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In addition, the lack of backspin does shorten the length of the delivery, and also tends to make the ball skid off the pitchfaster than it would come off a normal delivery.[35]. http://www.courtsidetweets.comPhil Niekro of the New York Yankees wins his 300th game in Toronto against the Blue Jays! Niekro, often referred to by his knuckleball . [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. 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. 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). Then sentiment finally took over with two outs in the ninth. Phil Niekro played 24 . Heck, he didn't even know where it was going most of the time. Phil Niekro was born on April 1, 1939. I don't think of his Hall of Fame plaque. (A common phrase for hitting a knuckleball is "if it's low, let it go; if it's high, let it fly"; meaning that a batter should attempt to hit a knuckleball only if it crosses the plate high in the strike zone due to lack of break.) However, young pitchers with smaller hands tend to throw the knuckleball with their knuckles. 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. 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. Niekro threw a no-hitter against the Padres on Aug. 5, 1973, and won his 300th career game on the final day of the 1985 season by throwing just one knuckler on the last pitch of the game. 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. The Niekro brothers would face each other nine times in their career, with Joe's team winning five. Or write about sports? 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 . He was known for his knuckleball, and had a career record of 318-274. Carroll would go on to become a two-time All-Star reliever for the Cincinnati Reds and would notch 143 saves over his career. Another drawback is that runners on base can usually advance more easily than if a conventional pitcher is on the mound. This shooting technique is frequently used by players for long-range shots and free kicks. Pinstripes look just fine on Phil Niekro. He would go on for two more decades living inside hitters' heads. On Sunday we learned that Phil Niekro, the greatest knuckleball pitcher in baseball history, had died of cancer the day before at age 81. [3][4] He was of Polish descent. For his humanitarian service, Niekro was honored with the Lou Gehrig Award, Roberto Clemente Award and Brian Piccolo Award. [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. At 46 years, 188 days, Niekro became the oldest pitcher to pitch a shutout in the major leagues. In 1979, the 40-year-old Niekro led the league in both wins (21) and losses (20). 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). [1], From 1975 to 1976, he went 1515 and 1711 and made a second All-Star appearance in 1975. And its the most unstable friend that youll ever have. Niekro has died after a long fight with cancer, the team announced today. 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. When you start off learning the knuckleball, it can be frustrating. 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. 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. 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. But that was nothing new. 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. https://www.mlb.com/ If one of the fingers puts more pressure on the ball than the other, the ball spins. 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. 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.". He was 81. Following his baseball career, he managed the Colorado Silver Bullets, an all-women baseball team in the late 1990s. Reserve your tickets, map your route, and work out all the details for your arrival in Cooperstown. As used by Cicotte, the knuckleball was originally thrown by holding the ball with the knuckles, hence the name of the pitch. [16] He started the 1987 season with the Indians, going 711 in 26 starts. [20], As of 2019[update], Steven Wright of the Boston Red Sox was considered to be the last active knuckleballer in the MLB; he has since been released from the team. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my condolences to Phil's family, friends and the many fans he earned throughout his life in our National Pastime.". 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. Senior producer, Legacy.com. By 1967, Niekro was one of the top pitchers in the game, leading the NL that year with an ERA of 1.87. Historically, the term "knuckle curve" had a usage that was different from what it has in the game today. [29], The Gwinnett Braves' home, Coolray Field, has a restaurant, Niekro's, named after him. 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. "I think the hardest thing for me is just the alone-ness that you feel sometimes because nobody else really does it," said Wakefield. "Catching Niekro's knuckleball was great. Niekro learned his knuckler as a 12-year-old from his coal miner father in Ohio. 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. The Braves finished 3rd, 4th, and 5th in their division. Phil Niekro (19392020), legendary knuckleball pitcher. [19], On September 23, 1987, Niekro signed again with his old team, the Atlanta Braves. 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. The Niekro brothers would face each other nine times in their career, with Joes team winning five. He missed the 1963 season due to military service. "They may not be intimidated by them, but they sure are thinking about them before they go into the box.". $5.98 + $1.98 shipping. Where was Phil Niekro born? Phil Niekro owns one of, if not, the best knuckleball in MLB history. 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. Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s with a . Nancy and I are deeply saddened by the news today of the passing of Phil Niekro. Not many pitchers start out with it, and you can't expect to pick it up overnight. I just didn't prepare myself this year. [10] Another reason for the difficulty of the knuckleball is due to the network effect. 