathers talent mightve been overlooked. During his tenure, he got re-acquainted with the knuckleball that their father taught them. Niekro was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, and attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia. Soon after the final bell rang at the end of the day, J.J. received his first clue something might be amiss as his best friends family picked him up and took him home. For J.J., theyre Dad and Uncle Phil. His first civics lesson? Hall of Fame. Web Philip Henry Niekro, 1939 41 - 2020 1226 . in Blaine, OH Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Something a Milwaukee minor league catcher learned the hard way as both were coming up through the system. WebHe was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of former Major League first baseman Lance Niekro. Niekro would pitch four more seasons with three different teams, going 16-8 with the Yankees in 1984 and making his fifth All-Star team. The knuckleball became an essential part of his arsenal though never his sole pitch. Throughout the years, J.J. has received signs that his uncle and dad are with him. 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. Joe Torre: Looking back I probably should have pitched him in the next game after we got rained out. He was of Polish descent. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Philip Niekro (Joshua), John Niekro ( 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. It was touched up to look like flesh. [16] When Tschida told Niekro to empty his pockets, Niekro reached into his pockets, pulled out his hands and threw them in the air. He hit seven career home runs, his last in 1982 during an October victory over San Diego in which he also threw a three-hit shutout. [1] Niekro retired at the end of the season. [1] That season, Phil and Joe Niekro were NL co-leaders in wins. Not Hollywood, not L.A., not the country, At 19, he won a local school board seat. He pitched six innings of Game 2 and left with a 32 lead. And they may all have deserved a medal. A diving snag by should-be-Hall of Famer Dale Murphy in center. 4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM 4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM Braves hold ceremony for Aaron, Niekro and more. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. from the SABR BioProject, Relatives: Brother ofJoe Niekro; Uncle ofLance Niekro, More Phil Niekro Pages at Baseball Reference. Some poignant. Many of J.Js friends dads offered their assistance. And I remember what a proud moment it was for everybody. (Age 48-179d) Mr. Niekro was born in 1923 and raised his children by his wife, Nancy Farrand Niekro, whom he married 54 years later. 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! The legendary knuckleballer had been battling cancer in recent years. [8], Niekro led the league with a 1.87 ERA in 1967, earning an 119 record with 10 complete games and 9 saves. Niekro said he was filing his nails in the dugout, but American League president Bobby Brown did not believe him, and ordered the 10-game suspension. [3][4] He was of Polish descent. As J.J. Niekro has spent this week at the clubs Spring Training complex, he has regularly seen pictures and tributes to his uncle Phil, who passed away on Dec. 27, 2020. Phil Niekro Jr., his father, was in an intensive care unit in Wheeling, West Virginia. [15], After two seasons in New York, Niekro pitched for the Cleveland Indians in 1986. He said hes always been a bulldog on the mound, someone who attacks the zone and dares hitters to beat him. Those balls didn't have the normal nick. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He did not appear on Baseball America's top 500 draft prospects list. Im just trying to stop the knuckleball. He grew up in Lansing. I got the big glove out again and was full of angst, I can tell you that. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my condolences to Phils family, friends and the many fans he earned throughout his life in our National Pastime., Niekro was one of HOF's great ambassadors. Niekro was a teammate in Spahns last year with the Braves, 1964, and Glavines first, in 1987. That kept the ball from spinning, causing it to move in all sorts If I was on a Monday, an off day, in any other town in the country I wouldnt have that instant family connection, but Augustas always felt like home in an aspect, because I can go to her house, go swimming, have a barbecue on an off day and just feel right at home, so its really, really nice.. Bumgarner y Kershaw solamente se encuentran detrs de Tom Seaver/Steve Carlton (17), Steve Rogers/Carlton (17) y Don Sutton/Phil Niekro (15). All Rights Reserved. [29], The Gwinnett Braves' home, Coolray Field, has a restaurant, Niekro's, named after him. Yet when I got voted in (Hall of Fame) in 2014 he was on the (expansion era) committee that voted me in. Here are 22 essential L.A. spots for every tourist, Column: We cant afford another writers strike. J.J. Niekro lost his dad Joe unexpectedly to a brain aneurysm when he was just eight years old. Trying to hit that thing is a miserable way to make a living. In his two seasons with the Braves, he went a combined total of 56 while having a 3.76 ERA and 67 innings pitched. Its been a blast so far, J.J. Niekro said. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1967 to 1988 for seven different teams, primarily for the Houston Astros. Legend has it that the only loss Phil took during his high school career came during his freshman season, when he lost a 1-0 game against Warren Consolidated High Schools Bill Mazeroski. Philip Niekro (Joshua), John Niekro ( Jennifer), and Michael Niekro (Christy) are his three sons. Asked if hes comfortable talking about his fathers death and its impact on his life, J.J. doesnt hesitate. He knows about the franchise because hes been around it. 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 If I hit it, I hit it. I kind of feel the same way, too. Joe Torres still here, and he caught Niekro at the beginning. For more from J.J. Niekro on his season and his future, click below: Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Joe, best known for his time with the Houston Astros franchise, J.J. Niekro is the son of Joe Niekro and the nephew of Phil Niekro. How do I be better?, You wont find J.J. on top prospect lists. Im just going to swing as hard as I can. The world was always slow to come around to the son of an Ohio coal miner. A double play turned by Rafael Ramirez and Glenn Hubbard. [1], Between 1977 and 1979, Niekro was the league leader in complete games, innings pitched and batters faced. The brother Join our linker program. Joe and Phil Niekro hold the record for most wins by two brothers with 539 - 221 by Joe and 318 by Phil. They were the NLs only 20-game winners in 1979. After the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966, Niekro was still working in relief. The elder Niekro passed it on to his son, who learned to grip the Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The Braves said Niekro died Saturday night in his sleep. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. Im catching. Joseph Franklin Niekro (/nikro/ NEE-kroh; November 7, 1944 October 27, 2006) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. J.J. said his uncle and dad were the same person. 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. Phil Niekro, Sr., name now Americanized, was born in 1913. Niekro was a teammate in Spahns last year with the Braves, 1964, and Glavines first, in 1987. Phil Niekro, Sr., name now Americanized, was born in 1913. For fans, Joe and Phil Niekro are two of the most successful pitchers ever to play the game and the winningest brother duo in baseball history. Knucksie . [1], In 1980 and 1981, he went 1518 and 77 while leading the league in games started (38) and losses (18) in 1980. Niekro and his family supported the students of Bridgeport High School with the proceeds from the annual golf tournament "The Niekro Classic". Bruce Benedict caught him at the end. 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. [22], A sidearm pitcher, his pitching featured the knuckleball, which frustrated major league hitters. 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. [16] He started the 1987 season with the Indians, going 711 in 26 starts. At that age and at a pivotal point, he definitely couldve gone either way and probably nobody wouldve blamed him if he wouldve gone the wrong way, Lance said over the phone. He remembers seeing the seniors on his Florida Southern College team cry after their final game, some of those tears flowing because a few guys knew they hadnt given their all to the game. WebA lot of folks are talking about Phil Niekro these days. [18] After going 02 in three starts, the Blue Jays released Niekro.