http://www.courtsidetweets.comPhil Niekro of the New York Yankees wins his 300th game in Toronto against the Blue Jays! 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. They clawed against each other as mound opponents, with Joe defeating his big brother 5-4 in their careers. 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". As I discussed earlier, there are a few different ways to grip the knuckleball. 4.9. His longevity was greatly aided by his reliance on the knuckleball, which puts far less stress on a pitcher's throwing arm than a standard repertoire of pitches. His pitching coach? Phil's 121 career victories after the age of 40 is a major league record. Phil Niekro, who rode his knuckleball to 318 wins and a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame, has died at 81 of cancer. He reinvented pitching by adding this slow, crazy moving pitch. "They may not be intimidated by them, but they sure are thinking about them before they go into the box.". As of 2021, four primary knuckleball pitchers are in the Baseball Hall of Fame today. The knuckleball is also employed by cricket fast bowlers Zaheer Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Andrew Tye as their slower delivery. 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. Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, and Jesse Haines, three pitchers who primarily relied on the knuckleball, have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. "[1] Bouton said, "Catchers hate it. 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. $5.98 + $1.98 shipping. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. [10] This effect is increasing over time as the modern game continues to emphasize power in pitching and average pitch speed increases.[11]. Niekro, born in Blaine, Ohio, on April 1, 1939, was the proud scion of a family dynasty of sorts. He would say later that he wanted to prove he was a pitcher, not just a knuckleballer. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. . He was 81. Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a . Hij doelde daarmee op top-knuckleballers in de Major League als Tim Wakefield en Phil Niekro . Check out some of his best highlights here!Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.mlb.com/ Atlanta Braves pitcher Phil Niekro is seen in a 1968 photo. 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.". Heck, he didn't even know where it was going most of the time. However, Cicotte called the shine ball "a pure freak of the imagination", claiming that he did this to disconcert hitters and that the pitch was still a knuckleball. The Boston Red Sox, in their 2004 world championship season, had Mirabelli regularly catching in place of Jason Varitek when Tim Wakefield was pitching. Tim Wakefield argues that "The problem is that [baseball] is so radar gun-oriented." Phil Niekro was born in Blaine, OH. Because there are so few knuckleball pitchers, the resources for learning and improving the knuckleball are few compared to more common pitches. [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. [3] In 1917, Druery taught the pitch to Eddie Rommel who became successful with it for the Philadelphia Athletics.[4]. 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. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. If you have any question, please contact me at knuckleballnation@gmail.com, Monday Friday: 10am 9pmSaturday: 10am 4pm, Copyright OceanWP Knuckleball Nation. Or write about sports? 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. Many people, including pros, think that the pitch is thrown with fingertips dug into the seams. Our hearts go out to Nancy Niekro, the kids and grandkids. Biographical Information [] "It actually giggles at you as it goes by." - Rick Monday, discussing Niekro's famous knuckleball Phil Niekro was, by several years, the last man born in the 1930s to be playing Major League Baseball. The origins of the knuckleball are unclear. His total of 5,404+13 innings pitched is the most by any pitcher in the post-1920 live-ball era. Trying to hit that thing is a miserable way to make a living. Following a 23-13 season in 1969 that firmly established him as one of baseballs best, the durable Niekro consistently piled up innings and perplexed batters. Of the thousands of pitchers who have reached the majors, fewer than a hundred mastered the knuckleball that maddeningly erratic, spin-free butterfly well enough to rely upon it as their primary pitch. Phil Niekro threw a pitch that baffled hitters and catchers. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. I've been stunned before. Furthermore, other factors, such as a dearth of knuckleball teachers and the dramatic increase in the running game base stealing is often easier against knuckleball pitchers may be contributing to its demise. Also featured are the stories of the best knuckleball catchers, from Bob Uecker and Doug Mirabelli to Rick Ferrell and Paul Richards. 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. [7] He pitched for several minor league teams at several levels for the next few years, appearing mostly as a relief pitcher. Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, who rode his knuckleball to 318 victories, was the seventh Hall of Famer to pass away in 2020. . Phil Niekro played for 5 teams; the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays. Taking a fly swatter to the batter's box would have worked just as well. "Catching Niekro's knuckleball was great," said Uecker, now a Hall of Fame announcer. The Niekro brothers would face each other nine times in their career, with Joe's team winning five. This shooting technique is frequently used by players for long-range shots and free kicks. