Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1979 Topps Phil Niekro HOF Atlanta Braves 14th Year #595 Vintage VG-EX at the best online prices at eBay! 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! [13], While pitching for the Twins earlier in the 1987 season, Niekro was caught ball scuffing. The friends family took J.J. to the hospital, where he saw his dad, Joe, on life support. If I dont, I dont.. Phil Niekro was a legendary Hall of Fame pitcher who was known for his knuckleball pitch who mostly played for the Braves. He throws a four-seam fastball, two types of sliders he recently developed a sweeping slider and a change-up. in Blaine, OH 2023 question: Does a finally healthy Matthew Stafford equal a healthy Rams offense? Hall-of-Famer Phil Niekro, the greatest pitcher of the first quarter-century of Atlanta Braves baseball, died late Saturday at age 81. He double-checked doors to make sure they were locked at night. Niekro allowed six hits in a 71 Houston victory that propelled the Astros to their first postseason. After spending the first 20 seasons of his career with the Braves, Niekro signed a two-year deal with the Yankees. [7] He went 15-14 that year, having a 3.48 ERA while starting a league high 38 games and pitching 263.2 innings. Baseball people often didnt know exactly what to make of his signature pitch, and what they were uncertain of, they mistrusted. Hall of Fame. 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. On May 29, 1976, Niekro hit the only big league, On July 2, 1970, while with the Tigers, Niekro had a. Common to all those who caught Niekro and knew him best as a ballplayer was just what a fine teammate and decent fellow he was. How about this mind-blowing three-season stretch, between 1977-79, at the end of which Niekro was 40 years old, when he averaged 335 innings pitched and totaled 65 complete games? I kind of feel the same way, too. And Cesar Geronimo got a hit. I've been stunned before. John Niekro played at Shiloh High School in Liburn, Ga. First-round selections in baseballs amateur draft were announced last week, and other draftees were announced Thursday by the commissioners office. He hit me in the bare hand and split my finger. Youre never guaranteed your next pitch in a baseball game, youre never guaranteed anything in life. His daughter, Natalie, He attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, and was a boyhood friend of Basketball Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek. (Voted by BBWAA on 380/473 ballots) Just realized that life is a lot bigger than baseball or just school, J.J. said. My father was a coal miner in Eastern Ohio, Niekro explained. I know that. Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleballer and rank 16th on MLB's all-time wins list. And regrets it still. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. I realized youre never guaranteed tomorrow. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He was of Polish descent. [3][4] He was of Polish descent. 4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM 4/09/2021 at 8:08 PM Braves hold ceremony for Aaron, Niekro and more. WebHe was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of former Major League first baseman Lance Niekro. He finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting in both 1978 and 1979, and made his third All-Star appearance in 1978, as well as winning three consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1978 to 1980. 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, the Braves said in a statement. us, Died: He appeared in Game 2 of the 1981 National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching eight scoreless innings, although Joe Sambito ended up being the winning pitcher for the Astros as they won in the 11th inning, though the Dodgers would win the series in five games. I got the big glove out again and was full of angst, I can tell you that. Niekro was born in Blaine, Ohio, and grew up in Lansing, Ohio, the son of Henrietta (Klinkoski) and Philip Niekro. He went seven innings but allowed four runs on seven hits in a 42 loss to the Montreal Expos. One friends dad showed J.J. how to play golf which was fitting because Joe loved golf and another taught him how to pump up a tire. He exemplified kindness and generosity, something his son picked up. He attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, and was a boyhood friend of Basketball Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek. The world was always slow to come around to the son of an Ohio coal miner. On October 26, 2006, Niekro suffered a brain aneurysm rupture and was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City, Florida. 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. "[15] Niekro had put his left hand in that pocket, trying to work the sandpaper off his palm.[15]. Web Philip Henry Niekro, 1939 41 - 2020 1226 . 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. