It speculates that the appearance of abrupt shifting may be due to the unpredictability of the changes in direction.[9]. Following his baseball career, he managed the Colorado Silver Bullets, an all-women baseball team in the late 1990s. Tom Candiotti, a notable knuckler in his time and a teammate of Niekro's with the 1986 Cleveland Indians, said that talking to Knucksie was "like talking to Thomas Edison about light bulbs.". A password reset link will be e-mailed to you. One 2007 study offered evidence for this conclusion. 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. On August 5, 1973, Niekro threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres, the first for the Braves since moving to Atlanta. [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. 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. He went 1111 with a 4.32 ERA. and he is still predominantly recognized as the premier knuckleball pitcher in the game's history. By ESPN.com news services. The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and pick it up. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. ", "Will R. A. Dickey's Angry Knuckleball Change The Game? The Braves went to the playoffs, where Niekro was 01 with four earned runs allowed in an eight-inning appearance against the New York Mets. According to Adair, the 150ms minimum human reaction time may be too slow to adjust to a knuckleball's changing direction.[2]. Phil and Joe, known as "Knucksie" and "Little Knucksie," respectively, learned well, going on to pitch a total of 46 major league seasons, earn six All-Star Game berths and, in perhaps their proudest achievement, combine for 539 victories. Remembering Phil Niekro, King of the Knuckleballers (1939-2020) by Jay Jaffe. Aug. 30, 1987 12 AM PT. Phil Niekro, the Hall of Fame pitcher who confounded batters with his fluttering knuckleballs . https://www.mlb.com/ All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Knucksie was one of a kind. In the finale, manager Billy Martin handed pitching coach duties to Joe Niekro and the ball to Phil Niekro. Phil Niekro threw a pitch that baffled hitters and catchers. 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. The Hall of Fame knuckleballer died at 81 years old after a battle with cancer, his former team announced Sunday. Do you have a sports website? us, Died: 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. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. With the Braves Niekro earned 268 of his career 318 . How many seasons did Phil Niekro play? Nancy and I are deeply saddened by the news today of the passing of Phil Niekro. Phil Niekro, Braves and Yankees pitcher whose knuckleball earned him spot in Hall of Fame, dies at 81. Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that baffled big league hitters for more than two decades, mostly with the Braves, has died after a long fight with cancer, the team . Rookie Status: [1], From 1971 to 1973, he combined for a record of 4436. Niekro, born in Blaine, Ohio, on April 1, 1939, was the proud scion of a family dynasty of sorts. "[25] Uecker also said humorously of the pitch, "The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and pick it up. Check out some of his b. 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 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. Historically, the term "knuckle curve" had a usage that was different from what it has in the game today. "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. Phil Niekro owns one of, if not, the best knuckleball in MLB history. But that was nothing new. 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. April 1st, 2022. It was Oct. 6, 1985, the final day of 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The grips of these guys are similar because they understand the basic rule for throwing a great knuckleball reduce as many variables as possible to put yourself into a position to give yourself a chance of killing the spin entirely. Niekro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. Phil Niekro achieved . He never caught for Dickey again. 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. He emerged from Ohio coal mine country as a conventional pitching prospect, signing with the Braves in 1958 but resisting the knuckleball until a minor league manager told him to throw the knuckler or go home., (My father) taught it to me in the backyard, Niekro said. Phil Niekro, the only knuckleball pitcher to win 300 Major League Baseball games, died in his sleep Saturday night after a long battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced. 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. [1] Niekro retired at the end of the season. Dont do it. Burroughs struck out, giving the Yankees an 8-0 victory and Niekro his milestone. 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. Other prominent knuckleball pitchers have included Joe Niekro (Phil's brother), Charlie Hough, Dave Jolly, Ben Flowers, Wilbur Wood, Barney Schultz, Tom Candiotti, Bob Purkey, Steve Sparks, Eddie Rommel, Tim Wakefield, Steven Wright, and Dickey. Niekro p [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. Then sentiment finally took over with two outs in the ninth. Phil's 121 career victories after the age of 40 is a major league record. [1] He was released by the Yankees before the 1986 season started. [10] This effect is increasing over time as the modern game continues to emphasize power in pitching and average pitch speed increases.[11]. Not many pitchers start out with it, and you can't expect to pick it up overnight. 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. (Jean Fruth/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Cleveland Indians uniform cap worn by Phil Niekro facing the Detroit Tigers on June 1, 1987, when he gained his 314th career win, making the Niekro brothers the all-time brother-combined leaders in wins with 530 - B-98-87 (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), Phil Niekro pitching as Atlanta Brave, 1981 - BL-2710-2000 (Rick Pilling/National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), Niekro remembered for mastery of the knuckleball, elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. He always represented his sport extraordinarily well, and he will be deeply missed. Through Sunday he was 7-2, with an American League-leading ERA of 1.20. [2], Pitchers like Bouton have found success as knuckleballers after their ability to throw hard declined. [50], This article is about the baseball pitch. Join our linker program. 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. Associated Press. 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 . Get breaking news alerts& today's headlines inyour inbox. I was not going to get myself so high. "In the last century, no pitcher threw more than Phil's 5,404 innings. Phil Knucksie Niekro used his expertise with the knuckleball pitch to win 318 games during a Hall of Fame career. (Age 25-014d, 4.9. 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. Seams are raised. Share Phil Niekro was a legendary Hall of Fame pitcher known for his knuckleball pitch, who played for the Braves most of his career. "They may not be intimidated by them, but they sure are thinking about them before they go into the box.". 