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I don't think of his 318 wins. A pitch thrown completely without spin is less desirable, however, than one with a very slight spin. "He simply destroys your timing with that knuckleball," said Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. 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. The knuckleball is also employed by cricket fast bowlers Zaheer Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Andrew Tye as their slower delivery. He reinvented pitching by adding this slow, crazy moving pitch. Niekro was the king of the knuckleballers, ranking first in victories and strikeouts (3,342). Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro holds a knuckleball at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland in 2017. Joe Niekro died in 2006 at age 61. Anything that you do that has a chance of putting even a tiny amount of spin on the ball must be eliminated, even if it feels comfortable. As used by Cicotte, the knuckleball was originally thrown by holding the ball with the knuckles, hence the name of the pitch. The nice thing about Phil Niekro is, he doesn't look his age. 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. Niekro was born in Blaine, Ohio, and grew up in Lansing, Ohio, the son of Henrietta (Klinkoski) and Philip Niekro. Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleballer and rank 16th on MLB's all-time wins list. 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. [19], On September 23, 1987, Niekro signed again with his old team, the Atlanta Braves. [14], Another factor contributing to the rarity of the knuckleball is the difficulty of throwing the pitch. 1978 Topps Nolan Ryan Phil Niekro Strikeout Leaders #206 NM HOF Nice Card! A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. 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. [9] He appeared in 37 games, finishing with a 1412 record and 15 complete games. [1] Niekro retired at the end of the season. How much did Phil Niekro weigh when playing? 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; umpires are challenged as well, as the ball's irregular motion through the air makes it harder to call balls and strikes. 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. Position the Ball "But even more than his signature pitch and trademark durability, Phil will be remembered as one of our game's most genial people. Rookie Status: However, the Cardinals scored two late runs after Niekro left the game and would eventually sweep the series. La maledetta che sfida la fisica", "Noughty Boys: No one hit a free-kick quite like Juninho Pernambucano", "Pele to Zico to Beckham to Ronaldo: Evolution of the Free-Kick Masters", "Mestre de Pirlo, Juninho Pernambucano ensinou italiano a bater falta", "The Top 15 Best Shooters in World Football", "Bonansea: I was always daydreaming of football in class", The (Mostly) Complete List of Knuckleball Pitchers, NPR.org on the Red Sox's re-acquisition of Doug Mirabelli, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knuckleball&oldid=1137620558, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 16:41. * 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 . Additionally, Ted Lyons, another member of the Hall of Fame, relied heavily on the knuckleball after injuring his arm in 1931. ", "Will R. A. Dickey's Angry Knuckleball Change The Game? Ralph Kiner compared Niekro's special pitch to "watching Mario Andretti park a car". All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. His younger brother Joe was also a Major League pitcher, who won more than 200 games. In 24 seasons with the Braves, Yankees, Indians and Blue Jays, Niekro was 318-274 with a 3.35 ERA. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. 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. "Very few pitchers make a living throwing the knuckleball," says Sain, "simply because they can't make it work. [6] According to physicist Robert Adair, due to the physiological limitation of human reaction time, a breaking knuckleball may be impossible to hit except by luck. On March 2, 2010, she trained with Tim Wakefield at the Boston Red Sox minor-league training facility. "It actually giggles at you as it goes by," said former outfielder Rick Monday. After he was notified, Niekro said, "Giving a description of today's phone call is impossible. If staying in the majors could be owed to the knuckler, the same factor might also explain Niekro's initial difficulty in reaching the big leagues. With the Braves Niekro earned 268 of his career 318 . Nobody likes to warm up with you." . A little more pressure from any of the fingertips and the ball spins. 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". Regardless of how the ball is gripped, the purpose of the knuckleball is to have the least possible amount of rotational spin. He returned to Louisville in 1962 and had a 96 record. [1] A pitcher who throws knuckleballs is known as a knuckleballer. vs. SFG 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER, Last Game: When done correctly, the float serve is hard for opponents to predict where the ball will end up, thus rendering it hard to pass. Phil Niekro fashioned a long, successful sports career by mastering the most confounding pitch in the history of baseballthe knuckleball. Knuckleball pitcher Phil Niekro reacts to the news that he has been voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during a press conference on Monday, Jan. 6, 1997 at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. 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 after a long fight with cancer, the team . 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 after a long fight with cancer, the team announced Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. I don't think of his knuckleball. http://www.courtsidetweets.comPhil Niekro of the New York Yankees wins his 300th game in Toronto against the Blue Jays! [16] He started the 1987 season with the Indians, going 711 in 26 starts. Shipping speed. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He appeared in relief three times, earning two saves. 