Phil Niekro

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Phil Niekro

|image=Phil Niekro 1974.jpg

|caption=Niekro with the Atlanta Braves in 1974

|alt=

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|mf=yes|1939|4|1}}

|birth_place=Blaine, Ohio, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|2020|12|26|1939|4|1}}

|death_place=Flowery Branch, Georgia, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 15

|debutyear=1964

|debutteam=Milwaukee Braves

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 27

|finalyear=1987

|finalteam=Atlanta Braves

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=318–274

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=3.35

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=3,342

|teams=

Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|1964}}–{{mlby|1983}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|1984}}–{{mlby|1985}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|1986}}–{{mlby|1987}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|1987}})
Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|1987}})

|highlights=

5× All-Star (1969, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1984)
5× Gold Glove Award (1978–1980, 1982, 1983)
Roberto Clemente Award (1980)
2× NL wins leader (1974, 1979)
MLB ERA leader (1967)
NL strikeout leader (1977)
Pitched a no-hitter on August 5, 1973
Atlanta Braves No. 35 retired
Braves Hall of Fame

|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

|hoftype = National

|hofdate=1997

|hofvote=80.3% (fifth ballot)

}}

Philip Henry Niekro ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|iː|k|r|oʊ}} {{respell|NEE|kroh}}; April 1, 1939 – December 26, 2020), nicknamed "Knucksie", was an American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. Niekro is generally regarded as the greatest knuckleball pitcher of all time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/28/sports/baseball/phil-niekro.html|title=Saying Goodbye to the Knuckleball, and Its Master|first=Tyler|last=Kepner|date=December 28, 2020|website=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/best-knuckleball-pitchers-in-baseball-history|title=Here are the best knuckleballers of all time|website=MLB.com|last=Adler |first=David |date=January 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1169776-mlb-ranking-the-10-greatest-knuckleballers-of-all-time|title=MLB: Ranking the 10 Greatest Knuckleballers of All Time|first=Douglas|last=Sibor|website=Bleacher Report |date=May 12, 2012}}

During his career, Niekro was selected to five All-Star teams, led the National League in victories twice (in 1974 and 1979), led the major leagues in earned run average once (in 1967), and won the National League Gold Glove Award five times. As of 2024, Niekro ranks 16th on MLB's all-time wins list with 318 career victories;{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/W_career.shtml|title=Career Leaders & Records for Wins|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=September 13, 2013}} as of 2024, he is the only knuckleballer to win 300 or more major league games. Niekro and his younger brother Joe amassed 539 wins between them; as of 2013, the Niekros had the most combined wins by brothers in baseball history.{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1174218-25-best-brother-pitching-acts-in-mlb-history|title=25 Best Brother Pitching Acts in MLB History|first=Doug|last=Mead|website=Bleacher Report|date=May 7, 2012}} As of 2023, Niekro also holds the major league record with 121 career victories after the age of 40.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phil-niekro-top-moments|title=Knuckleball paved Phil Niekro's path to Hall|website=MLB.com|last=Haft |first=Chris |date=April 1, 2022}}

Niekro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Early life

Niekro was born in Blaine, Ohio, and grew up in Lansing, Ohio, the son of Henrietta (Klinkoski) and Philip Niekro.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesleaderonline.com/sports/local-sports/2017/06/phil-niekro-has-never-forgotten-the-ohio-valley/|title=Phil Niekro has never forgotten the Ohio Valley|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=July 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703221232/http://www.timesleaderonline.com/sports/local-sports/2017/06/phil-niekro-has-never-forgotten-the-ohio-valley/|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aChCBw-PmHQC&q=Henrietta+Klinkoski+Philip+Niekro&pg=PA1125|title=Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: G-P|first=David L.|last=Porter|date=December 27, 2000|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780313311758|via=Google Books}} He was of Polish descent. He attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, and was a boyhood friend of Basketball Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek. 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. The brothers were the sons of a coal miner{{cite news|title=Phil Niekro Goes Home to Visit His Ailing Father|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-30-sp-17627-story.html|access-date=November 1, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 30, 1985|archive-date=November 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106071000/http://articles.latimes.com/1985-09-30/sports/sp-17627_1_coal-miner|url-status=live}} who had pitched semi-pro baseball and learned to throw a knuckleball from another coal miner. He taught the boys the pitch in the backyard. In addition, Phil played American Legion Baseball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncnewsonline.com/sports/local_sports/is-american-legion-baseball-dying/article_d558b5a6-fdf7-5284-bd4f-6dff54017884.html|title=Is American Legion baseball dying?|website=New Castle News|date=July 29, 2019 |access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214726/https://www.ncnewsonline.com/sports/local_sports/is-american-legion-baseball-dying/article_d558b5a6-fdf7-5284-bd4f-6dff54017884.html|url-status=live}}