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. Toad Ramsey of the Louisville Colonels in the old American Associationhis pitch likely resembled the knuckle curveand Eddie Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox, who in 1908 was nicknamed "Knuckles", are two possible creators of the pitch. Through Sunday he was 7-2, with an American League-leading ERA of 1.20. Dont do it. The Braves finished 3rd, 4th, and 5th in their division. December 30, 2020. 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. 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. Niekro's first two Topps baseball cards are both combination cards with other Braves prospects and his 1965 Topps card is shared with pitcher Clay Carroll. Phil Niekro owns one of, if not, the best knuckleball in MLB history. "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. He missed the 1963 season due to military service. Niekro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. 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. But the knuckleball carried Niekro to more than 300 wins, earned him a . Phil Niekro was 6-1 (185 cm) tall. Mr. Niekro's longevity in a game that can be unforgiving for players who lose their timing, great eyesight, speed and ability to throw as they age is simply remarkable. Sponsored. He was a key contributor to the Braves winning their only two division titles before 1991. A team will sometimes employ a catcher solely for games started by a knuckleballer. [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. Heck, he didn't even know where it was going most of the time. In this March 29, 2007, photo, Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro holds a knuckleball at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. He reinvented pitching by adding this slow, crazy moving pitch. [1], In 1983, he went 1110 and won his fifth Gold Glove Award. inFlowery Branch,GA, Buried: "It actually giggles at you as it goes by," said former outfielder Rick Monday. [22], On September 18, 2020, the first knuckleball thrown in 2020 was by the New York Mets' Todd Frazier, normally a third baseman, in a 15-2 blowout loss to Atlanta Braves. I got to meet a lot of important people. "He simply destroys your timing with that knuckleball," said Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. 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. During his twenty-one seasons with the Atlanta Braves, "Knucksie," as he was known, became one of the most popular players in franchise history. A reporter once noted that Phil is 48 but you'd never know it. 1978 Topps Nolan Ryan Phil Niekro Strikeout Leaders #206 NM HOF Nice Card! 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. When done correctly, the float serve is hard for opponents to predict where the ball will end up, thus rendering it hard to pass. 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 . Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s . [1] A pitcher who throws knuckleballs is known as a knuckleballer. Phil Niekro achieved . He pitched six innings of Game 2 and left with a 32 lead. Ralph Kiner compared Niekro's special pitch to "watching Mario Andretti park a car". [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. 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 Braves went to the playoffs, where Niekro was 01 with four earned runs allowed in an eight-inning appearance against the New York Mets. [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). 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. 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. December 27, 2020 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. If a seam is liable to catch a finger at any point as you release the ball, change your grip. He returned to Louisville in 1962 and had a 96 record. Remembering Phil Niekro, King of the Knuckleballers (1939-2020) by Jay Jaffe. [1] Niekro's playoff loss came against Seaver. By 1969, Niekro was an All-Star. (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), Phil Niekro (left) greets members of Team Knucksie, including Alan Trammell (center), before the 2015 Hall of Fame Classic Game in Cooperstown. First called up by Milwaukee in 1964, Niekro seesawed between the majors and minors, a pitcher struggling to find a niche and willing catchers. In-person Lessons at the Knuckleball Academy, Knuckleball Grip, Part 3: Depth of the Baseball. I don't think of his Hall of Fame plaque. See all categories. [27], Niekro was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997, his fifth year of eligibility. 5.0. Rookie Status: (Voted by BBWAA on 380/473 ballots) 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. [1], In 1980 and 1981, he went 1518 and 77 while leading the league in games started (38) and losses (18) in 1980. [43][44][45][46][47] This technique has also been used and even adapted by several other players, such as Andrea Pirlo,[48][39] Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo,[49] Didier Drogba,[49] Marcus Rashford, Gareth Bale,[38] and Barbara Bonansea. 