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Its just being the best man you can possibly be on the baseball field, school, wherever it may be.. In his two seasons with the Braves, he went a combined total of 56 while having a 3.76 ERA and 67 innings pitched. Evans Chebet and Hellen Obiri give Kenya a Boston Marathon sweep, USWNT standout Julie Ertz joins Angel City FC on a one-year contract. The elder Niekro passed it on to his son, who learned to grip the ball with his fingernails on the seams. The baseball field where he played at Bridgeport High School's Perkins Field athletic complex was renamed "The Niekro Diamond" in 2008 after Phil and his brother, fellow major league pitcher Joe Niekro. NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WJBF) You wake up, youre a professional baseball player, youre a Brave, the team you wanted to be with your entire life, J.J. Niekro, son of longtime Major League pitcher Joe Niekro and nephew of Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, said during a break while working out before Tuesday nights Augusta GreenJackets game. 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. You either caught em or you didnt.. Lit up the room whenever they went in there, both known as Knucksie, had the stupidest jokes and crazy jokes to make everyone laugh, he said. [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. But upon breaking through as a starter, Niekro wanted to practically build a home and plant a garden on the mound. Although Phil Niekro Sr. did not live to see his son's election to the Hall, he did live more than long enough to know that his son won that 300th game. Definitely a Niekro tribute for all of them.. His father, a coal miner, taught him how to throw [] (WTRF) Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro died Saturday at age 81 in his sleep after a long battle with cancer. They never lacked mettle. They had gouges the size of a half-dollar. Joe Niekro's son JJ was signed by the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted free agent after the, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 4 April 2023, at 18:39. He surrendered a league-leading 40 home runs that year, a feat he would not repeat until 1979. The Kansas City Royals made the most selections, 74 in the 75 rounds. On the baseball field, Joe Niekro was an underdog. Hall of Fame. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. He was later transferred to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Florida, where he died the following day at age 61. [6] He went 99 in 24 games pitched with a 2.82 ERA in 166 innings while striking out 77 batters and walking 47. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nancy, sons Philip, John and Michael and his two grandchildren Chase and Emma.. Although Phil Niekro Sr. did not live to see his son's election to the Hall, he did live more than long enough to know that his son won that 300th game. All rights reserved. Ive done a lot of hard work since they passed away, so its really paying off to be here.. We've expanded our play-by-play data for the 1914, 1921, 1922, and 1923 seasons. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, April 17, 1:15AM. He liked to be a regular guy every once in a while.. More bio, uniform, draft, salary info. In 1979, the 40-year-old Niekro led the league in both wins (21) and losses (20). They grabbed one they liked, headed to the register and pulled out a credit card. Not only is he playing every season in their honor, but hes trying to live his life as they wouldve lived theirs. Phil Niekro played for 5 teams; the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays. Joe never became angry, but instead used mistakes as teaching moments, whether on the field or in life. Now the Braves have another Niekro. 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. J.J. Niekro lost his dad Joe unexpectedly to a brain aneurysm when he was just eight years old. J.J., 23 years old, pitched in parts of five seasons at Florida Southern, a college located in Lakeland, Florida. Niekro is related to a pair of former Braves pitchers: he's the son of Joe and the nephew of Phil. Bats: Right Throws: Right. He's committed to play for the University of Florida. Born: The employee saw the name on the credit card: Niekro.. He went 11 with a 10.03 ERA in 11.2 innings. Is Jalen Carter the real deal or a potential NFL bust? 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. Data Provided By However, the Cardinals scored two late runs after Niekro left the game and would eventually sweep the series. The fluttering knuckler danced throughout the summers in the Atlanta heat, and by his late 30s Niekro became an absolute workhorse -- averaging 336 innings a season from '77-79 and becoming the last pitcher to post back-to-back seasons of at least 300 innings. "[25] Uecker also said humorously of the pitch, "The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and pick it up. Check out her best picks before buying anything. April 15, 1964 If I hadnt have lost my dad I wouldnt be the type of guy I was today. WebA lot of folks are talking about Phil Niekro these days. J.J. and his friend played video games at the friends house, the final moments before he would experience a cruel tragedy. [19], On September 23, 1987, Niekro signed again with his old team, the Atlanta Braves. 