Phil Niekro Dies

[hookyIU1990]

Hall of Fame knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81

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, the Braves announced Sunday. He was 81.

www.espn.com

I always liked the guy and this is maybe my favorite moment of his career. "There's nothing in my pocket"

 

[Spartans9312]

Hall of Fame knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81

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, the Braves announced Sunday. He was 81.

www.espn.com

I always liked the guy and this is maybe my favorite moment of his career. "There's nothing in my pocket"

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That was his brother, Joe.
Phil was an outstanding pitcher.

 

[hookyIU1990]

That was his brother, Joe.
Phil was an outstanding pitcher.

How in the hell did I confuse the two of them? Thanks

 

[ce36ei]

I miss knuckleballers. Tim Wakefield was must watch TV.

 

[VanPastorMan]

That was his brother, Joe.
Phil was an outstanding pitcher.

When Joe dies everybody should spit on his coffin, not in disrespect but to honor him. With K.C. Jones dying and now Phil it really does make you think about how short life is. It goes by pretty fast.

 

[R2]

When Joe dies everybody should spit on his coffin, not in disrespect but to honor him. With K.C. Jones dying and now Phil it really does make you think about how short life is. It goes by pretty fast.

Even shorter than you think.

Joe died in 2006.......

 

[kkott]

I miss knuckleballers. Tim Wakefield was must watch TV.

I got a British friend to watch Wakefield through a playoff game with me and explained to him how a knuckleballer "fooled" batters, and how unpredictable a pitch it was. I bet I got 100 texts from him over the next few years when he'd be watching Wake pitch. He was mesmerized. If it's not been a 30 for 30, knuckleballers would make a great one.

 

[VanPastorMan]

Even shorter than you think.

Joe died in 2006.......

I had forgotten Joe passed and hope they didn't really spit. I was joking. Joe's situation reminded me of that baseball player played by Chelcie Ross in Major League. "You put snot on the ball?"

 

[ce36ei]

45 year old Charlie Hough threw the first pitch, I assume a knuckleball, in Marlins history I believe. I can still remember watching that moment as a 9 year old and thinking that guy could be my grandpa.

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

Are you sure? Better fact check it. He never was a straight shooter.

 

[13thman]

How in the hell did I confuse the two of them? Thanks

I remember that clip. My fading memory had the pitcher being Gaylord Perry.

 

[hookyIU1990]

I remember that clip. My fading memory had the pitcher being Gaylord Perry.

I remember Perry best for swiping Brett's pine tar bat and getting a clubhouse kid to hide it. He was in his 40s at that point.

Didn't he get busted for having vaseline on the brim of his hat?

 

[13thman]

I remember Perry best for swiping Brett's pine tar bat and getting a clubhouse kid to hide it. He was in his 40s at that point.

Didn't he get busted for having vaseline on the brim of his hat?

I don't remember if he ever got caught in the act or not. Watching him make Reggie Jackson go ballistic was beautiful.

 

[hookyIU1990]

I don't remember if he ever got caught in the act or not. Watching him make Reggie Jackson go ballistic was beautiful.

The yanks hated him and the best part about that was that they got him in a trade and then the pine tar game was against them too.

 

[outside shooter]

How in the hell did I confuse the two of them? Thanks

You seem to be very easily confused

 

[hookyIU1990]

You seem to be very easily confused

Well, I'm not sure what to say other than we can't all be lodestars.

 

[Hoopsdoc1978]

That was his brother, Joe.
Phil was an outstanding pitcher.

I guess there aren’t any Ben Maller fans here.

 

[Crossblock]

Bob Uecker, the long time Broadcaster for the Brewers, started his Baseball Career with the Braves and caught several Knuckleballers including Niekro, was asked how he caught a Knuckleball. His reply; "I just chase it back to the backstop and pick it up when it stops rolling."