"After four failed attempts, he notched career victory No. 300 on the final day of the season, with a shutout against Toronto. Niekro did not throw his famed knuckleball until striking out Jeff Burroughs for the final out of the game. It was his only shutout of the season and the 45th of his career as he became the oldest player ever to throw one; he also became the 18th pitcher to reach the 300 club.
Niekro gave up 29 homers in 1985, nearly double his 1984 total of 15, [yet] won 16 games for the second straight season. Atlanta owner Ted Turner figured he was through after 1983, but Turner has since admitted his mistake, retired the pitcher's No. 35 and erected a statue in his honor.
His career record is 300-250 and he has won four Gold Gloves. He threw a no-hitter against San Diego in 1973. Born in Blaine, Ohio, Niekro was signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Braves in 1958. He was a high school teammate of former Boston Celtics great John Havlicek.
Niekro has often been mentioned as a possible managerial candidate. He destroyed a phone booth after one of his unsuccessful attempts at No. 300."
-Tom Verducci, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1986 Edition
"In two years with the Yankees he has won 32 games, pitched 435-plus innings and struck out 285 batters. These numbers are like the stats of a young thoroughbred, but they're not. They belong to a pacer named Phil Niekro.
He has defied his age as well as the batters who have taken swipes at his dancing knuckleball. Niekro's walked away with 300 victories in 21 major league seasons and he's not finished yet. There's more to accomplish- like teaming with his brother, Joe, in their chase of the Perry brothers' record of 529 career victories. Before the year began, the Niekros were only 25 wins short.
But that's only one of Niekro's goals in 1986. 'You go into spring training with the goal of getting into the World Series,' he says. 'That's what you do year after year. That's always been my aspiration.' See you at the finish line."
-The New York Yankees Official 1986 Yearbook
"The future Hall of Famer became the 18th player to win 300 games and the oldest pitcher to throw a shutout, beating Toronto 8-0 on four hits on October 6 in Toronto. Niekro won No. 299 on September 8 against Oakland and failed in his next four attempts at No. 300: September 13 against Toronto, lost 3-2; September 18 at Detroit, lost 5-2; September 24 against Detroit, lost 9-1; September 30 against Baltimore, he lost 5-4. His October 6 shutout was career shutout No. 45 and he was the starter in two combined shutouts, May 17 at California and August 29 against the Angels at home. Niekro struck out a season high nine batters twice, April 14 at Cleveland and April 25 against Boston.
Niekro was 5-2 in his first eight starts, 7-3 in his first 11. He then lost five consecutive decisions (six starts), June 9 through July 8. He went 8-1 in his next 11 starts, July 13 to September 8.
Phil led the club with 149 strikeouts, striking out 100+ batters for the 18th time in the last 19 years. His 3,197 career strikeouts places him seventh on the all-time list. Phil became the oldest pitcher to win better than nine games in a season (Jack Quinn won nine games for the Philadelphia A's at age 46 in 1930). He has a two-year Yankee record of 32-20.
Along with his brother Joe, and catcher Butch Wynegar, Phil re-signed with New York just before the midnight January 8 deadline for clubs to sign their own free agents. He will be entering his 23rd major league season and will turn 47 just prior to Opening Day.
Niekro started 1984 as the oldest player ever to appear in a game for the Yankees. He struck out Lance Parrish at Texas on July 4th for his 3,000th career strikeout. He was named to his fifth All-Star Game.
He pitched a no-hitter against San Diego on August 5, 1973 and also has a 1-hitter and eight 2-hitters in his career. He recorded his 200th win on May 1, 1979 against Pittsburgh.
Phil and his younger brother Joe [now a Yankee teammate] are baseball's second winningest pitching brothers with 504 career wins, behind the Perrys, Gaylord and Jim (529). Phil continues to move up on the all-time lists and holds most of the Braves all-time pitching records. He has been named to four National League All-Star teams and won five Gold Gloves.
He went on a postseason tour of Japan following the 1979 season as a member of a National League all-star team that played American League all-stars. He was voted the outstanding pitcher on the trip and was the only two-game winner.
Niekro graduated in 1957 from Bridgeport (Ohio) High School where he was a teammate of John Havlicek, former Boston Celtic great. His brother Joe is a 15-year veteran of the major leagues. Phil's greatest thrill is still the signing of his first pro contract with Bill Maughn.
A great humanitarian, Phil formed Phil Niekro Roasts, Inc. to help raise funds for Spina Bifida, the second most common birth defect. He has aided the March of Dimes, the Big Brothers Association and the Empty Stocking Fund. Phil has been recognized for his community service by being named the winner of the Brian Piccolo Award in 1977 and the Roberto Clemente Award in 1980. In 1979, he was voted baseball's Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, given annually to the player who most exemplifies the ability and character of Gehrig.
Phil served as the Braves' player representative and was a candidate for the Braves' managerial post that was eventually filled by Bobby Cox [in 1978] and Joe Torre [in 1982]. In the off-season Phil enjoys hunting, fishing, table tennis, bowling and poetry writing."
-1986 New York Yankees Information Guide
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