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 . (Josh Szot/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Phil Niekro managed the Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team from 1994-97. Phil Niekro, 300-game winner and Hall of Famer, passed away on Dec. 26 at the age of 81. Exceeded rookie limits during 1965 season, View Player Bio Do you have a blog? Phil Niekro was preceded in death by Joe Niekro, who suffered a fatal brain aneurysm in 2006. A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. They clawed against each other as mound opponents, with Joe defeating his big brother 5-4 in their careers. ATLANTA (AP) Phil Niekro threw a pitch that baffled hitters and catchers. This record stood for nearly 25 years before Jamie Moyer (47 years, 170 days) bested the feat in May 2010. The four pitchers in the hall of fame include Phil Niekro, Ted Lyons, Jesse Haines, and Hoyt Wilhelm. Atlanta, Sept. 27, 1987 __ Phil Niekro was in a jam. He attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, and was a boyhood friend of Basketball Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek. Phil and Joe Niekro learned the pitch from their father, a Polish coal miner, and won a combined total of 539 games the most by two brothers in big league history. "Knucksie was woven into the Braves fabric, first in Milwaukee and then in Atlanta. Ed Summers, an Indianapolis teammate of Cicotte who adopted the pitch and helped develop it, modified it by holding the ball with his fingertips and using the thumb for balance. [2], Pitchers like Bouton have found success as knuckleballers after their ability to throw hard declined. Jim Bouton said, "coaches don't respect it. I feel like I'm surrounded by family, Niekro said of his many trips to Cooperstown. A successful knuckleball shot will move, dip, or wobble in the air unpredictably, making it difficult for the goalkeeper to save. 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. Uecker acknowledged he did a lot of chasing. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro has died at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced on 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. Share Seams are raised. 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. I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission. 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. Only Cy Young, "Pud" Galvin and Walter Johnson pitched more innings than Niekro's 5,404. In the finale, manager Billy Martin handed pitching coach duties to Joe Niekro and the ball to Phil Niekro. [12] Niekro was given the nickname "Knucksie" during his career. AMA! 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. 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. Nobody likes to warm up with you." us, Died: * 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 . [1] Niekro's playoff loss came against Seaver. Niekro and his younger brother Joe amassed 539 wins between them, the most combined wins by brothers in baseball history. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [28], Niekro was a member of the board of directors for Kiz Toys, a toy company based out of Cumming, Georgia, and Niekro advised the company on the KizSport baseball line, reviewing product designs and development. He was 81. Phil Niekro was born in Blaine, OH. By Jim Murray. As I discussed earlier, there are a few different ways to grip the knuckleball. Knucksie was one of a kind. Hij doelde daarmee op top-knuckleballers in de Major League als Tim Wakefield en Phil Niekro . September 27, 1987 (Voted by BBWAA on 380/473 ballots) 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. Who throws the best 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. 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 . [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. [3] In 1917, Druery taught the pitch to Eddie Rommel who became successful with it for the Philadelphia Athletics.[4]. Through Sunday he was 7-2, with an American League-leading ERA of 1.20. Facing Jeff Burroughs, an old friend and former Braves teammate, Phil Niekro threw four pitches -- the final three knucklers. As of 2021, four primary knuckleball pitchers are in the Baseball Hall of Fame today. Most of his career was spent with mostly with the Atlanta Braves. [33] It was tied by Other names for the knuckleball have generally alluded to its motion and slower speed. December 27, 2020 No pitcher since the dead-ball era spent more time on a major league mound. He looks much older. View Phil Niekro's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). Phil Niekro dug his fingernails into the baseballs seams and carved out a legend eventually earning a plaque in Cooperstown. [1] In 1966, Niekro split time again between the Braves and their minor league system, going 43 with a 4.11 earned run average (ERA). 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. Heck, he didn't even know where it was going most of the time. He went 1111 with a 4.32 ERA. [2] Other accounts attribute the pitch's creation to Charles H. Druery, a pitcher in the Blue Ridge League. Collectibles; Stamps; Books & Magazines; Pottery & Glass; [1] A pitcher who throws knuckleballs is known as a knuckleballer. (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. 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. [2] If a knuckleball does not change direction in mid-flight, however, then it is easy to hit due to its lack of speed. In the finale, manager Billy Martin handed pitching coach duties to Joe Niekro and the ball to Phil Niekro. They hold the record for most combined wins by siblings in a career with 539. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Phil Niekro was elected to the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors in 2009. In 1984, Niekro signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees. 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. April 15, 1964 A statue of Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, the winningest knuckleball pitcher in major league history, adorns the Atlanta Braves' Truist Park Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Atlanta. 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. This is one of the most common misconceptions about the knuckleball. Bases loaded, nobody out, a lead slipping away. 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. Your pointer and middle fingertips throw the knuckleball. 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). [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. He pitched six innings of Game 2 and left with a 32 lead. I don't think of his 318 wins. 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. Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleballer and rank 16th on MLB's all-time wins list. The lower physical strain also fosters longer careers. Updated pitcher list, and average pitch speed for Dickey/Wakefield. "I was a one-pitch pitcher.". https://www.youtube.com/MLBClassicsFollow us elsewhere too:Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlb/ \u0026 https://www.instagram.com/mlbvault/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlbTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/share/user/656Visit our site for all baseball news, stats and scores! But Niekro, who pitched for the Braves, Yankees, Indians and Blue Jays for 24 seasons, was more . 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. As with many knuckleball pitchers, age proved no barrier to Niekro. Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, and Jesse Haines, three pitchers who primarily relied on the knuckleball, have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. De knuckleball is n van de worpen waarvan een honkbalwerper zich in een wedstrijd kan bedienen. He had been diagnosed with prostate[31] cancer.[32][33]. He found both in 1967, when he was united with Bob Uecker, a veteran reserve backstop with many quips and sage advice. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. 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. You get beaten down to learn another @baseballhall friend #PhilNiekro passed away. He was 81. "[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. Niekro, who pitched well into his 40s . [13] And on April 8, 2010, she signed with the Chico Outlaws, debuting on May 29, 2010. 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. Amazingly, he won 121 games over the age of 40 thanks to his knuckleball. Popular categories from this store. [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. 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. Associated Press. 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 . He set a major league record by playing 24 seasons in the major leagues without a World Series appearance. (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). 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 . ATLANTA (AP) 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 . [10] This effect is increasing over time as the modern game continues to emphasize power in pitching and average pitch speed increases.[11]. 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". According to Adair, the 150ms minimum human reaction time may be too slow to adjust to a knuckleball's changing direction.[2]. By 1969, Niekro was an All-Star. Phil Niekro showing his grip at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tim Wakefield argues that "The problem is that [baseball] is so radar gun-oriented." 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. The Yankees had fallen short of the postseason the day before with a loss in Toronto. "[28] The year before, Niekro had received the most Hall of Fame votes out of all the players in the ballot, but had not received the required 75% of the vote for election. (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 was not going to get myself so high. When thrown well with little to no spin, the ball feels like it slips out of your palm. Phil Niekro fashioned a long, successful sports career by mastering the most confounding pitch in the history of baseballthe knuckleball. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. On October 1, with the Braves clinging to a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Niekro beat the San Diego Padres almost single-handedly by throwing a complete game shutout and hitting a two-run home run. 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. (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. ", "Will R. A. Dickey's Angry Knuckleball Change The Game? 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. It was a career summed up by his dedication to a pitch that can be as confounding as it is unhittable. 300, entered the bottom of the ninth having shut out the Jays on curveballs, slip pitches, fastballs and screwballs -- everything but a knuckleball. [18] After going 02 in three starts, the Blue Jays released Niekro. 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. 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. It is for this reason that the knuckleball is widely regarded as unreliable, and knuckleball pitchers are prone to extended slumps, such as when Tim Wakefield was released from the Pirates in a mid-career slump during spring training in 1995. Join our linker program. 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. He's the toast of two towns, New York andha-haAtlanta, and he has even been dubbed St. Knucksie. Many thanks to him. In 2013, J. P. Arencibia set a Toronto Blue Jays franchise record by allowing four passed balls in the season opener (a 42 loss) while catching for knuckleballer R. A. Dickey.