OT: RIP Phil Niekro - Printable Version

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OT: RIP Phil Niekro - cardcrimson - 12-30-2020

Haven't seen this posted, Phil Niekro passed away (from cancer) this week. Amazing career as a knuckleballer--over 20 years in the majors. Has there been anyone pitching like that since?

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RE: OT: RIP Phil Niekro - Phogge - 12-30-2020

A couple but none with Niekro’s longevity. The most prominent was R.A. Dickey who won a Cy Young. He lived up to a knuckler’s goofiness by attempting to swim across the Mississippi. Barely survived.

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RE: OT: RIP Phil Niekro - Mick - 12-30-2020

Loved Niekro.  Played until he was 48 1/2.  Pitched his first game and last game against the Giants.  Fifth most starts in MLB history. 4th in most innings pitched, 7th in most wild pitches, 11th in most career strikeouts.  Let the league in most wins twice, and most losses four times.  Led the league more than 40 times in eight different categories.  Most hit by pitches, three times; most walks, three times; most HRs given up four times.  Five all-star teams, none in consecutive years.  Niekro, and fellow knuckleballer Wilbur Wood are the only two pitchers since Walter Johnson in 1916 to both win and lose 20 games in a single season...and both of them finished with better than .500 records those seasons, Niekro (21-20 in 1979) and Wood (24-20 in 1973).  BTW, there's only been one 20 game loser since 1980 (Mike Maroth, 8-20 for Detroit in 2003).

Niekro's nephew Lance played for the Giants for a few seasons.

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lex24 - lex24 - 12-30-2020

Wood started both ends of a DH once.  He had a long career.

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