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 . (Age 25-014d, 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. The knuckleball is somewhat of a lost art, a pitch with slower speed that moves oddly and is hard for hitters to predict the trajectory. R. A. Dickey argues that, "for most managers, it takes a special manager to be able to really trust it the bad and the good of it. [21], 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. Heck, the pitch comes and goes when it feels like it and, get this, you never really master it. [2] Because they cannot discuss pitching with non knuckleball-using teammates, they often share tips and insights even if on competing teams, and believe that they have a responsibility to help younger players develop the pitch. "Catching Niekro's knuckleball was great. [3][4] He was of Polish descent. Vic DeLucia/The New York Times. Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s . Check out some of his b. Through Sunday he was 7-2, with an American League-leading ERA of 1.20. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Phil Niekro was elected to the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors in 2009. Keep up with headlines and events at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and see who will be taking their place in history next. 5.0. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. He always represented his sport extraordinarily well, and he will be deeply missed. Jim Bouton said, "coaches don't respect it. "I got to meet a lot of important people. Phil Niekro's playing days ended in 1987, but he would don a uniform one more time, as manager of the women's barnstorming Colorado Silver Bullets (1994-97). 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. "We are . 300, entered the bottom of the ninth having shut out the Jays on curveballs, slip pitches, fastballs and screwballs -- everything but a knuckleball. On August 5, 1973, Niekro threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres, the first for the Braves since moving to Atlanta. It speculates that the appearance of abrupt shifting may be due to the unpredictability of the changes in direction.[9]. After the season, the Braves released him.[11]. 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. For many hitters, using a bat to try to get a hit off Phil Niekro was a farce. Associated Press. April 15, 1964 Dedicated daily to memorializing notable personalities. And todays two tips are all about reducing those variables. Check out some of his best highlights here!Don't forget to subscribe! Historically, the term "knuckle curve" had a usage that was different from what it has in the game today. And if you can throw a ball without any spin at 65-plus miles-per-hour, than youve got a great knuckleball grip. When you start off learning the knuckleball, it can be frustrating. Carroll would go on to become a two-time All-Star reliever for the Cincinnati Reds and would notch 143 saves over his career. The Niekro brothers would face each other nine times in their career, with Joe's team winning five. Jean Faut (19252023), AAGPBL pitcher with two perfect Bob Richards (19262023), first athlete featured on Wheaties Greg Foster (19582023), world champion hurdler, Tom Sizemore (19612023), actor in Saving Private Ryan, Heat, Jerry Richardson (19362023), Carolina Panthers founder, Wayne Shorter (19332023), jazz saxophonist who co-founded Weather Report, Jean Faut (19252023), AAGPBL pitcher with two perfect games, Bob Richards (19262023), first athlete featured on Wheaties boxes, Greta Andersen (19272023), Olympic swimming champion. ATLANTA (AP) Phil Niekro threw a pitch that baffled hitters and catchers. [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. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. Created by the act of throwing a ball, the ball's trajectory is significantly affected by variations in airflow caused by differences between the smooth surface of the ball and the stitching of its seams. 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. According to Adair, the 150ms minimum human reaction time may be too slow to adjust to a knuckleball's changing direction.[2]. Niekro joined Al Kaline, Tom Seaver, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson . Perplexed catchers and managers wary of passed balls and wild pitches were reasons often cited for Niekro's extended stay in the Braves' minor league system. (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. I just didn't prepare myself this year. He was kind, a gentleman, family man, master of his trade and teamate 84-85. This was common due to the amount of practice one must put into the pitch. Phil Niekro played for 5 teams; the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays. 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.'" 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. Self-guided tour or VIP experience. Seams catch on skin and send the ball spinning. 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. Uecker acknowledged he did a lot of chasing. Second stint with the Atlanta Braves (1987), New York Yankees Opening Day starting pitchers, List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders, List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball single-inning strikeout leaders, "20-Game Loser: Profiles of the 20-Loss Seasons", "Phil Niekro has never forgotten the Ohio Valley", "Phil Niekro Goes Home to Visit His Ailing Father", "Phil League Minor League Statistics and History", "Harris planning dual role for Phil Niekro", "Phil Niekro's illustrious career by the numbers", "Phil Niekro Signs 2-Year Yankee Pact (Published 1984)", "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", "Niekro Gets 300th Win a Shutout of Blue Jays", "YANKEES TRADED BAYLOR AND RELEASE PHIL NIEKRO", "Hall of Famer knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81 | Sports | morningjournal.com", "SPORTS PEOPLE; Phil Niekro to Braves (Published 1987)", "Phil Niekro, who rode his knuckleball to the Hall of Fame, dies at 81", "No Spin Zone: Knuckleball master Phil Niekro to speak at Field of Dreams Banquet", "FresnoBee.com: Fresno Grizzlies: Niekro gets shot to pitch", "A Roster of MLB All-Stars Helped Raise Awareness for Prostate Cancer", "Legendary Braves pitcher Phil Niekro dies at age of 81", "Hall of Fame knuckleballer Niekro dead at 81", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phil_Niekro&oldid=1138834006, Major League Baseball players with retired numbers, Louisville Colonels (minor league) players, American expatriate baseball players in Canada, Deaths from cancer in Georgia (U.S. state), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, September 27,1987,for theAtlanta Braves, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 22:10. 