"If two heads are better than one, it must be even better if both of them are from the same family. That's what the Yankees hoped when, on September 15, 1985 they reunited the Niekro brothers after obtaining Joe from the Houston Astros. The Niekros, who played together with the Atlanta Braves from 1973-74, offer the Yankees a tandem which has combined for 504 major league wins. Joe, the younger Niekro, has notched 204 of those wins through 1985, which was why he was acquired in the heat of last season's pennant race.
Now here for the full year in 1986, Joe will offer the pitching staff something they sorely missed last year- consistency. Joe has won 10 or more games in eight of the last nine years, and has pitched over 200 innings in seven of those seasons. This pitching consistency could be the missing element needed to capture the pennant in 1986, as Joe and Phil seek to become the winningest brother combination in baseball history."
-The New York Yankees Official 1986 Yearbook
"A veteran of 19 major league seasons, Joe came to the Yankees from Houston last September 15 in exchange for pitcher Jim Deshaies, a left-hander, minor league pitcher Dody Rather, a right-hander, and minor league infielder Neder Horta. His acquisition reunited him with brother Phil, as the two played for Atlanta in 1973-74.
Joe was 9-12, 3.72 ERA with Houston in '85, completing an 11-year career [with the Astros]. He had 100+ strikeouts for the fifth straight year and ninth time in his career. Joe notched his 200th career win at San Diego on July 2, winning 3-2. He became Houston's all-time winningest pitcher at 144 wins.
He made three starts after joining the Yankees. Joe lasted only 1.2 innings in his first start, losing 10-3 at Detroit, but combined for 10.2 innings pitched over his last two starts, yielding only two earned runs, beating Detroit and Milwaukee. A free agent at the end of the season, as was older brother Phil, both re-signed with New York hours prior to the midnight January 8 deadline.
Joe has obtained double figures in wins eight of the last nine seasons and ranks ninth on the active player career victory list with 204. He had a career high 153 strikeouts in 1983. In 1982, he was second in the National League in ERA (2.47) and tied for second in shutouts (5), third in complete games (16) and fourth in innings (270). He was 11th in the NL in ERA in 1981 (2.82).
He recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons with the Astros, as he was 21-11 in 1979 and 20-12 in 1980. Joe was the winning pitcher in the one-game playoff for the NL West title in 1980 against the Dodgers. He was the runner-up in the Cy Young balloting in 1979 and was fourth in 1980.
Joe tied for the NL lead in shutouts (5) in 1979. He was named to the '79 NL All-Star team as well as the postseason all-star squads as selected by AP and UPI. In '79 Joe was also picked as the NL Pitcher of the Year by the Sporting News.
He had a 1-hitter for Detroit against the Yankees on July 2, 1970- Horace Clarke broke up the no-hit bid with a single after 8.1 innings. Joe won a 4-hitter while hitting a homer off his brother Phil on May 26, 1976. Joe holds a 5-4 edge over Phil with the last decision being a 5-3 triumph for Joe at Atlanta on September 13, 1982.
A graduate of Bridgeport (OH) High School, Joe attended West Liberty (WV) College where he won All-American laurels in baseball. He is very active nationally with the Spina Bifida Association and has received many honors for his contributions."
-1986 New York Yankees Information Guide
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