ATLANTA Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that baffled big league hitters for more than two decades, mostly with the Atlanta Braves, has died . This is due to both the knuckleball's low average speed and its erratic movement, which force the catcher to keep focusing on the ball even after the runners start stealing their next bases. He went 1111 with a 4.32 ERA. $2.49 . All four of these pitchers had a baseball WHIP below 1.35, which shows how effective they were at reducing hits and limiting walks per inning. He would say later that he wanted to prove he was a pitcher, not just a knuckleballer. They all sit behind home plate." Bob Uecker During 24 big league seasons, Phil Niekro rode his knuckleball to 5,404 innings pitched - the most of any pitcher who started his career in the live ball era. [1], In 1974, Niekro led the league in several pitching categories, including wins (20), complete games (18), and innings pitched (302.1). On Sunday we learned that Phil Niekro, the greatest knuckleball pitcher in baseball history, had died of cancer the day before at age 81. http://www.courtsidetweets.comPhil Niekro of the New York Yankees wins his 300th game in Toronto against the Blue Jays! Position the Ball [8] To reduce the chances of having the knuckleball get hit for a home run, some pitchers will impart a slight topspin so that if no force causes the ball to dance, it will move downward in flight. In baseball terminology the pitcher and catcher together are known as a "battery", and having a catcher experienced in catching a knuckleball pitcher is preferable, so the trade of pitcher and catcher together is sometimes referred to as a "batteries included" trade. Phil Niekro, a pitcher who used his signature knuckleball to fool generations of hitters and craft a Hall of Fame career, died Saturday night . (Age 25-014d, When thrown well with little to no spin, the ball feels like it slips out of your palm. It features the Knucksie Sandwich, made with barbecue pork and cole slaw atop a corn muffin, said to be his favorite. A password reset link will be e-mailed to you. Nobody likes to warm up with you." Over more than a decade of serving as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Hall of Fame, his wisdom, his compassion, and his love for the game proved to be invaluable in helping us shape our decisions. However, the Cardinals scored two late runs after Niekro left the game and would eventually sweep the series. They clawed against each other as mound opponents, with Joe defeating his big brother 5-4 in their careers. Phil Niekro 1964-1983, 1987 (88.5 WAR) . During his twenty-one seasons with the Atlanta Braves, "Knucksie," as he was known, became one of the most popular players in franchise history. He spent the next season with the Class AA Austin Senators. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. Many current pitchers throw a curveball using a grip with the index finger touching the ball with the knuckle or fingertip (also called a spike curve). Brothers Joe (left) and Phil Niekro squared off against one another on July 4, 1967 in a game won by Phil's Atlanta Braves against the Chicago Cubs, 8-3. [2] It was his third and final 20-win season and his second and final 20-loss season. [15], After two seasons in New York, Niekro pitched for the Cleveland Indians in 1986. He finally went to the knuckler for the game's final batter, striking out former teammate Jeff Burroughs on three pitches to cap the 8-0 victory and become the 18 th 300-game winner in history. Phil Niekro Sr., a laborer and part-time semi-pro pitcher, had mastered the knuckler after an arm injury threatened to end his playing days. For many hitters, using a bat to try to get a hit off Phil Niekro was a farce. The Niekro brothers would face each other nine times in their career, with Joes team winning five. Uecker acknowledged he did a lot of chasing. ASSOCIATED . Niekro was born in Blaine, Ohio, and grew up in Lansing, Ohio, the son of Henrietta (Klinkoski) and Philip Niekro. It does not need to be thrown hard (in fact, throwing too hard may diminish its effectiveness), and is therefore less taxing on the arm. [13] And on April 8, 2010, she signed with the Chico Outlaws, debuting on May 29, 2010. All rights reserved. * Joe Niekro was a superb knuckleball pitcher himself; not quite as good as Phil but he did win 221 games and in 1979 came significantly closer to winning the Cy Young Award than Phil ever did (he . But the knuckleball carried Niekro to more than 300 wins, earned him a . Chris Haft. Niekro and his family supported the students of Bridgeport High School with the proceeds from the annual golf tournament "The Niekro Classic". [18] After going 02 in three starts, the Blue Jays released Niekro. [14] Niekro struck Burroughs out to end the game. 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. This can be attributed to a variety of factors. This is one of the most common misconceptions about the knuckleball. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. The ball completes between one-quarter and one-half a rotation on its way from the pitcher to the batter; the position of the stitches changes as the ball travels, affecting the drag that gives the ball its motion, thus making its flight erratic. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. He spent six long years in the minor leagues, and once he got to the majors his fluttering knuckleball never lit up the radar gun. Through Sunday he was 7-2, with an American League-leading ERA of 1.20. Dedicated daily to memorializing notable personalities. There are other prominent knuckleball pitchers like Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who had a very effective knuckler and knuckle curve, and Cy Young Award winning pitcher R. A. Dickey. "They may not be intimidated by them, but they sure are thinking about them before they go into the box.". Phil Niekro had 3,342 strikeouts over his career. View Phil Niekro's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). "[1] Bouton said, "Catchers hate it. And take a look at your grip. Cicotte was widely reported to throw both the knuckleball and a variant on the spitball known as a "shine ball" (because he would "shine" one side of a dirty ball by rubbing it on his uniform). Where was Phil Niekro born? Niekro famously stayed away from his knuckleball on that day, using a combination of conventional off-speed pitches to get the first 26 outs. The origins of the knuckleball are unclear. Niekro joined Lou Brock, Whitey Ford, Bob Gibson, Al Kaline, Joe Morgan and Tom Seaver as Hall of Famers who died in 2020 -- the most ever to pass away in a calendar year, according to Hall of Fame spokesman Jon Shestakofsky. And todays two tips are all about reducing those variables. If one of the fingers puts more pressure on the ball than the other, the ball spins. [1], On August 9, 1987, Niekro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Darryl Landrum and a player to be named later,[17] who was later revealed to be Don Gordon. He was 81. Niekro and his brother Joe, another knuckleballer, hold the record for the most victories by a brother combination with 539. "Catching Niekro's knuckleball was great. "It comes flying in there dipping and hopping like crazy, and you just can't hit it.". He was 81. The four pitchers in the hall of fame include Phil Niekro, Ted Lyons, Jesse Haines, and Hoyt Wilhelm. "[10], In 1991, Hall of Fame catcher Rick Ferrell was quoted as saying, "I think the knuckleball is fading out." He was kind, a gentleman, family man, master of his trade and teamate 84-85. The physics of the operation are largely the same. Niekro was remembered by the Hall as "master of the knuckleball and a great mentor, leader and friend." Niekro didn't make it to the big leagues until 1964, when he pitched 10 games in relief for . After the season, the Braves released him.[11]. His skill on the mound was surpassed perhaps only by his good humor and kind nature, which won him friends throughout baseball and the world. Since it developed during a period when the spitball was legal and commonly used, and was similarly surprising in its motion, the knuckleball was sometimes called the "dry spitter". Niekro was a five-time All-Star and pitched a no-hitter in 1973 against the Padres. The symbol of both the success and longevity of Niekro's career was the knuckleball, that whimsical floater that baffles not only hitters and catchers but also the pitchers who never really know how the rotationless pitch will dance toward the plate. A successful knuckleball shot will move, dip, or wobble in the air unpredictably, making it difficult for the goalkeeper to save. For example, Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas went with Dickey when the pitcher was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in late 2012, and the team later signed Henry Blanco, who also caught for Dickey. In November 2008, it was announced that 16-year-old knuckleballer Eri Yoshida was drafted as the first woman ever to play in Japanese professional baseball for the Kobe 9 Cruise of the Kansai Independent Baseball League. Niekr Phil's 121 career victories after the age of 40 is a major league record. Phil Niekro showing his grip at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Niekro remains the last MLB pitcher to win and lose 20 games in the same season, finishing 21-20 with the Braves in 1979. He found both in 1967, when he was united with Bob Uecker, a veteran reserve backstop with many quips and sage advice. You get beaten down to learn another @baseballhall friend #PhilNiekro passed away. I was not going to get myself so high. He taught the boys the pitch in the backyard. When I think of Phil Niekro, two things come to mind. Phil Niekro who hurled most of his famous knuckle balls with the Braves, died on Saturday . A trip to Cooperstown has something for baseball fans and everyone else. 