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. Exceeded rookie limits during 1965 season, View Player Bio This modern pitch is unrelated to the knuckleball. Philip Henry Niekro (/ n i k r o / NEE-kroh; April 1, 1939 - December 26, 2020), nicknamed "Knucksie", was an American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball, 20 of them with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves.Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleballer and rank 16th on MLB's all-time wins list.He won the National League Gold Glove Award five . [22], A sidearm pitcher, his pitching featured the knuckleball, which frustrated major league hitters. As of 2004[update], only about 70 Major League Baseball pitchers have regularly used the knuckleball during their careers, and its use has become rarer over time. He's the toast of two towns, New York andha-haAtlanta, and he has even been dubbed St. Knucksie. Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. [21] Mickey Jannis of the Baltimore Orioles organization also throws the knuckleball, and made his major league debut on June 23, 2021. He was 81. He spent the next season with the Class AA Austin Senators. He was known for his knuckleball, and had a career record of 318-274. That edge was made possible by a game-winning home run Phil gave up to Joe, the only homer Joe hit in his 22-year career. 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]. They hold the record for most combined wins by siblings in a career with 539. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. He'd made a living escaping such jams with a knuckleball that would . Phil Niekro was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1997. View Phil Niekro's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). Niekro was a five-time All-Star and pitched a no-hitter in 1973 against the Padres. Niekro p 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. A password reset link will be e-mailed to you. I didnt know what it was or anything, he showed me how to hold it and wed just play knuckleball in the backyard., Phil Niekro pitched for the Braves for 21 seasons, topping the 300-inning mark in four seasons. [10], Coaches have also been seen as a barrier to succeeding with the knuckleball. Phil Niekro showing his grip at the Baseball Hall of Fame. 4.9. The Braves lost the game against the San Francisco Giants 156. Phil Niekro owns one of, if not, the best knuckleball in MLB history. Other names for the knuckleball have generally alluded to its motion and slower speed. December 27, 2020 Senior producer, Legacy.com. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, and Jesse Haines, three pitchers who primarily relied on the knuckleball, have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His brother Joe Niekro even pays him . Heck, he didn't even know where it was going most of the time. in speed, and things like that." . While learning to trust the pitch which is pushed toward home plate without any spin, allowing air currents to move the ball unpredictably Niekro ascended through the Braves minor league system. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 12:52AM. 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. Signed in 1958, he didn't break through for good for nearly a decade. Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1997. pic.twitter.com/bGjFBMJZrL, Full Obituary: Atlanta Journal Constitution. Toad Ramsey, a pitcher from 1885 to 1890, is credited in some later sources with being the first knuckleballer, apparently based primarily on accounts of how he gripped the ball; however, based on more contemporary descriptions of his pitch as an "immense drop ball", it may be that his pitch was a form of knuckle curve. Former knuckleballer and pitching coach Charlie Hough says that the increased rarity of the knuckleball is due to scouts increasingly looking only for the best arm. The asymmetric drag that results tends to deflect the trajectory toward the side with the stitches. In this March 29, 2007, file photo, Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro holds a knuckleball at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. "I led the league in ERA [1.87], and he led the league in passed balls.". 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. I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission. Updated pitcher list, and average pitch speed for Dickey/Wakefield. December 30, 2020. 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. Phil Niekro dug his fingernails into the baseballs seams and carved out a legend eventually earning a plaque in Cooperstown. [15], After two seasons in New York, Niekro pitched for the Cleveland Indians in 1986. "[24] Catcher Bob Uecker was also frustrated by the pitch at times, saying, "Niekro struck out a hitter once and I never touched the ball. Now you have to apply even pressure using three fingers. Phil Niekro who hurled most of his famous knuckle balls with the Braves, died on Saturday . BL-1598-92 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), Phil Niekro posing with his plaque during the 1997 Hall of Fame Weekend. Phil baffled batters on the field and later was always the first to join in our community activities. Phil Niekro weighed 180 lbs (81 kg) when playing. All rights reserved. "Trying to hit Phil Niekro is like trying to eat Jell-O with chopsticks," said former New York Yankees All-Star outfielder Bobby Murcer. [30], On December 26, 2020, Niekro died in his sleep at age 81. FILE - In this 1970 file photo, Atlanta