Phil Niekro Stats & Facts
Phil Niekro
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 180lb (185cm, 81kg)
Born: April 1, 1939 in Blaine, OH
High School: Bridgeport HS (Bridgeport, OH)
Debut: April 15, 1964
vs. SFG 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER
Last Game: September 27, 1987
vs. SFG 3.0 IP, 6 H, 0 SO, 6 BB, 5 ER
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1997. (Voted by BBWAA on 380/473 ballots)
View Phil Niekro’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Phil Niekro Baseball Reference Page
Full Name: Philip Henry Niekro
Nicknames: Knucksie
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Joe Niekro; Uncle of Lance Niekro
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1964
Tony Perez
Bert Campaneris
Don Kessinger
Paul Blair
Lou Piniella
Phil Niekro
Luis Tiant
Mel Stottlemyre
Mickey Stanley
The Phil Niekro Teammate Team
C: Joe Torre
1B: Don Mattingly
2B: Felix Millan
3B: Eddie Mathews
SS: Julio Franco
LF: Rico Carty
CF: Dale Murphy
RF: Hank Aaron
DH: Fred McGriff
SP: Warren Spahn
SP: Ron Guidry
SP: Pat Jarvis
SP: Dave Stieb
SP: Steve Carlton
RP: Gene Garber
M: Bobby Cox
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Notable Events and Chronology for Phil Niekro Career
Biography
A longtime symbol of the Atlanta Braves, Phil Niekro holds many major league records, nearly all of which are as a result of his trademark pitch, the knuckleball, which kept him in the majors until he was 48. Niekro’s records tend to center on longevity, durability, and unpredictability, as his reliance on the knuckler saved his arm, fooled batters, and caused catchers to consider a new occupation.
A boyhood pal of basketball Hall of Famer John Havilcek, Phil, and his younger brother Joe, came out of the Ohio River valley for 46 major league seasons. Teammates briefly on the Braves and Yankees, they would eventually combine to pass Gaylord and Jim Perry as baseball’s winningest brother act in 1987, finishing with 538.
Along with Niekro’s longevity, his loyalty to a floundering Atlanta franchise won him the admiration of fans and players. He contributed greatly to charitable groups in Atlanta and won the 1979 Lou Gehrig Award for his exemplary character. There was little indignation in Atlanta when Phil finally signed with Yankees as a free agent; the consensus was that he deserved an opportunity to pitch for a contending team. Niekro’s effectiveness did not falter with age and his undistinguished records reflected the ragged teams behind him more than anything. In his forties Niekro was able to fashion a 17-4 mark with Atlanta in 1982. At age 45, the gray-haired Niekro went 16-8 for the 1984 Yankees.
Niekro’s statistics were compiled with little national fanfare. The 300-game winner pitched a total of 1.1 innings in two All-Star games nine years apart and was selected to only three other squads, possibly because All-Star catchers were unfamiliar with his pitch. His two LCS starts, thirteen years apart, produced no wins, and his playing 24 years without a Series appearance represents a major league mark for futility. His most celebrated game came on the final day of the 1985 season at age 46. Relying on everything except his knuckler until the final batter, former teammate Jeff Burroughs, Niekro became the thirteenth pitcher to win 300 games. He seems destined for Cooperstown. The oldest player to regularly play in the majors, Niekro’s outstanding character and his ability to master the most difficult pitch will always be recognized.
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Factoids, Quotes, Milestones and Odd Facts
Played For
Milwaukee Braves (1964-1965)
Atlanta Braves (1966-1983)
New York Yankees (1984-1985)
Cleveland Indians (1986-1987)
Toronto Blue Jays (1987)
Atlanta Braves (1987)
Similar: Dutch Leonard, Hoyt Wilhelm
Linked: Hoyt Wilhelm, Tom Candiotti, Joe Niekro
Best Season, 1974
In a season when teammate Hank Aaron eclipsed Babe Ruth’s home run record, Niekro led the NL with 20 wins and was second in ERA (2.38), and shutouts (6). He paced the league in innings, games started and complete games. He also saved one game and drove in 10 runs on the season.
