American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1964–1983), New York Yankees (1984–1985), Cleveland Indians (1986–1987), Toronto Blue Jays (1987) and Atlanta Braves (1987).
He made his professional league debut on 16 April 1964 as a pitcher for the Milwaukee Braves, a team which, two years later, became the Atlanta Braves. He played until 1983, returning for one year in 1987. In the interim he wore the New York Yankees uniform for a year and then played for the Cleveland Indians. He ended his career in 1987 playing for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Niekro was admitted to the Hall of Fame in 1997. Nicknamed “Knucksie” for his fluttering knuckleball, he was the master of the fastball as well. He was selected for five All-Star teams, was awarded five Gold Glove awards, and pitched 121 winning games after the age of 40, the most of anyone in that age 40+ category. After he retired from pro baseball he managed the all-women Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team.
His brother Joe, also a pitcher with a deadly knuckleball, died of a brain aneurysm at age 61 on 27 October 2006. Joe was born on 7 November 1944 according to the Ohio Birth Index. On 26 December 2020, Niekro died in his sleep at age 81. He had been diagnosed with cancer.
Link to Wikipedia biography