Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. Born Philip Henry Niekro, he was an American former baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball, 20 of them with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves. His 318 career victories and 3,342 strikeouts are the most by a knuckleball pitcher. Signed by the Braves' minor-league system in 1958, he was first called up by Milwaukee in 1964 and by 1969, Niekro was an All-star. His 23 victories that season earned him a second place in the National League Cy Young Award vote. He amassed 121 victories after he turned 40 - a major league record - and pitched until he was 48. By the end of 1987, his final season, Niekro ranked 10th among major leaguers in number of seasons played. Only Cy Young, "Pud" Galvin and Walter Johnson pitched more innings than Niekro's 5,404. His pitching led him to five All-Star selections, three 20-win seasons for the Atlanta Braves, the 300-win club, and ultimately, to Cooperstown's Baseball Hall-of-Fame, where he was inducted in 1997.
Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. Born Philip Henry Niekro, he was an American former baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball, 20 of them with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves. His 318 career victories and 3,342 strikeouts are the most by a knuckleball pitcher. Signed by the Braves' minor-league system in 1958, he was first called up by Milwaukee in 1964 and by 1969, Niekro was an All-star. His 23 victories that season earned him a second place in the National League Cy Young Award vote. He amassed 121 victories after he turned 40 - a major league record - and pitched until he was 48. By the end of 1987, his final season, Niekro ranked 10th among major leaguers in number of seasons played. Only Cy Young, "Pud" Galvin and Walter Johnson pitched more innings than Niekro's 5,404. His pitching led him to five All-Star selections, three 20-win seasons for the Atlanta Braves, the 300-win club, and ultimately, to Cooperstown's Baseball Hall-of-Fame, where he was inducted in 1997.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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