The second and third greatest knuckleball pitchers of all time?

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by packs

Wow yeah looks like Phil accounted for almost a third of all the games the Braves won in 1979.

He had such an interesting career by the numbers. So many innings, so many wins, so much WAR and then the other end with the walks and home runs and seeming so hittable sometimes.

The knuckle is cool. He gave up 482 total home runs which is fourth all time. I was very surprised to see only Jamie Moyer and Robin Roberts have given up over 500 home runs. Roberts was a surprising name I didn't realize he got hamered so much. Even in his prime while he was winning 23 games he gave up 41 homers.

In defence of Phil Niekro he had to end up giving up a lot of everything because he pitched so many innings over so many years. But it's interesting to look at specifically those two years where he recorded his highest totals for innings pitched.

In 1978 at the age of 39 his record was 19-18 on an Atlanta Braves team that was 69-93. Niekro pitched 334 1/3 innings in 44 appearances which included 42 starts with 22 complete games in those starts. He posted an ERA of only 2.88 while pitching an average of almost 7 2/3 innings per appearance!

In 1979 at the age of 40 his record was 21-20 on an Atlanta Braves team that was 66-94. Niekro pitched 342 innings in 44 starts with 23 complete games in those starts. He posted an ERA of 3.39 while pitching an average of over 7 2/3 innings per appearance!

Niekro was great in 1978 and 1979. The Braves didn't have much more going for them than Phil Niekro in those two years.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Niekro was great in 1978 and 1979. The Braves didn't have much more going for them than Joe Niekro in those two years.

Not sure if you mentioned Joe on purpose or by mistake, but it's funny that Phil's younger brother has been over-looked completely in this thread.

Not the workhorse Phil or Wilbur Wood was, probably because he didn't use the knuckleball exclusively, and played on teams with other good pitchers, but he did use it quite a bit.

Joe had a really nice run with the Astros from '77 to '84, and I say this knowing it's a bit disingenuous to compare pitchers of then from today, but Joe has more career Complete Game Shutouts then present day workhorse Justin Verlander has Complete Games.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Not sure if you mentioned Joe on purpose or by mistake....

By mistake which I've now corrected. But good things have arisen from that mistake because Joe Niekro totally deserves mention and accolades in this thread as well!

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

...Joe has more career Complete Game Shutouts then present day workhorse Justin Verlander has Complete Games.

Wow, cool!

[jp1216]

Love the reactions: