Niekro used a fastball and a slider early in his career, with mixed results. admin | December 30, 2020. Joe Niekro’s 1973 Topps card is probably not the image by which you remember him. ", First published on October 28, 2006 / 1:40 AM. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of Major League pitcher and first baseman Lance Niekro. Niekro passed away in his sleep on Saturday night. Niekro was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio,[1] and attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia. He appeared in Game 2 of the 1981 National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching eight scoreless innings, although Joe Sambito ended up being the winning pitcher for the Astros as they won in the 11th inning, though the Dodgers would win the series in five games. He had battled cancer for the past several years. The knuckleball became an essential part of his arsenal though never his sole pitch. He was Opening Day starter again for the 1983 season, going just three innings against the Dodgers while allowing six runs on eight hits in a 16–7 loss. As for the cause of his death, Phil Niekro was battling cancer during the last years of his life. He blossomed into a dominant pitcher as he perfected his knuckleball in Houston, going 21–11 in 1979 and 20–12 in 1980, to become the first Astros pitcher to win 20 games in consecutive seasons. Like his older brother, who won 318 games, Joe Niekro found success after developing the knuckleball and pitched into his 40s. Joseph Niekro passed away. While pitching for the Twins earlier in the 1987 season, Niekro was caught ball scuffing. He went seven innings but allowed four runs on seven hits in a 4–2 loss to the Montreal Expos. But he never appeared in a World Series. 1984 began with another Opening Day start for Niekro, his fourth and last in a career. Phil Niekro Funeral, Obituary, Service, Notices, Bio, Death: Phil Niekro Passed away on December , 2020, You can send your sympathy in the comment provided and share it Read More Posts navigation. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The uniform might look a bit strange, too. In three seasons with Detroit, he went 21–22, having his best season in 1970 by going 12–13, although he had a 4.06 ERA in 213 innings, with a high of 101 strikeouts. Niekro also led the league in losses for four straight seasons, losing 20 games in both 1977 and '79. Former major league pitcher Joe Niekro, Houston's career victory leader, died Friday, Astros president Tal Smith said. He later was transferred to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he died. He threw 122 innings in the next season and just 47 in the following. He displayed a bit more effectiveness the following year. The Joe Niekro Foundation, created by his daughter Natalie, is committed to supporting patients and families, research, treatment and awareness of brain aneurysms, AVMs, and hemorrhagic strokes. 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. He also made the National League All-Star team in 1979, a season in which he led the league with his 21 wins and five shutouts, won the TSN Pitcher of the Year Award, and ended second in voting for the Cy Young Award behind Bruce Sutter. He had 152 strikeouts and 101 walks (both higher from the year before). Niekro was the Opening Day starter for the Astros to start the 1981 season.