The undisputed master of the knuckleball is the 83rd inductee into the Baseball Hall of Immortals.
Unlike other pitchers who turn to the knuckleball to save their career, Phil Niekro made the decision to rely on the knuckler while he was just starting his career. It was a smart choice.
Niekro played for 24 years, starting 716 games (5th all time) and pitching in 5,404 innings – more than any other pitcher who started their career during the live ball era. During that stretch he won 318 games (16th all time) and recorded 3,342 strikeouts (11th all time).
Starting in 1967 when he became a starter for the Braves, Niekro would achieve double digit wins in 19 seasons. In fact the only break in that stretch was the strike-shortened season of 1981.
He won 20 or more games twice, and led the league in both complete games and innings pitched 4 times. In 1979, for a last place Braves team, Niekro went 21-20, completing 23 games and tossing 342 innings.
The man who baffled batters across three decades is an Immortal.
For some background on what this is, check out the introduction post here.