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. As used by Cicotte, the knuckleball was originally thrown by holding the ball with the knuckles, hence the name of the pitch. Who throws the best knuckleball? December 27, 2020, 9:39 AM. Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleballer and rank 16th on MLB's all-time wins list. 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. 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. Find out more. Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, who rode his knuckleball to 318 victories, was the seventh Hall of Famer to pass away in 2020. . Niekro and his younger brother Joe amassed 539 wins between them, the most combined wins by brothers in baseball history. For many hitters, using a bat to try to get a hit off Phil Niekro was a farce. Knuckleball paved Phil Niekro's path to Hall. Regardless of how the ball is gripped, the purpose of the knuckleball is to have the least possible amount of rotational spin. 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. 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. [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. $2.49 . 1965 Topps Clay Carroll, Phil Niekro #461. Now you have to apply even pressure using three fingers. . [2] Other accounts attribute the pitch's creation to Charles H. Druery, a pitcher in the Blue Ridge League. 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. Other names for the knuckleball have generally alluded to its motion and slower speed. He took the mound for nearly a quarter of a century using the arm-saving pitch. Trying to hit that thing is a miserable way to make a living. [19] At the same time, pitchers rarely focus on the knuckleball if they have reasonable skill with more standard pitches. Phil baffled batters on the field and later was always the first to join in our community activities. View Phil Niekro's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). [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. It features the Knucksie Sandwich, made with barbecue pork and cole slaw atop a corn muffin, said to be his favorite. Your grip should avoid seams altogether. Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that . Phil Niekro shares a story with Braves fans during A Night at the Museum at the Hall of Fame. Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that baffled big league hitters for more than two decades . [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. It was during those community and fan activities where he would communicate with fans as if they were long lost friends. He was a key contributor to the Braves winning their only two division titles before 1991. Niekro and his family supported the students of Bridgeport High School with the proceeds from the annual golf tournament "The Niekro Classic". Pitching coaches often struggle with knuckleball pitchers due to a lack of experience with the pitch. And its the most unstable friend that youll ever have. 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. Phil Niekro dug his fingernails into the baseballs seams and carved out a legend eventually earning a plaque in Cooperstown. 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. He was 81. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Between 1964 and 1987, Phil racked up 318 wins (the most by a knuckleball pitcher), struck out over 3,000 and had a ERA of 3.35. Or write about sports? This is the magical village of the U.S.A., Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. [1] That season, Phil and Joe Niekro were NL co-leaders in wins. (Age 48-179d) Only Cy Young, "Pud" Galvin and Walter Johnson pitched more innings than Niekro's 5,404. This modern pitch is unrelated to the knuckleball. 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.'" Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. AMA! Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1997. Phil, trying for a fifth time to win No. On March 2, 2010, she trained with Tim Wakefield at the Boston Red Sox minor-league training facility. Popular categories from this store. [14] Niekro struck Burroughs out to end the game. Thats a long phrase, but it is an important one to learn, A solid knuckleball grip with no fatal flaws. 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. (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. 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. After he was notified, Niekro said, "Giving a description of today's phone call is impossible. Our hearts go out to Nancy Niekro, the kids and grandkids. But because the pitch is so difficult to throw, even on a good day, you want to reduce as many variables as possible. 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. However, the seam on a cricket ball is equatorial, and thus the extent of erratic movement is reduced due to the symmetry (at least in the conventional release position where the planes of the ball's trajectory and the seam are nearly co-planar). Signed in 1958, he didn't break through for good for nearly a decade. [1], In 1980 and 1981, he went 1518 and 77 while leading the league in games started (38) and losses (18) in 1980. His 23 victories that season earned him second place in the National League Cy Young Award vote. Phil Niekro was born in Blaine, OH. Ferrell knew knuckleballs: he had the task of being the Washington Senators catcher in 194445, when the Senators had four knuckleball pitchers in their starting rotation. But Niekro, who pitched for the Braves, Yankees, Indians and Blue Jays for 24 seasons, was more . Geno Petralli of the Texas Rangers in 1987 while trying to catch knuckleball pitcher Charlie Hough, and tied again in 2013 when Ryan Lavarnway of the Boston Red Sox had four in the first inning, catching knuckleballer Steven Wright in Wright's first major league start. 5/08 - initial page AKA This grip is also called knuckler, dancer, or floater. [17] When, in 2012, R. A. Dickey became the first Cy Young Award-winning knuckleball pitcher, he called the award "a victory for the knuckleball fraternity", and of the dozens of phone calls he received after the announcement, Niekro's was the only one he answered. Communication. "Very few pitchers make a living throwing the knuckleball," says Sain, "simply because they can't make it work. He returned to Louisville in 1962 and had a 96 record. 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. His success eventually forced the team to take a chance on a knuckleballer as a starting pitcher. We present them here for purely educational purposes. [16] He started the 1987 season with the Indians, going 711 in 26 starts. As with many knuckleball pitchers, age proved no barrier to Niekro. "He was a constant presence over the years, in our clubhouse, our alumni activities and throughout Braves Country and we will forever be grateful for having him be such an important part of our organization. Phil Niekro's big league career was never about speed. Exceeded rookie limits during 1965 season, View Player Bio 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. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nancy, sons Philip, John and Michael and his two grandchildren Chase and Emma.". "[26], After the end of his professional baseball career, Niekro managed the all-women Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team. Phil, trying for a fifth time to win No. Memorial Park South Cemetery, Flowery Branch, GA, High School: Bridgeport HS (Bridgeport, OH), Debut: