Phil Niekro RIP

Scott Garner · #1 12-27-2020, 12:51 PM

Wow, another HOF great passes in 2020.
RIP Knucksie.

For those of you that haven't heard this story, several close friends of Phil Niekro told him that he couldn't win without his signature pitch, the knuckleball.
Or could he?
On October 6, 1985 Phil Niekro took the mound in Toronto, attempting to collect his 300th career win.
Knucksie decided to prove his naysayers wrong and pitched 8 2/3 innings of shutout ball without once throwing his knuckleball.
For the final out, he finally broke out the knuckler and got his 300th career win, which was his ticket into Cooperstown.
NYY defeated TOR 8-0 with Niekro pitching a 4-hit shutout. Yeah, Knucksie could pitch a little...

HOF Phil Niekro also pitched a 9-0 no-hitter against the SD Padres on August 5th, 1973 @ ATL.

After his MLB career was over, Niekro managed the Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team. The Silver Bullets were an all-girl team and, believe me, they could play.
During the 1990's I had a chance to catch one of their games in So Cal against a ML minor league team and they certainly held their own.

icollectDCsports · #2 12-27-2020, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Wow, another HOF great passes in 2020.
RIP Knucksie.

For those of you that haven't heard this story, several close friends of Phil Neikro told him that he couldn't win without his signature pitch, the knuckleball.
Or could he?
On October 6, 1985 Phil Neikro took the mound in Toronto, attempting to collect his 300th career win.
Knucksie decided to prove his naysayers wrong and pitched 8 2/3 innings of shutout ball without once throwing his knuckleball.
For the final out, he finally broke out the knuckler and got his 300th career win, which was his ticket into Cooperstown.
NYY defeated TOR 8-0 with Neikro pitching a 4-hit shutout. Yeah, Knucksie could pitch a little...

HOF Phil Neikro also pitched a 9-0 no-hitter against the SD Padres on August 5th, 1973 @ ATL.

After his MLB career was over, Neikro managed the Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team. The Silver Bullets were an all-girl team and, believe me, they could play.
During the 1990's I had a chance to catch one of their games in So Cal against a ML minor league team and they certainly held their own.

Great story. RIP, Phil Niekro.

stkuhl · #3 12-27-2020, 03:28 PM

I saw Phil Niekro pitch in Atlanta Fulton County vs Fernando Valenzuela. Watching the difference in speed between the two was amazing.

RIP Nucksie

Kaneen · #4 12-27-2020, 06:18 PM

eastonfalcon19 · #5 12-27-2020, 08:46 PM

Here's a gamer from 1974. RIP

doug.goodman · #6 12-27-2020, 09:11 PM

His no-hitter...

parker1b2 · #7 12-28-2020, 04:21 PM

Very Sad News. Some items from my collection related to Phil:

300th Win Game Used Baseball given and inscribed to Phil by John Cerutti who was the Starting Pitcher against Phil that day.

E8E8CAB6-956B-409F-A59B-EAC85CDC1D52.jpg

1192161B-E1BC-4E1B-A47C-03C1217B6255.jpg

250th win Game Used Baseball

505BD3B1-3617-4D82-92F2-A83F034509F6.jpg

Phil�s 3rd Career win (1st Win in 1966) game used baseball.

6C0BF6DF-FD68-4EC0-9E06-E2503CC7C042.jpg

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