He told me, Chaser, Im getting tired, and I think Im going to go to sleep for a while. . For J.J., theyre Dad and Uncle Phil. After the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966, Niekro was still working in relief. [8], 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. Knucksie . I remember (Hall of Fame second baseman Joe) Morgan came to the park one day and saw (Niekros) name in the lineup, and he went in and told (manager) Sparky Anderson he didnt want to hit off him cause it put him in a slump for two days. Even if I pitch the best game of my life, its like the next day, how do I come back? Just realized that life is a lot bigger than baseball or just school, J.J. said. [16] When Tschida told Niekro to empty his pockets, Niekro reached into his pockets, pulled out his hands and threw them in the air. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. 1964 s 1987 kztt Phil 318 gyzelmet aratott (a legtbbet cslks dobval), 3000 feletti gyzelmet aratott, s ERA-rtke 3,35 volt. His nephew, Lance (Joe's son), a first baseman for the Giants, is a legit contender for rookie of the year. However, the Cardinals scored two late runs after Niekro left the game and would eventually sweep the series. What made Niekros knuckler unique was that he threw it harder than most and still maintained the lack of spin that made it so capricious. Joe and Phil Niekro hold the record for most wins by two brothers with 539 - 221 by Joe and 318 by Phil. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Houston Astros award winners and league leaders, List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders, "Kingman Daily Miner - Google News Archive Search", "Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, April 10, 1968", "Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, April 9, 1981", "Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros Box Score, April 19, 1981", "Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros Box Score, April 5, 1983", "Montreal Expos at Houston Astros Box Score, April 3, 1984", "San Francisco Giants at Houston Astros Box Score, June 9, 1985", "Houston Astros at San Diego Padres Box Score, July 2, 1985", "1987 World Series Game 4, Minnesota Twins at St. Louis Cardinals, October 21, 1987 - Baseball-Reference.com", "Minnesota Twins at Boston Red Sox Box Score, April 29, 1988 - Baseball-Reference.com", Brew chief: Former MLB ump and St. Paul native Tim Tschida goes from behind the plate to behind the bar, "Thirty Years Ago Today: Joe Niekro Gets Ejected for Cheating and Scuffing the Ball", "Retrosheet Boxscore: Houston Astros 4, Atlanta Braves 3", "New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers Box Score, July 2, 1970 - Baseball-Reference.com", "Braves sign 19 draft picks, two undrafted players to contracts", National League Pitcher of the Year Award, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joe_Niekro&oldid=1148207561, West Liberty Hilltoppers baseball players, Articles needing additional references from August 2022, All articles needing additional references, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Joe Torre: Talk about a nightmare, knowing he could pitch every game.. Niekro was inducted into Baseballs Hall of Fame in 1997. A lot of people say that about things, but the fact that I get to be a Brave after my Dad and Uncle passed away, and my Aunt is the last remaining of the three, so she gets to relive her childhood memories of my Dad and my Uncle playing for the Braves. In his two seasons with the Braves, he went a combined total of 56 while having a 3.76 ERA and 67 innings pitched. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. Niekros playing journey ended when at 48, he was brought back by the Braves, having been released by Cleveland, for a one-game encore Sept. 27, 1987. He was Opening Day starter again for the 1983 season, going just three innings against the Dodgers while allowing six runs on eight hits in a 167 loss. He took me to school in the morning and I never got to see him again, Niekro said. 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. That was my introduction to Phils knuckleball one particular day., Vic Correll (who caught 67 of Niekros games with the Braves between 1974-77): Game in Houston I caught him, I remember the last pitch of the game, it was a knuckleball that did three different things. The suburban Atlanta resident had a longtime battle with cancer. To 8-year-old J.J., everything seemed normal. He went through plenty of them in 24 seasons, 1964-87, 21 of those with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. Skoronskis short arm length being scrutinized for left tackle, 5 things we learned from Georgias G-Day game, 5 observations from Georgia Techs spring game, Max Fried dazzles in return as Braves beat Padres in series opener, Braves activate Max Fried, reliever Lucas Luetge hits injured list, AJC Braves Report podcast: Its six in a row for the Braves. He surrendered a league-leading 40 home runs that year, a feat he would not repeat until 1979. J.J. Niekro is the son of Joe Niekro and the nephew of Phil Niekro. [3][4] He was of Polish descent. Is Jalen Carter the real deal or a potential NFL bust? vs. SFG 3.0 IP, 6 H, 0 SO, 6 BB, 5 ER. Niekro used a fastball and a slider early in his career, with mixed results. Joe, best known for his time with the Houston Astros franchise, The man went on for 15 minutes about how he loved Phil Niekro and his knuckleball. 