Phil Niekro passes away at 81

[Back Alley Gator]

He was one of my favorites growing up.

Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleball pitcher, dead at 81

 

[78]

How did he get to 81 so fast? RIP.

 

[NVGator]

Can’t believe I remember watching him and collecting his cards. RIP.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

How did he get to 81 so fast? RIP.

He was still pitching in MLB at 67!!!!

His ass was ancient when I was in elementary school.

 

[78]

He was still pitching in MLB at 67!!!!

His ass was ancient when I was in elementary school.

I’m gonna assume you’re jerking my chain. I’m too lazy to check.

 

[78]

Nobody ever remembers his younger brother, Joe. Younger. He must be 79.

Edit: He died in 2006.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Nobody ever remembers his younger brother, Joe. Younger. He must be 79.

He was decent too. Same knuckle ball. And a knuckle curve.

btw wiki says Joe died in 2006. You forgot to do a thread.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

I’m gonna assume you’re jerking my chain. I’m too lazy to check.

He retired at 48.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

He retired at 48.

And Phil Niekro didn't use steriods to pitch at 48 in the MLB like those mid 90s cheaters.

He was made of doughnuts and cheap whiskey.

 

[78]

He was decent too. Same knuckle ball. And a knuckle curve.

btw wiki says Joe died in 2006. You forgot to do a thread.

Actually, I did one. Ox moved it to Solitary.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Actually, I did one. Ox moved it to Solitary.

And so he should.

 

[78]

He retired at 48.

Those knucklers put zero stress on their arm. Hoyt Wilhelm pitched until his mid-40s. Wilbur Wood was around a long time.

I’ll never forget standing at the urinal somewhere near center field at old Comiskey Park. In walks Wilhelm from the Sox bullpen in full uniform and clickity cleats. The guy’s standing next to me taking a leak, and he’s talking to me. I was only 12. I about shyt.

 

[gardnerwebbgator]

Nobody ever remembers his younger brother, Joe. Younger. He must be 79.

Edit: He died in 2006.

I do, for this alone....

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Gaylord Perry.

Mr. Spitball.

 

[NVGator]

We always referred to him as Phil Negro. I mean, who didn’t?

 

[divits]

One of a kind. Would have been my worst nightmare as a hitter. I hate looking foolish.

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

Bob Uecker used to tell how he caught a Phil Niekro knuckleball. He said "you just let it roll until it stops and then go and pick it up."

 

[stephenPE]

The guy’s standing next to me taking a leak, and he’s talking to me. I was only 12. I about shyt.

I saw shyt in a urinal once. Maybe in Jax. Dumazzzzz dwag fans were used to shytting in the woods.........
Phil N.? Braves shoulda kept him.

 

[Homer J]

He is the most famous person in Flowery Branch, and we have the Falcons here...

RIP

 

[wrpgator]

A Braves fan since mid 60's, I listened to Milo Hamilton and Ernie Johnson Sr. radio broadcasts. In talking baseball it was like listening to two favorite uncles trading war stories. Ernie Johnson once told of Niekro throwing a pitch that the batter swung at...and the catcher caught the pitch behind the batter.
RIP Knucksie.