Niekro signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1959 for $250 ({{Inflation|US|250|1959|fmt=eq}}).{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/56167/happy-birthday-phil-niekro|title=Happy Birthday, Phil Niekro|date=April 1, 2015|website=ESPN.com|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=March 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310062228/https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/56167/happy-birthday-phil-niekro|url-status=live}} He pitched for several minor league teams at several levels for the next few years, appearing mostly as a relief pitcher. While he was briefly promoted to the Class AAA Louisville Colonels in 1960, he spent the rest of that season pitching for the Jacksonville Braves. He spent the next season with the Class AA Austin Senators. He returned to Louisville in 1962 and had a 9–6 record. He missed the 1963 season due to military service.

Major league career

= Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves (1964–1983) =

== 1964–1969 ==

Niekro debuted with the Milwaukee Braves in 1964, working 15 major league innings and spending time with the team's class AAA minor league affiliate. He stayed with the major league team all year in 1965, pitching {{frac|74|2|3}} innings in 41 games and recording six saves. In 1966, Niekro split time again between the Braves and their minor league system, going 4–3 with a 4.11 earned run average (ERA).{{cite web|title=Phil League Minor League Statistics and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=niekro001phi|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=January 17, 2015|archive-date=April 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424043845/http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=niekro001phi|url-status=live}}

Niekro led the league with a 1.87 ERA in 1967, earning an 11–9 record with 10 complete games and 9 saves. He began the year as a relief pitcher but had earned a job in the starting rotation during the season.

Before the 1968 season, sportswriter Fred Down described the Braves' pitching staff as "chaotic" and reported that team leadership was planning to use Niekro as both a starter and a reliever in the coming season.{{cite news|last1=Down|first1=Fred|title=Harris planning dual role for Phil Niekro|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19680227&id=E-otAAAAIBAJ&pg=3731,6201272|access-date=January 17, 2015|work=Rome News-Tribune|date=February 27, 1968|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214731/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19680227&id=E-otAAAAIBAJ&pg=3731%2C6201272|url-status=live}} He appeared in 37 games, finishing with a 14–12 record and 15 complete games. He appeared in relief three times, earning two saves.

In 1969, his first All-Star season, he had a 23–13 season with a 2.56 ERA, finishing second in the National League Cy Young award balloting to Tom Seaver. The Braves went to the playoffs, where Niekro was 0–1 with four earned runs allowed in an eight-inning appearance against the New York Mets. Niekro's playoff loss came against Seaver. The team was eliminated from the playoffs after losing the next two games.{{cite web|title=1969 NLCS|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1969_NLCS.shtml|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=January 17, 2015|archive-date=January 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101042758/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1969_NLCS.shtml|url-status=live}}

== 1970–1979 ==

In 1970, he went 12–18 with a 4.27 ERA in what turned out to be a down year. He surrendered a league-leading 40 home runs that year, a feat he would not repeat until 1979.

From 1971 to 1973, he combined for a record of 44–36. The Braves finished 3rd, 4th, and 5th in their division. On August 5, 1973, Niekro threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres, the first for the Braves since moving to Atlanta.

In 1974, Niekro led the league in several pitching categories, including wins (20), complete games (18), and innings pitched (302.1). He finished third in the voting for the Cy Young Award that year.

From 1975 to 1976, he went 15–15 and 17–11 and made a second All-Star appearance in 1975.

Between 1977 and 1979, Niekro was the league leader in complete games, innings pitched and batters faced. In 1979, the 40-year-old Niekro led the league in both wins (21) and losses (20). 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.

Phil and Joe Niekro were NL co-leaders in wins in 1979; the two brothers each earned 21 wins that year. As of 2013, he remains the last MLB pitcher to win and lose 20 games in the same season.{{cite web |last1=Skelton |first1=David E. |title=20-Game Loser: Profiles of the 20-Loss Seasons |url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/20-game-loser-profiles-of-the-20-loss-seasons/ |website=sabr.org |access-date=6 August 2022}} The 1979 season was Niekro's third and final 20-win season and his second and final 20-loss season.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/niekrph01.shtml Phil Niekro Statistics and History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328061059/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/niekrph01.shtml |date=March 28, 2018 }}. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 17, 2015.