Braves' Phil Niekro poses for a photo. How many seasons did Phil Niekro play? [1], From 1971 to 1973, he combined for a record of 4436. [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. in Blaine, OH (Brad Mangin/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Using his trademark knuckleball to baffle hitters, Phil Niekro was named to five All-Star Games. Support provided by Market New York through I LOVE NY/ New York States Division of Tourism as a part of the Regional Economic Development Council awards. Joe Niekro. During his twenty-one seasons with the Atlanta Braves, "Knucksie," as he was known, became one of the most popular players in franchise history. Not many pitchers start out with it, and you can't expect to pick it up overnight. [20] On September 27, he made his final start of his career, pitching three innings and surrendering five runs in the no-decision. There will be a period when they will beat the daylights out of you. Many thanks to him. [2], Pitchers like Bouton have found success as knuckleballers after their ability to throw hard declined. Though Phil and Joe Niekro did twice team together, with the 1973-74 Braves and the 1985 Yankees, the two self-declared best friends were more often friendly rivals. "I figured if there's any way I'm going to win my 300th game by striking the guy out, I was going to do it with the pitch that won the first game for me," Niekro said. 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. ASSOCIATED . [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. This record stood for nearly 25 years before Jamie Moyer (47 years, 170 days) bested the feat in May 2010. By 1967, Niekro was one of the top pitchers in the game, leading the NL that year with an ERA of 1.87. [29], The Gwinnett Braves' home, Coolray Field, has a restaurant, Niekro's, named after him. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. The knuckleball is somewhat of a lost art, a pitch with slower speed that moves oddly and is hard for hitters to predict the trajectory. Share (Josh Szot/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Phil Niekro managed the Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team from 1994-97. But because the pitch is so difficult to throw, even on a good day, you want to reduce as many variables as possible. [33], Varitek holds the postseason record with three passed balls in the 13th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 American League Championship Series while catching Wakefield.[34]. Phil Niekro (19392020), legendary knuckleball pitcher. In this March 29, 2007, photo, Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro holds a knuckleball at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. Do you have a blog? Most of his career was spent with mostly with the Atlanta Braves. Phil Niekro was born in Blaine, OH. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. He finished third in the voting for the Cy Young Award that year. Niekro learned his knuckler as a 12-year-old from his coal miner father in Ohio. Sun 27 Dec 2020 13.34 EST. Since it typically only travels 60 to 70 miles per hour (97 to 113km/h),[7] far slower than the average major league fastball 85 to 95 miles per hour (137 to 153km/h), it can be hit very hard if there is no movement. This can be attributed to a variety of factors. [1][8] He stayed with the major league team all year in 1965, pitching .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}74+23 innings in 41 games and recording six saves. His longevity is attributed to his knuckleball, which is a difficult pitch to master but is easy on the arm and often baffles hitters due to its unpredictable trajectory. 1965 Topps Clay Carroll, Phil Niekro #461. Phil Niekro shares a story with Braves fans during A Night at the Museum at the Hall of Fame. I feel like I'm surrounded by family, Niekro said of his many trips to Cooperstown. Because the speed of any prospect's pitch is one of the quickest and easiest metrics in judging the skill of the prospect, the knuckleball, which is thrown slower than any other pitch, gets overlooked. [2] If a knuckleball does not change direction in mid-flight, however, then it is easy to hit due to its lack of speed. As a mentor, leader and friend, Phil brought out the best in all of us in Cooperstown. Phil Niekro won 318 games over his 24-year big league career. He was a key contributor to the Braves winning their only two division titles before 1991. Unlike conventional pitches, which perform fast results without much exertion, a knuckleball pitcher must train his body and muscle memory to be able to execute a 65mph pitch with less than one rotation. But the knuckleball carried Niekro to more than 300 wins, earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame and gave him a nickname that stuck for the rest of his life. The four pitchers in the hall of fame include Phil Niekro, Ted Lyons, Jesse Haines, and Hoyt Wilhelm. This use of a "specialist" catcher continued into the 2008 season following the signing of Kevin Cash, and 2009 saw George Kottaras fulfill this role. Phil Niekro, who rode his knuckleball to 318 wins and a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame, has died at 81 of cancer. Phil's 121 career victories after the age of 40 is a major league record. Phil Niekro achieved . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 300, entered the bottom of the ninth having shut out the Jays on curveballs, slip pitches, fastballs and screwballs -- everything but a knuckleball. I led the league in ERA [1.87], and he led the league in passed balls. From an interview with ESPN, Master of the knuckleball and a great mentor, leader and friend, Hall of Famer and @braves legend Phil Niekro passed away overnight at the age of 81. https://t.co/aj7uScYnuy pic.twitter.com/F1GmX9Yb1n. Avoid the seams. Stay away from them at all costs.And stay tuned for the next part of this never-ending series about knuckleball grips Theres just so much to talk about. Phil Niekro's big league career was never about speed. [19] At the same time, pitchers rarely focus on the knuckleball if they have reasonable skill with more standard pitches.