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. The baseball field where he played at Bridgeport High School's Perkins Field athletic complex was renamed "The Niekro Diamond" in 2008 after Phil and his brother, fellow major league pitcher Joe Niekro. On Sunday we learned that Phil Niekro, the greatest knuckleball pitcher in baseball history, had died of cancer the day before at age 81. However, since a typical major league starting rotation exceeds the length of a series against any one opponent, one way a manager can mitigate this disadvantage is to adjust his team's pitching rotation so as to eliminate (or at least minimize) games in which a knuckleballer would pitch against teams with a preponderance of fast baserunners. Niekro was the king of the knuckleballers, ranking first in victories and strikeouts (3,342). (Doug McWilliams/National baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). Phil Niekro 1964-1983, 1987 (88.5 WAR) . 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 . "Very few pitchers make a living throwing the knuckleball," says Sain, "simply because they can't make it work. The asymmetric drag that results tends to deflect the trajectory toward the side with the stitches. As I discussed earlier, there are a few different ways to grip the knuckleball. But the knuckleball carried Niekro to more than 300 . Phil Niekro's big league career was never about speed. Seams have texture. The nice thing about Phil Niekro is, he doesn't look his age. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. After spending 25 of his 45 years in the Braves organization, Niekro is indeed a New York Yankee. Phil Niekro had 3,342 strikeouts over his career. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It was Oct. 6, 1985, the final day of the season. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from laminar to turbulent flow. [8], Niekro led the league with a 1.87 ERA in 1967, earning an 119 record with 10 complete games and 9 saves. us, Died: He appeared in relief three times, earning two saves. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from laminar to turbulent flow. The lower physical strain also fosters longer careers. [33] It was tied by He would go on for two more decades living inside hitters' heads. Following his baseball career, he managed the Colorado Silver Bullets, an all-women baseball team in the late 1990s. [1], Between 1977 and 1979, Niekro was the league leader in complete games, innings pitched and batters faced. His brother Joe Niekro even pays him . Joe Niekro. Find out more. Niekro joined Al Kaline, Tom Seaver, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson . April 15, 1964 A password reset link will be e-mailed to you. [21] Mickey Jannis of the Baltimore Orioles organization also throws the knuckleball, and made his major league debut on June 23, 2021. Phil Niekro, a pitcher who used his signature knuckleball to fool generations of hitters and craft a Hall of Fame career, died Saturday night . 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. Phil, Trying to hit him, said Yankees All-Star outfielder Bobby Murcer, is like trying to eat Jell-O with chopsticks.. I don't think of his knuckleball. One 2007 study offered evidence for this conclusion. 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. Data Provided By [2] If a knuckleball does not change direction in mid-flight, however, then it is easy to hit due to its lack of speed. But after 318 career victories over 24 big league seasons, Niekro was rewarded with the ultimate honor in Cooperstown. Their win total still stands as a major league record for siblings, as they surpassed another brother combination featuring a Hall of Famer: Gaylord and Jim Perry (529 wins combined). [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]. Amazingly, he won 121 games over the age of 40 thanks to his knuckleball. I was not going to get myself so high. 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 . In 1984, Niekro signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees. December 27, 2020, 9:39 AM. Phil Niekros record on the field ranks him as one of the games finest pitchers, said Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Niekro has died after a long fight with cancer, the team announced today. 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. At 46 years, 188 days, Niekro became the oldest pitcher to pitch a shutout in the major leagues. . He amassed 121 victories after he turned 40 -- a major league record -- and pitched until he was 48. These include the flutterball, the floater, the dancer, the butterfly ball (the name for the pitch used by French language game commentators employed by the Montreal Expos), the ghostball, and the bug. 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. 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. ASSOCIATED . Sometimes young players will throw the knuckleball with their knuckles flat against the ball, giving it less spin but also making it difficult to throw any significant distance. Philip Henry Niekro was born on April 1, 1939, in Blaine, Ohio. In one day", "Jim Bouton, Author of Tell-All Baseball Memoir 'Ball Four,' Dies at 80", "Arencibia lives knuckleball nightmare on opening day", "All-Star Game 2012: The Glove To Catch R. A. Dickey", "Victor Martinez passes the Wakefield test", "Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway ties big league record with four passed balls", "Cricket World Cup: The writers' verdicts", "Set-piece dilemma: CR7 Tomahawk vs Bale Knuckleball", "Juventus: Pirlo, ma che punizione hai tirato? Additionally, Ted Lyons, another member of the Hall of Fame, relied heavily on the knuckleball after injuring his arm in 1931.
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