== 1980–1983 ==

In 1980 and 1981, he went 15–18 and 7–7 while leading the league in games started (38) and losses (18) in 1980.

In 1982, at the age of 43, Niekro led the Braves with a 17–4 season while winning his fourth Gold Glove Award and appearing in his fourth All-Star game. 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. Niekro started Game One of the subsequent 1982 National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals and pitched well, but the game was called on account of rain just before it became official. He pitched six innings of Game 2 and left with a 3–2 lead. However, the Cardinals scored two late runs after Niekro left the game and would eventually sweep the series.

In 1983, he went 11–10 and won his fifth Gold Glove Award. After the season, the Braves released him.{{Cite news|last1=Burns|first1=Gabriel|title=Phil Niekro's illustrious career by the numbers|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/phil-niekros-illustrious-career-by-the-numbers/6OF3J3AIT5GVVP3SLIGNE45Z5Y/|access-date=December 27, 2020|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=en|date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214726/https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/phil-niekros-illustrious-career-by-the-numbers/6OF3J3AIT5GVVP3SLIGNE45Z5Y/ |archive-date=December 27, 2020|url-status=live}}

= New York Yankees (1984–1985) =

{{MLBBioRet

|Image = BravesRetired35.png

|Name = Phil Niekro

|Number = 35

|Team = Atlanta Braves

|Year = 1984

|}}

File:Phil Niekro 1984.jpg

In 1984, Niekro signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/06/sports/phil-niekro-signs-2-year-yankee-pact.html|title=Phil Niekro Signs 2-Year Yankee Pact (Published 1984)|first=Joseph|last=Durso|newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 6, 1984|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=January 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130155224/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/06/sports/phil-niekro-signs-2-year-yankee-pact.html|url-status=live}} He won 16 games in 1984 and made his fifth and final All-Star appearance.

On October 6, 1985, Niekro earned his 300th career win with a shutout win over the Toronto Blue Jays. At 46 years, 188 days, Niekro became the oldest pitcher to pitch a shutout in the major leagues. This record stood for nearly 25 years before Jamie Moyer (47 years, 170 days) bested the feat in May 2010. He did not throw his trademark knuckleball throughout the game until the final hitter;{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_9_62/ai_106226458/pg_6?tag=untagged|title=Road to 300: with Roger Clemens becoming the 21st pitcher to win 300 big league games, here are the stories of seven others who reached the same milestone|author=Quinn, T.J.|publisher=Baseball Digest|date=September 2003|access-date=November 4, 2008|archive-date=July 10, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710041544/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_9_62/ai_106226458/pg_6?tag=untagged|url-status=live}} to former AL MVP Jeff Burroughs.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-07-sp-16727-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Claire | last=Smith | title=Niekro Gets 300th Win – a Shutout of Blue Jays | date=October 7, 1985 | access-date=December 27, 2020 | archive-date=June 14, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614072513/http://articles.latimes.com/1985-10-07/sports/sp-16727_1_phil-niekro | url-status=live }} Niekro struck Burroughs out to end the game. He finished the 1985 season with a 16–12 record, the final time he won 15 or more games in a single season. He was released by the Yankees before the 1986 season started.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/29/sports/yankees-traded-baylor-and-release-phil-niekro.html|title=YANKEES TRADED BAYLOR AND RELEASE PHIL NIEKRO |first1=Murray|last1=Chass|newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 29, 1986|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524193818/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/29/sports/yankees-traded-baylor-and-release-phil-niekro.html|url-status=live}}

= Cleveland Indians (1986–1987) =

After two seasons in New York, Niekro pitched for the Cleveland Indians in 1986. He went 11–11 with a 4.32 ERA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.morningjournal.com/sports/hall-of-famer-knuckleballer-phil-niekro-dies-at-81/article_cc6f8f0e-87c4-5c70-bb8d-0d97db61a36f.amp.html|title=Hall of Famer knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81 | Sports | morningjournal.com|website=www.morningjournal.com|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214752/https://www.morningjournal.com/sports/hall-of-famer-knuckleballer-phil-niekro-dies-at-81/article_cc6f8f0e-87c4-5c70-bb8d-0d97db61a36f.amp.html|url-status=live}} He started the 1987 season with the Indians, going 7–11 in 26 starts.