35 Phil Niekro room, just one of the many locations youll see the Niekro name throughout the facility. He lived in the Atlanta suburb of Flowery Branch, where a main thoroughfare bears his name. Join our linker program. Phil is beloved among Braves fans for his 21 years in Atlanta. Phil Niekro was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1997. [19], On September 23, 1987, Niekro signed again with his old team, the Atlanta Braves. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Kzel negyed vszzadon t birtokolta a halmot a karvd plyval. If I hit it, I hit it. Learn more. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. His son believes his fathers talent mightve been That resulted in him getting a trip to Braves Spring Training where he saw some familiar sights. [9] On July 2, he won his 200th career game, throwing a complete game against the San Diego Padres while throwing seven innings and allowing two runs on six hits. WebKnuckleball paved Phil Niekro's path to Hall. section: | slug: braves-sign-hall-of-famer-phil-niekros-nephew-j-j-niekro-as-undrafted-free-agent | sport: baseball | route: article_single.us | He used to throw it so hard, and he never knew where it was going to wind up and neither did you. As J.J. Niekro has spent this week at the clubs Spring Training complex, he has regularly seen pictures and tributes to his uncle Phil, who passed away on Dec. 27, 2020. After he was notified, Niekro said, "Giving a description of today's phone call is impossible. "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.. It was such a privilege.. Now 6-0 in his first full season of pro baseball, J.J. is making a name for himself while also serving as an ambassador for the Niekro name. 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. Niekro is survived by his wife, Nancy, sons Philip, John and Michael, and two grandchildren, Chase and Emma. I did the best I could to say I was sorry about that, but it certainly had nothing to do with the fact that I didnt stop his leaving. After minimal schooling, he also went to work in the mines, Tatis ends productive rehab stint, will return Thurs. For fans, Joe and Phil Niekro are two of the most successful pitchers ever to play the game and the winningest brother duo in baseball history. Now the Braves have another Niekro. The Braves said Niekro died Saturday night in his sleep. Justin Toscano is the Braves beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This is my first call-up. He's committed to play for the University of Florida. And regrets it still. Niekro was a teammate in Spahns last year with the Braves, 1964, and Glavines first, in 1987. He was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Mark Salas on June 7, 1987. Im just trying to stop the knuckleball. He hit me in the bare hand and split my finger. After Joe Niekro died, Phil became like a father to J.J. I dont even know what I am doing, and here I am going out into the ninth inning and Knucksie has got a no-hitter going. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nancy, sons Philip, John and Michael and his two grandchildren Chase and Emma.. It hit me in the shinguard, bounced out to Clete Boyer at third base and he threw out the runner at first. The moment I got down here last year for rookie camp, I saw Phil Niekro everywhere on site. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. I got the big glove out again and was full of angst, I can tell you that. The Braves lost the game against the San Francisco Giants 156. 7/14/2021 at 10:21 PM 7/14/2021 at 10:21 PM MLB remembers Hall of Famers lost in the past year. He missed the 1963 season due to military service. Niekro and his younger brother Joe amassed 539 wins between them, the most combined wins by brothers in baseball history. 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! On October 6, 1985, Niekro gained entry into the 300 win club with a shutout win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Just to say that Im a Niekro, I am in baseball and Im doing exactly what they thought I would be doing.. Niekro tallied far more wins (121) and innings (1,977) after turning 40 than any pitcher in baseball history. Niekro was born April 1, 1939 in Blaine, Ohio, the son of Phil Niekro Sr. and Ivy Niekro. WebPhil Niekro. Now they are all joined again, father and sons, resuming that game of catch. Phil Niekro was one of the most distinctive and memorable pitchers of his generation," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. Bruce Benedict: I remember for four or five games before that I dreaded it. He was the only player elected that year; Tony Prez and Don Sutton were among the notable eligible players who were not elected that year. He was such a generous and loving man, he says, so I love to share his story whenever I can. The same can be said for his uncle, Phil, a Braves legend who died in 2020. Knowing Knucksie he could have pitched every day and never bitched about it.. Didnt make it as a starter until the following season. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. [14] Niekro struck Burroughs out to end the game. 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-Famer Phil Niekro, the greatest pitcher of the first quarter-century of Atlanta Braves baseball, died late Saturday at age 81. Knuckleballer Phil Niekro, the beloved Braves legend, had a 17-4 record that year at age 43. 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. [1], Between 1977 and 1979, Niekro was the league leader in complete games, innings pitched and batters faced. I was not going to get myself so high. Its really a dream come true, Niekro said. [1], In 1982, at the age of 43, Niekro led the Braves with a 174 season while winning his fourth Gold Glove Award and appearing in his fourth All-Star game. J.J. said his uncle and dad were the same person. WebHe was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of former Major League first baseman Lance Niekro. 