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. But even more than his signature pitch and trademark durability, Phil will be remembered as one of our games most genial people. Joe soon died of a brain aneurysm, leaving behind a family that included his brother, the now-late Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. He was 81. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. (It should be noted that neither Nichols nor Spahn pitched for the Braves after their move to Atlanta, making Niekro the leader under that geographical distinction.). It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. He gave Joe a day off., Bruce Benedict: I remember opposing hitters coming up to me and saying you know what, we only face him three or four times a year, Im not going to mess my swing up trying to hit this thing. By the early 1940s, the Niekro family had moved to nearby Lansing, Ohio, about seven miles west of Wheeling, West Virginia. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. He was right up there with guys like Ernie Banks., Bruce Benedict: Even to the last speaking engagement we did together, Phil would stand up there, and given his generosity and the type of person he was, he would say, I am not in the Hall of Fame without him, and point to me. Not Hollywood, not L.A., not the country, At 19, he won a local school board seat. All of them fond. [1], From 1975 to 1976, he went 1515 and 1711 and made a second All-Star appearance in 1975. Niekro is related to a pair of former Braves pitchers: he's the son of Joe and the nephew of Phil. A couple of days before Phil Niekro died, J.J. held his uncles hand and looked into his eyes. Theres a saying that you think youre gripping a baseball your entire life, J.J. said, but really baseball is gripping you.. 1 pick, The Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce launches, Victims in Ala. birthday party shooting IDd, Shooting at Burke County block party injures 4, Aggravated Assault suspect sought after incident, Local nonprofits struggle with rising costs, Woman missing for 2 days found alive in underwater, South Carolina State Trooper shot in Bamberg County, Ana speaks with United Health Care and how they are, Parents falsely accused of child abuse tell their, Local golf cart business customizes golf carts with, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Niekro was a teammate in Spahns last year with the Braves, 1964, and Glavines first, in 1987. He covers a wide range of sports and topics. [16] Niekro revealed a nail file in his pocket. His son believes his fathers talent mightve been Some poignant. Joseph Franklin Niekro was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. [10], In 1970, he went 1218 with a 4.27 ERA in what turned out to be a down year. The one who always made the world laugh when talking about his adventures with the knuckleball. As a mentor, leader and friend, Phil brought out the best in all of us in Cooperstown. 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. Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1997. Joe Torre: He was upset with me, I know. I try to keep the underdog mentality, the guy on the bottom of the totem pole, J.J. said. Do you have a sports website? [13] In his final start, he pitched three innings against the Boston Red Sox on April 29, 1988, allowing five runs on six hits in three innings. Terry Bross, who plays center for the St. Johns University basketball team, signed Thursday with the New York Mets but will stay in school for his senior year of basketball. The former pitcher also called Snitker in October to wish him luck as the Braves prepared to play in the NL Championship Series. [1] Niekro's playoff loss came against Seaver. He was 81. The Houston Astros purchased Niekro's contract from the Braves for $35,000 in 1975. Tatis ends productive rehab stint, will return Thurs. Now they are all joined again, father and sons, resuming that game of catch. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He takes a no-hitter into the ninth. [27], Niekro was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997, his fifth year of eligibility. Niekro used a fastball and a slider early in his career, with mixed results. In addition, Phil played American Legion Baseball. Niekro was the Opening Day starter for the Astros to start the 1981 season. He said, yes, he did. 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Obiri give Kenya a Boston Marathon sweep, USWNT standout Julie Ertz joins Angel City FC on a one-year.... Hand and looked into his eyes game of catch anything in life angry but! A 42 loss to the hall of Fame in 1997, his fifth year eligibility., two types of sliders he recently developed a sweeping slider and a slider early in his two seasons the! 1970, he went 11 with a 4.27 ERA in what turned out be... J.J. said ceremony for Aaron, Niekro was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro played for 5 teams the! By However, the Atlanta Braves, 1964 If I hadnt have lost dad! Who always made the world laugh when talking about his adventures with the..