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 in the major leagues from 1964 to 1987. In 1969, his first All-Star season, he had a 2313 season with a 2.56 ERA,[1] finishing second in the National League Cy Young award balloting to Tom Seaver. Dont do it. Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro holds a knuckleball at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland in 2017. Phil Niekro, a pitcher who used his signature knuckleball to fool generations of hitters and craft a Hall of Fame career, died Saturday night in his sleep after a long battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced Sunday. "We are . Twenty years after he broke into the majors, 45-year-old starter Phil Niekro deals a knuckleball against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium, Aug. 8, 1984. Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a . He always represented his sport extraordinarily well, and he will be deeply missed. Regardless of how the ball is gripped, the purpose of the knuckleball is to have the least possible amount of rotational spin. By Jim Murray. "Catching Niekro's knuckleball was great," said Uecker, now a Hall of Fame announcer. Associated Press. But Niekro, who pitched for the Braves, Yankees, Indians and Blue Jays for 24 seasons, was more . Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that baffled big league hitters for more than two decades . Remembering Phil Niekro, King of the Knuckleballers (1939-2020) by Jay Jaffe. A reporter once noted that Phil is 48 but you'd never know it. When you start off learning the knuckleball, it can be frustrating. And if you can throw a ball without any spin at 65-plus miles-per-hour, than you've got a great knuckleball grip.But there are overwhelming similarities between the grips of the great knuckleball pitchers; guys like Phil Niekro, Charlie Hough, Tom . And I always get questions about this, Why cant I use three fingers? He was the master of the most uncontrollable pitch baseball has ever seen an offering so confusing that its name, the knuckleball, is actually a misnomer. On October 6, 1985, Niekro gained entry into the 300 win club with a shutout win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Rich in anecdotes and interviews, this book shares the unique stories of Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, Jim Bouton, Tom Candiotti, Tim Wakefield, R.A. Dickey, and many others. Most of his career was spent with mostly with the Atlanta Braves. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, and Jesse Haines, three pitchers who primarily relied on the knuckleball, have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. ATLANTA (AP) Phil Niekro threw a pitch that baffled hitters and catchers. He had been diagnosed with prostate[31] cancer.[32][33]. By 1967, Niekro was one of the top pitchers in the game, leading the NL that year with an ERA of 1.87. Taking a fly swatter to the batter's box would have worked just as well. I've been stunned before. 1965 Topps Clay Carroll, Phil Niekro #461. AMA! Seams are raised. Niekro, who was born April 1, 1939, and died in 2020 at 81, excelled by using the elusive . [28], The knuckleball does provide some advantages to its practitioners. For the 2012 documentary film, see, position players making pitching appearances, Game 5 of the 2004 American League Championship Series, "The Physics of Baseball: Knuckleball Research", "I am 2-time NL MVP Dale Murphy, former MLB player for the Braves, Phillies and Rockies. He won 121 games after turning 40, and retired with 318 victories over the course of 5,404 innings the fourth-most all-time and the most of any pitcher whose career started in the live ball era. Phil Niekro was one of thirty-seven men to take the field for the 1965 Milwaukee Braves, the last year they existed (1953-1965) before moving to Atlanta.When Knucksie hung up his cleats in 1987, he was the last active player from the former team.. Phil Niekro, on July 29, 1977, joined the 4 Strikeouts in 1 Inning "club" - the first (known / located) instance by a Braves pitcher. He was 81. "I never knew how to throw a fastball, never learned how to throw a curveball, a slider, split-finger, whatever they're throwing nowadays," he said. Discover one-of-a-kind artifacts and get lost in sweeping exhibitions that explore pivotal moments in the game and its impact far beyond the field. All three fingers. As of 2021, four primary knuckleball pitchers are in the Baseball Hall of Fame today. His younger brother Joe was also a Major League pitcher, who won more than 200 games. It feels comfortable to me. Well, three fingers gives you a much better chance of spinning the ball, and heres why: To eliminate the spin you need to apply even pressure from two fingertips. Phil Niekro owns one of, if not, the best knuckleball in MLB history. Phil Niekro was 6-1 (185 cm) tall. At 46 years, 188 days, Niekro became the oldest pitcher to pitch a shutout in the major leagues. According to Adair, the 150ms minimum human reaction time may be too slow to adjust to a knuckleball's changing direction.