Awards and Honors
1978 NL Gold Glove
1979 NL Gold Glove
1980 NL Gold Glove
1982 NL Gold Glove
1983 NL Gold Glove
No-Hit Fame
8/5/1973: For ATL (N) vs. SD (N), 9-0 at ATL. 9 innings pitched.
Post-Season Appearances
1969 National League Championship Series
1982 National League Championship Series
Factoid
No one ever played as many seasons as Phil Niekro (24), without appearing in the World Series.
Post-Season Notes
Niekro started Game One of the 1969 NLCS, taking the loss to Tom Seaver, 9-5, though Braves’ reliever Cecil Upshaw owns part of the blame, coming into a one-run game in the eighth inning and allowing the Mets to rally for the win. In Game Two of the 1982 NLCS, Niekro again had some tough luck, leaving for Gene Garber in the 7th inning with a 3-2 lead. The Braves lost 4-3.
Transactions
Signed as an amateur free agent by Milwaukee Braves (July 19, 1958); Released by Atlanta Braves (October 7, 1983); Signed by New York Yankees (January 5, 1984); Granted free agency (November 12, 1985); Signed by New York Yankees (January 8, 1986); Released by New York Yankees (March 28, 1986); Signed by Cleveland Indians (April 3, 1986); Traded by Cleveland Indians to Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Darryl Landrum and a player to be named later (August 9, 1987) – Cleveland Indians received Don Gordon (August 10, 1987); Released by Toronto Blue Jays (August 31, 1987); Signed by Atlanta Braves (September 23, 1987).
The Magical 300th Win
Niekro notched his 300th win with the Yankees, on the final day of the 1985 season. He hurled an 8-0 shutout over the Blue Jays, becoming the oldest pitcher (at 46) to throw a complete game shutout. He was also the first man to win his 300th game in a New York Yankees’ uniform. Niekro relied on his fastball (somewhere in the mid-80s), curve and slider until the final batter, when he finally threw a knuckleball.
For weeks, Niekro had been flying back to be by his father’s side in the hospital. His father seemed near-death, and Phil and his brother Joe, as well as their mother, lingered at the bed for days. Finally, Phil wasn’t sure what to do – return to the Yankees to pitch or stay? One day, his father was alert enough to scribble some words on a piece of paper. They read “Win – Hap…” Phil and Joe took it to mean that if Phil won his 300th game, his father would be happy. Phil flew off and tried a few times but lost. Finally he won it against Toronto.
During the game, Niekro’s father and mother listened to the play-by-play at the hospital through a special feed provided by Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. At one point in the game, Mr. Niekro raised himself up a bit and said, “Sonny boy is pitching a hell of a game.”
When Phil and Joe returned (joe was a reliever for the Yankees), Phil presented the game ball to his father. His father made a miraculous recovery and lived for two more years.
Factoid
Twice in his career, Phil Niekro hit into a triple play. Both times, the outs were recorded 5-4-3.
Most Career Wins, Brothers
Phil (318) and Joe Niekro (221) = 539
Gaylord (314) and Jim Perry (215) = 529
Factoid
On May 8, 1976, the Pirates put up four runs in the first inning against Phil Niekro and the Braves, who came into the game with a 12-game losing streak. Owner Ted Turner, who was serving as manager at the time, climbed on top of the team’s dugout, assumed a death pose, and lay flat on his back to show his displeasure. Atlanta lost their 13th straight.
All-Star Selections
1969 NL
1975 NL
1978 NL
1982 NL
1984 AL
Replaced
Tony Cloninger, who suffered a serious injury and missed much of 1967 and 1968.
Replaced By
The Indians actually had Niekro (age 48), and Steve Carlton (42) in their 1987 rotation. Gradually throughout the season, the two veterans gave way to youngsters Darrel Akerfelds, Rich Yett, and Scott Bailes. On April 8, Niekro started against the Blue Jays and was relieved by Carlton, as Cleveland prevailed, 14-3. It was the first time two 300-game winners pitched for the same team in the same game.
Best Strength as a Player
Longevity
Largest Weakness as a Player
Never getting on a pennant-winning team.
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