Phil Niekro, a pitcher who used his knuckleball to deceive generations of hitters and also to create a career in the Hall of Fame, died on Saturday night in his sleep after a long battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced on Sunday. He was 81 years old.
Niekro, introduced to the Hall of Fame in 1997, was one of baseball’s most prolific and durable pitchers, using his “butterfly” field to win 318 games in a career that spanned 24 seasons, 20 of those years with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves .
“We are heartbroken by the death of our dear friend, Phil Niekro,” said Braves in a prepared statement. “Knucksie was woven into the Braves fabric, first in Milwaukee and then in Atlanta. Phil confused the batters on the field and later was always the first to join our community activities. It was during these community and fan activities that he joined communicated with fans as if they were long lost friends.
“He has been a constant presence over the years, in our club, our alumni activities and across Braves Country and we will be forever grateful that he is such an important part of our organization.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nancy, sons Philip, John and Michael and their two grandchildren Chase and Emma.”
As with many knuckleball pitchers, age was not a barrier for Niekro. He racked up 121 wins after turning 40 – a major league record – and shot up to 48. In late 1987, his last season, Niekro ranked tenth among the top champions in number of seasons played. Only Cy Young, “Pud” Galvin and Walter Johnson released more entries than Niekro’s 5,404. No pitcher since the dead ball era spent more time in a major league heap.
“Phil Niekro was one of the most distinguished and memorable pitchers of his generation,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a prepared statement. “In the past century, no pitcher has played more than 5,404 Phil’s entries. His knuckleball has led him to five All-Star teams, three seasons of 20 wins for the Atlanta Braves, the 300-win club and, finally, to Cooperstown.
“But, even more than his signature pitch and trademark durability, Phil will be remembered as one of the most brilliant people in our game. He has always represented his sport extraordinarily well and will be sorely missed. On behalf of the Major League Baseball, I I extend my condolences to Phil’s family, friends and many fans that he won over his life in our National Pastime. “
The symbol of the success and longevity of Niekro’s career was the knuckleball, that whimsical float that confuses not only hitters and catchers, but also pitchers who never really know how the spin without pitch is going to dance towards the plate.
Niekro was the king of the knuckleballers, taking first place in victories and eliminations (3,342). Tom Candiotti, a noted knuckler of his day and a former Niekro teammate with the Cleveland Indians of 1986, said that talking to “Knucksie” was “like talking to Thomas Edison about light bulbs”.
If staying in the leagues may be due to the knuckler, the same can be said of Niekro’s initial difficulty in reaching the big leagues. Perplexed catchers and managers wary of passing balls and wild shooting were the reasons often cited for Niekro’s long stay in the Braves secondary league system. Signed in 1958, it has not appeared forever for almost a decade. However, the knuckler was everything Niekro had, everything he believed in.
“I never knew how to throw a fast ball, I never learned how to throw a curved ball, a slider, split finger, whatever they are casting today,” he said. “I was a one-shot pitcher.”
First summoned by Milwaukee in 1964, Niekro oscillated between the biggest and the smallest, a pitcher struggling to find a niche and willing catchers. He met the two in 1967, when he teamed up with Bob Uecker, a veteran reserve with lots of jokes and wise advice.
“Ueck told me that if I were ever a winner to throw the knuckleball at all times and he would try to catch it,” said Niekro. “I led the league at ERA [1.87] and he led the league in past balls. “
Uecker acknowledged that he chased a lot.
“Taking Niekro’s knuckleball was great,” said Uecker, now a Hall of Fame announcer. “I met a lot of important people. They all sit behind the main board.”
In 1969, Niekro was an All-star. His 23 wins that season earned him second place in the National League’s Cy Young Award vote. He would continue for two more decades to live in the hitter’s head. “There aren’t many hitters who like to face knuckleball pitchers,” he said. “They may not be intimidated by them, but they are definitely thinking about them before they go to the box.”
“Trying to hit Phil Niekro is like trying to eat jelly with chopsticks,” said former Yankees All-Star player Bobby Murcer.
“It just destroys your time with that knuckleball,” said Hall of Fame Ernie Banks. “He’s been flying over there, diving and jumping like crazy and you just can’t hit him.”
“Actually, he laughs at you as he passes by,” said former field player Rick Monday.
Niekro, born in Blaine, Ohio, on April 1, 1939; he was the proud descendant of a kind of family dynasty. Phil Niekro Sr., a part-time worker and semi-professional pitcher, dominated the knuckler after an arm injury threatened to end his game days. He would teach his children, Phil Jr. and Joe, the field when they were little. Phil and Joe, known as “Knucksie” and “Little Knucksie”, respectively, learned well, launching a total of 46 major league seasons, winning six spots in the All-Star Game and, perhaps in their most proud achievement, combined for 539 wins.
The winning total still stands as a major league record for siblings, as they overtook another sibling combination with a Hall of Fame: Gaylord and Jim Perry (529 combined wins).
Although Phil and Joe Niekro have teamed up, with the 1973-74 Braves and the 1985 Yankees, the two declared best friends were most often friendly rivals. In 1979, Phil, pitching for Braves, and Joe for Astros, drew with the most wins in the National League, with 21 each. They clung like mountainous opponents, with Joe defeating his older brother 5-4 in their careers. This advantage was made possible by a winning home run from the game Phil gave Joe, the only home run Joe has hit in his 22-year career.
When Phil Niekro won his 300th game, Joe was at his side and was arguably the most unique victory of his older brother’s career. It was October 6, 1985, the last day of the season. The Yankees fell short of the postseason the day before, with a loss in Toronto. In the end, coach Billy Martin passed the duties of pitch coach to Joe Niekro and the ball to Phil Niekro. Phil, trying for the fifth time to win No. 300, entered the end of the ninth after pushing the Jays off in curved balls, sliding shots, fast balls and screw balls – anything but a knuckleball.
He would later say that he wanted to prove he was a pitcher, not just a knuckleballer. Then the sentiment finally prevailed with two eliminations in the ninth. Facing Jeff Burroughs, an old friend and former Braves teammate, Phil Niekro made four shots – the last three punches. Burroughs countered, giving the Yankees an 8-0 victory and Niekro his landmark.
“I thought if there was any way to win my 300th game by eliminating the guy, I would do it with the field that won the first game for me,” said Niekro.
Phil Niekro’s game days ended in 1987, but he wore a uniform again, as manager of the Colorado Silver Bullets (1994-1997). Your pitch coach? Joe Niekro.
Phil Niekro was preceded by death by Joe Niekro, who suffered a fatal brain aneurysm in 2006.