= Toronto Blue Jays (1987) =

On August 9, 1987, Niekro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Darryl Landrum and a player to be named later,{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-10-sp-44-story.html|title=Indians Deal Phil Niekro to Blue Jays|date=August 10, 1987|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214727/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-10-sp-44-story.html|url-status=live}} who was later revealed to be Don Gordon.{{Cite web|url=https://torontosun.com/2015/07/30/looking-back-at-past-blue-jays-trades|title=Looking back at past Blue Jays trades|website=torontosun|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320230232/http://www.torontosun.com/2015/07/30/looking-back-at-past-blue-jays-trades|url-status=live}} After going 0–2 in three starts, the Blue Jays released Niekro.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/02/sports/sports-people-phil-niekro-released.html|title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Phil Niekro Released|newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 2, 1987|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=November 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105142854/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/02/sports/sports-people-phil-niekro-released.html|url-status=live}}

= Second stint with the Atlanta Braves (1987) =

On September 23, 1987, Niekro signed again with his old team, the Atlanta Braves.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/23/sports/sports-people-phil-niekro-to-braves.html|title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Phil Niekro to Braves (Published 1987)|newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 23, 1987|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=November 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106123945/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/23/sports/sports-people-phil-niekro-to-braves.html|url-status=live}} On September 27, he made his final start of his career, pitching three innings and surrendering five runs in the no-decision. The Braves lost the game against the San Francisco Giants 15–6. Niekro retired at the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/features/phil-niekro-last-game-braves-1987-video|title=Back Where He Belonged|first=Jason|last=Foster|website=www.sportingnews.com|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214728/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/features/phil-niekro-last-game-braves-1987-video|url-status=live}}

At the age of 48, Niekro was the oldest player in major league history to play regularly until Julio Franco played at age 49 in 2007. He set a major league record by playing 24 seasons in the major leagues without a World Series appearance. His total of {{frac|5,404|1|3}} innings pitched is the most by any pitcher in the post-1920 live-ball era.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/12/27/phil-niekro-baseball-hall-fame-knuckleballer-dies-81/4052975001/|title=Phil Niekro, who rode his knuckleball to the Hall of Fame, dies at 81|first=Mike|last=Brehm|website=USA Today|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214728/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/12/27/phil-niekro-baseball-hall-fame-knuckleballer-dies-81/4052975001/|url-status=live}}

= Pitching repertoire =

File:Phil Niekro 1982.jpg

A sidearm pitcher, his pitching featured the knuckleball, which frustrated major league hitters. Ralph Kiner compared Niekro's special pitch to "watching Mario Andretti park a car".{{cite web|title=Ralph Kiner Quotes|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/quokiner.shtml|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date=November 1, 2013|archive-date=November 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103094210/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/quokiner.shtml|url-status=live}} Pete Rose said, "I work for three weeks to get my swing down pat and Phil messes it up in one night... Trying to hit that thing is a miserable way to make a living."{{cite book|last=Clark|first=Dave|title=The Knucklebook: Everything You Need to Know About Baseball's Strangest Pitch – the Knuckleball|year=2012|publisher=Ivan R. Dee|isbn=978-1566639705|page=74|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-RNzA6M8E_kC&q=pete+rose+knuckleball&pg=PA74|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214728/https://books.google.com/books?id=-RNzA6M8E_kC&q=pete+rose+knuckleball&pg=PA74|url-status=live}} Catcher Bob Uecker was also frustrated by the pitch at times, saying, "Niekro struck out a hitter once and I never touched the ball. It hit me in the shinguard, bounced out to Clete Boyer at third base and he threw out the runner at first. Talk about a weird assist: 2–5–3 on a strikeout."{{Cite web|url=https://www.claremoreprogress.com/sports/no-spin-zone-knuckleball-master-phil-niekro-to-speak-at-field-of-dreams-banquet/article_fbff6ae6-d134-11e7-b016-5b0c80a8c007.html|title=No Spin Zone: Knuckleball master Phil Niekro to speak at Field of Dreams Banquet|first=Wayne|last=McCombs|website=Claremore Daily Progress|date=November 25, 2017 }} Uecker also said humorously of the pitch, "The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and pick it up."{{cite web|website=The New York Times|first=Benjamin|last=Hoffman|date=June 23, 2012|title=Not So Easy On The Eyes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/sports/baseball/knuckleball-is-tough-for-umpires-to-follow.html}}

=Hall of Fame induction=

Niekro was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997, his fifth year of eligibility. He was the only player elected that year; Tony Pérez and Don Sutton were among the notable eligible players who were not elected that year. After he was notified, Niekro said, "Giving a description of today's phone call is impossible. I've been stunned before. I just didn't prepare myself this year. I was not going to get myself so high."{{cite news|title=Phil Niekro enters Hall alone|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1908&dat=19970105&id=1-sfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4860,219472|access-date=January 17, 2015|work=The Nevada Daily Mail|agency=Associated Press|date=January 5, 1997}} The year before, Niekro had received the most Hall of Fame votes out of all the players in the ballot, but had not received the required 75% of the vote for election.