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. [22], A sidearm pitcher, his pitching featured the knuckleball, which frustrated major league hitters. Joe Torres still here, and he caught Niekro at the beginning. 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. At 46 years, 188 days, Niekro became the oldest pitcher to pitch a shutout in the major leagues. [16] He started the 1987 season with the Indians, going 711 in 26 starts. Niekro was a teammate in Spahns last year with the Braves, 1964, and Glavines first, in 1987. [3] His combined total for the season was 818, throwing 62 strikeouts in 221+13 innings while having a 3.70 ERA. I just didn't prepare myself this year. Phil Niekro, Sr., name now Americanized, was born in 1913. Niekro was traded along with Gary Ross and Frankie Librn from the Cubs to the expansion San Diego Padres for Dick Selma on April 24, 1969. But I know I gave everything to the game.. He had 152 strikeouts and 101 walks (both higher from the year before). The Niekros hold the record for the most victories by a brother combination with 539. 7/14/2021 at 10:21 PM 7/14/2021 at 10:21 PM MLB remembers Hall of Famers lost in the past year. 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. Free shipping for many products! Niekro remained in regular contact over the past few months with Braves manager Brian Snitker, who most recently spoke to his longtime friend about three weeks ago. Bruce Benedict: I was talking to Dale (Murphy, the two-time MVP who broke in with the Braves as a catcher) a couple days ago. He underestimated Niekros resilience in the 1982 National League Championship Series, after his Game 1 start against St. Louis was rained out just short of an official game, Niekro shutting out the Cardinals to that point. Joe passed away at the age of 61 in 2006 and Phil passed away following a long battle with cancer at the age of 81 in 2020. He appeared in relief three times, earning two saves. It was an honor to play the game that long, said Niekro, who I certainly had a lot to do with that, but that wasnt the reason. Niekro is related to a pair of former Braves pitchers: he's the son of Joe and the nephew of Phil. Phil Niekro was a legendary Hall of Fame pitcher who was known for his knuckleball pitch who mostly played for the Braves. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, JENNIE: Augusta Players getting ready for Seussical, JENNIE: Downtown group plans April clean-up days, JENNIE: MCG Urogynecologist discusses intimate problems, JENNIE: Local chef expands creative talents to include, JENNIE: Golf Tournament for Easterseals East GA Autism, Niekro continues dominance, GreenJackets win again, Niekro, GreenJackets stay hot Friday night in Columbia, Baseball Hall of Famer, knuckleballer Phil Niekro, Our Testing Lab loved these 14 products in March, Cookware Mothers Day gifts for the foodie mom, Help your dog take the leap with the best dog steps, Plans to rebuild old skating rink and carpet shop, City leaders and water professionals encourage boating, Waynesboro Police Dept. [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. 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. Read More FILE In this March 29, 2007, file photo, Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro holds a knuckleball at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. Born: Or write about sports? If youre shopping for top products on the market, here are the best 14 products the BestReviews Testing Lab loved in March. But to become the man they were and assume the Niekro characteristics, J.J. had to mature sooner than any kid should. We both said almost at the same time it was really an honor to be a part of Niekros career that way. J.J. Niekro lost his dad Joe unexpectedly to a brain aneurysm when he was just eight years old. Georgia Techs Kaleb Edwards to medically retire. Joe, who was five years younger than Phil, enjoyed a 22-season career as a Major League pitcher from '67-88. He was 81. I dont know, I told him, I guessed right. Throughout the years, J.J. has received signs that his uncle and dad are with him. Trying to hit that thing is a miserable way to make a living. He throws a four-seam fastball, two types of sliders he recently developed a sweeping slider and a change-up. searching for suspected shooter, Augusta ambulance contract calls for $2.65M subsidy, SLED releases name of alleged driver in officer-involved, Woman killed after going to wrong address, man charged, OK officials called to resign after racist recording, KC teen released from hospital; homeowner charged, Draymond Green Cant Take the Bait, but No Suspension, Watch: Draymond Green Ejected for Stomping on Kings, Rangers deGrom Pulled From No-Hitter Due to Injury, ESPN Analyst Offers His Hilarious Dream Cast for, Dodgers Re-Signed Former OF Andrew Toles to Give, Grizzlies Jaren Jackson Jr. Named NBA Defensive, Adam Schefter Makes Wild Draft Prediction About First, Patrick Mahomes Gives Classy Response to Jalen Hurtss, Convicted serial rapist sentenced to more than 150, Mexico kidnapping survivor arrested in Myrtle Beach, Coroner IDs shooting victim following birthday party, How the IRS is trying to make tax filing day easier, Justyn Burnett named Scholar Athlete of the Week, 2023 CSRA Job & Career Fair happening at SRP Park, Augusta GreenJackets welcome fans back with one millionth, Uga XI to be unveiled during annual G-Day game, S.C.s Aliyah Boston heads to Fever as No. Niekro was born on April 1, 1939 in Blaine, Ohio, to a Jewish couple. 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