RIP Phil Niekro

The ultimate knuckleballer dies at age 81.

 

Yep, it was Phil Niekro … and the fact that a knuckleballer was the Braves’ ace in the 1970s should tell you everything you need to know about the Braves in the 1970s.

 

RIP to a notable major-leaguer.

 

Tough year. We’ve lost an entire starting rotation of Hall of Famers with Niekro, Seaver, Gibson and Ford.
RIP

 

Got my Niekro autograph on the wall, from Yankee years. Brother Joe lifted him in his 300th, a nice moment. His 21-20 record in 1979 will never be duplicated.

 

Wilbur Wood had a stretch of 22-13, 24-17, 24-20, 20-19 and 16-20 from 1971-75.

 

Just about to mention this. Led the NL in both wins and losses.

 

When I was in college Phil appeared at a local Walmart to sign autographs, but I couldn't go because of a final.

RIP

 

Won more games in his 40s than he did in his 20s. He had a great quote about leaving for Spring Training with the Yankees for the first time that went something like, “I was so used to driving to the Braves site that I almost did it by accident. I figured why not go in and get a cup of coffee and say hi. Then I realized that was in the past and kept going.”

 

Interviewed Niekro when he was managing the Silver Bullets. I couldn't believe I was interviewing a childhood hero.