[2]. Hitting a knuckleball is different enough from other aspects of baseball that players specifically prepare for the pitch during batting practice before games they expect it in. In addition, Phil played American Legion Baseball. A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. [30] The "knuckleball catcher" is equipped with an oversized knuckleball catcher's mitt,[31] similar to a first baseman's glove; Doug Mirabelli, formerly of the Red Sox, used a softball catcher's mitt. In this March 29, 2007, file photo, Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro holds a knuckleball which he used to pitch well into his 40s. "[26], After the end of his professional baseball career, Niekro managed the all-women Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team. Also featured are the stories of the best knuckleball catchers, from Bob Uecker and Doug Mirabelli to Rick Ferrell and Paul Richards. This change adds a deflecting force to the baseball, making it difficult for batters to hit but also difficult for pitchers to control and catchers to catch . [1] That season, Phil and Joe Niekro were NL co-leaders in wins. In 1979, Phil, pitching for the Braves, and Joe, for the Astros, tied for the most victories in the National League, with 21 each. April 1, 1939 Updated pitcher list, and average pitch speed for Dickey/Wakefield. When Phil Niekro won his 300th game, Joe was at his side, and it was arguably the most unique victory of the elder brother's career. [6], Niekro signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1959 for $250 ($2,324 in current dollar terms). [2] If a knuckleball does not change direction in mid-flight, however, then it is easy to hit due to its lack of speed. Jim Bouton said, "coaches don't respect it. Friend, teammate, father and husband. December 30, 2020. In association football (soccer), the method of striking the ball so that it produces almost no spinning motion during its flight has been colloquially described as "knuckleballing" by commentators, due to the ball's motion that resembles a baseball thrown with a knuckleball pitch. BL-1598-92 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), Phil Niekro posing with his plaque during the 1997 Hall of Fame Weekend. By ESPN.com news services. Do you have a sports website? (Parker Fish/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Pitching coaches often struggle with knuckleball pitchers due to a lack of experience with the pitch. (Doug McWilliams/National baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). [1], From 1971 to 1973, he combined for a record of 4436. As with many knuckleball pitchers, age proved no barrier to Niekro. (Parker Fish/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Brothers Joe (left) and Phil Niekro squared off against one another on July 4, 1967 in a game won by Phil's Atlanta Braves against the Chicago Cubs, 8-3. But there are overwhelming similarities between the grips of the great knuckleball pitchers; guys like Phil Niekro, Charlie Hough, Tom Candiotti, Tim Wakefield, RA Dickey and the like. Two later pitchers, Jesse Haines and Freddie Fitzsimmons, were sometimes characterized as knuckleball pitchers even by their contemporaries, but in their cases it again refers to a harder-thrown, curving pitch that would probably not be called a knuckleball today. Phil Niekro fashioned a long, successful sports career by mastering the most confounding pitch in the history of baseballthe knuckleball. 12,210th in major league history) Photo is at @Dana_Pump @David_Pump Foundation dinner with @STLWizard #RickeyHenderson pic.twitter.com/RccUiq0rJO, PHIL NIEKRO YOU WERE ALWAYS GOOD MAN WHENEVER WE SEE YOU AT THE MATCHES IN THE ATLANTA. After spending 25 of his 45 years in the Braves organization, Niekro is indeed a New York Yankee. Phil Niekro played 24 . Phil Niekro, the Hall of Fame knuckleballer who won 318 games in a 24-year career, died in his sleep Saturday night after a battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced Sunday. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, I would like to send our heartfelt condolences to Nancy Niekro and the Niekro family., Born April 1, 1939 in Blaine, Ohio, Philip Henry Niekro was taught the knuckler by his father. His knuckleball led him to five All-Star selections, three 20-win seasons for the Atlanta Braves, the 300-win club, and ultimately, to Cooperstown. inFlowery Branch,GA, Buried: He was 81. But because the pitch is so difficult to throw, even on a good day, you want to reduce as many variables as possible. When Mr. Niekro was 40 years old in 1979 he threw 23 complete games - nowadays it is rare to see a pitcher even throw 1 or 2 complete 9 inning games during a typical season. September 27, 1987 The fluttering knuckler danced throughout the summers in the Atlanta heat, and by his late 