Bob Uecker led the NL in passed balls in 1967 despite playing only 76 games, only 59 of which were starts. He described himself as Niekro's "personal chaser."Catchers in heaven are already cursing him. RIP.
A college roommate worked for the Tribe and he often got me visitors' seats behind the plate at Fenway. Niek started a game for them at Fenway, and the real thrill for me was that Havlicek was sitting directly in front of me.Also a boyhood and lifelong friend of John Havlicek, whom he would later eulogize. Nice article about that here:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-09-30-9709300345-story.html
I am convinced every time the Sox sent a slumping Wakefield to go see Niekro for pitching advice, all Niekro really did was teach him new ways to piss off the catcher.Bob Uecker led the NL in passed balls in 1967 despite playing only 76 games, only 59 of which were starts. He described himself as Niekro's "personal chaser."
Niekro had a 10 WAR season at 39 and a 4.6 at age 45. That's amazing. Rest in peace.
That was one of my favorite reads of that series. RIP Knucksie.Posnanski had a great article about Niekro on The Athletic earlier this year, well worth the read if you subscribe:
https://theathletic.com/1468052/2020/01/04/the-baseball-100-no-83-phil-niekro/
Crazy. Just last night I was watching MLB Networks special on all the HOFers lost this year. This makes seven.
Is that the 7th HOF'er this year?
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA198504250.shtmlThe first big league baseball game I ever saw was at Yankee Stadium in 1985, Phil Niekro against the Red Sox. The Yankees won, my hero Jim Rice made an error in left, and watching Niekro was like slow motion.
RIP to the older of the two knuckleballing Niekros, the winningest brothers in MLB history.
Clicking through the box scores of that particular day...every game was finished in under 3 hours.
I've been lurking on this board for a very long time, and this is, by far, the coolest thing I've seen here. Thank you for posting this.
She played house on "Confederate Memorial Day."Whatever happened to Cloie?
I haven't the foggiest idea who she is, but she sounds like a real piece of work. Probably a MFY fan.Whatever happened to Cloie?
I wish my grandparents had thought to make holograms of themselves.I haven't the foggiest idea who she is, but she sounds like a real piece of work. Probably a MFY fan.
The museum of holography was awesome, my dad took me there every time we went to New York to see my grandparents.
That’s disappointing, I was hoping you married her.I haven't the foggiest idea who she is, but she sounds like a real piece of work. Probably a MFY fan.
My wife is a ferocious Steelers fan, so...close? I enjoy playing house with her.That’s disappointing, I was hoping you married her.
Close enough. And I’m glad you two are happyMy wife is a ferocious Steelers fan, so...close? I enjoy playing house with her.
I guess you did. You needed to take a nap after.My wife is a ferocious Steelers fan, so...close? I enjoy playing house with her.
He went 21-20 in 1979. That was the last time anyone had as many as 35 decisions in a season. There were 4 seasons of 34 decisions in the early 80s. 1990 was the last time anyone had 33 decisions in a season (Stewart, Welch, Morris). The most since the turn of the century is 32 by Dontrelle Willis and Roy Oswalt, both in 2005. In 2010, Halladay and Wainwright had 31 decisions. No one has cracked 30 since then.Next to Hoyt Wilhelm he had the best Knuckler, but obviously a better pitcher. Last pitcher to win 20 plus games and lose 20 games in a season. That will never happen again. RIP Phil.