=Career statistics=

class="wikitable"

|PCT

|ERA

|GS

|CG

|SHO

|SV

|IP

|ER

|HR

|BB

|SO

|WP

|HBP

318

|274

|.537

|3.35

|864

|716

|245

|45

|29

|5404.0

|5044

|2012

|2337

|482

|1809

|3342

|226

|123

Later endeavors

File:Phil Niekro 2013.jpg

After the end of his professional baseball career, Niekro managed the all-women Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team. Niekro taught his nephew Lance Niekro to throw a knuckleball after Lance's unsuccessful stints as a power-hitting first base prospect with the San Francisco Giants.{{cite web|url=http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/grizzlies/v-printerfriendly/story/116797.html |title=FresnoBee.com: Fresno Grizzlies: Niekro gets shot to pitch |access-date=August 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222555/http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/grizzlies/v-printerfriendly/story/116797.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northfulton.com/talent-draws-kiz-toys-to-area/article_5729a42b-e9ba-55be-b2ec-6f9f424418a6.html|title=Talent draws Kiz Toys to area|first=Bob|last=Pepalis|website=northfulton.com|date=July 28, 2008 |access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214734/https://www.northfulton.com/talent-draws-kiz-toys-to-area/article_5729a42b-e9ba-55be-b2ec-6f9f424418a6.html|url-status=live}}

The Gwinnett Stripers—the AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves—play their home games at Coolray Field. Coolray Field has a restaurant, Niekro's, that is named after Niekro. It features the Knucksie Sandwich, made with barbecue pork and cole slaw atop a corn muffin; it was said to be Niekro's favorite sandwich. Niekro and his family supported the students of Bridgeport High School with the proceeds from an annual golf tournament called "The Niekro Classic".{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Claire|title=Coal Miner's Gift Is Treasured by Son|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/08/sports/coal-miner-s-gift-is-treasured-by-son.html|access-date=November 1, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 8, 1997|archive-date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114073642/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/08/sports/coal-miner-s-gift-is-treasured-by-son.html|url-status=live}}

Personal life and death

Niekro and his wife, Nancy, had three sons: Philip, John, and Michael.{{Cite web |date=December 27, 2020 |title=Hall of Fame knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30605849/hall-fame-pitcher-phil-niekro-famous-signature-knuckleball-dies-81 |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}

On December 26, 2020, Niekro died in his sleep at age 81. He had been diagnosed with prostate{{cite web |last1=McCallum |first1=Jack |title=A Roster of MLB All-Stars Helped Raise Awareness for Prostate Cancer |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/09/09/mlb-all-stars-roster-prostate-cancer-awareness |website=si.com |date=September 9, 2021 |access-date=6 August 2022}} cancer{{cite web|title=Legendary Braves pitcher Phil Niekro dies at age of 81|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/legendary-braves-pitcher-phil-niekro-dies-age-81/YE24TTO27BFQHNCRMRSYI6KVYM/|website=wsbtv.com|date=December 27, 2020|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214734/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/legendary-braves-pitcher-phil-niekro-dies-age-81/YE24TTO27BFQHNCRMRSYI6KVYM/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Hall of Fame knuckleballer Niekro dead at 81|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phil-niekro-dies-at-81|website=MLB.com|date=December 27, 2020|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227214731/https://www.mlb.com/news/phil-niekro-dies-at-81|url-status=live}} and had battled the disease for some time.

References

External links

{{Baseballhof|niekro-phil}}
{{baseballstats |mlb=119786 |espn=611|br=n/niekrph01 |fangraphs=1009583|brm=niekro001phi|retro=N/Pniekp001}}
[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-737 New Georgia Encyclopedia: Phil Niekro ]

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{{Succession box|title=No-hitter pitcher | before=Jim Bibby |years=August 5, 1973 |after=Steve Busby}}

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