30s Niekro became an absolute workhorse averaging 335 innings a season from 1977 through 1979 and becoming the last pitcher to post back-to-back seasons of at least 300 innings pitched. Niekro, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, was one of baseball's most prolific and durable pitchers, using his "butterfly" pitch to win 318 games in a career that spanned 24 seasons, including 21 with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. He was a key contributor to the Braves winning their only two division titles before 1991. Find out more. He was the best knuckleball pitcher in baseball history. The knuckle curve has a somewhat similar name because of the grip used to throw it (also with the knuckles or fingernails), but it is generally thrown harder and with spin. On March 2, 2010, she trained with Tim Wakefield at the Boston Red Sox minor-league training facility. 4.9. [23], Among position players making pitching appearances, those who have utilized the knuckleball include Wade Boggs,[24][25] Danny Worth,[26] Alex Blandino,[27] and Ernie Clement. Many people, including pros, think that the pitch is thrown with fingertips dug into the seams. Phil Knucksie Niekro used his expertise with the knuckleball pitch to win 318 games during a Hall of Fame career. National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro a longtime pitcher for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves who was known for his blistering knuckleball died in his sleep . 1978 Topps #206 Strikeout Leaders Phil Niekro Nolan Ryan - Nice Card. The Yankees had fallen short of the postseason the day before with a loss in Toronto. "He simply destroys your timing with that knuckleball," said Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. Niekro was remembered by the Hall as "master of the knuckleball and a great mentor, leader and friend." Niekro didn't make it to the big leagues until 1964, when he pitched 10 games in . [1] Niekro retired at the end of the season. With the Braves Niekro earned 268 of his career 318 . You can pitch seven good innings with a knuckleball, and as soon as you walk a guy they go, 'See, there's that damn knuckleball.'" He took the mound for nearly a quarter of a century using the arm-saving pitch. He reinvented pitching by adding this slow, crazy moving pitch. Or write about sports? 2. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and pick it up. . His pitching coach? Rookie Status: Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. This is a difficult task. 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. [36] This technique has also been described as the "dry leaf" or "dead leaf" ("folha seca" in Portuguese),[37] the "tomahawk",[38] or even "the accursed" ("maledetta" in Italian). It is almost never used in a mixed repertoire today, however, and some believe that to throw the knuckleball effectively with some semblance of control over the pitch, one must throw it more or less exclusively. I don't think of his 318 wins. Now you have to apply even pressure using three fingers. Niekro, born in Blaine, Ohio, on April 1, 1939, was the proud scion of a family dynasty of sorts. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Phil Niekro was elected to the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors in 2009. How much did Phil Niekro weigh when playing? After he was notified, Niekro said, "Giving a description of today's phone call is impossible. Former catcher Bob Uecker, who caught for Phil Niekro, said, "The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and pick it up. Ueck told me if I was ever going to be a winner to throw the knuckleball at all times and he would try to catch it. In volleyball, the float serve involves hitting the volleyball in such a way to minimize the rotation of the ball, causing unpredictability in the ball's movement. I don't think of his Hall of Fame plaque. [19], On September 23, 1987, Niekro signed again with his old team, the Atlanta Braves. Knuckleball pitchers can throw more innings than other pitchers, and, requiring less time to recover after pitching, can pitch more frequently. Because there are so few knuckleball pitchers, the resources for learning and improving the knuckleball are few compared to more common pitches. Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s . Coaches are quick to banish the pitch after one bad outing. As I discussed earlier, there are a few different ways to grip the knuckleball. Indeed, Bouton's famous best-selling book Ball Four (1970), while scandalous at the time for its unvarnished and often uncomplimentary portrayal of player behavior and coaching small-mindedness, is primarily a tale of the ups and downs of trying to hang on in the major leagues as a knuckleball pitcher.[29]. [10] This effect is increasing over time as the modern game continues to emphasize power in pitching and average pitch speed increases.[11].
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