Wednesday, March 4, 2015

NICKNAMES OF THE '70'S #24: "KNUCKSIE" PHIL NIEKRO

Here's a "Nickname" card for Hall of Fame knuckleballer Phil Niekro, aka "Knucksie".
Take a look:


I went with a 1974 template since Niekro had a nice year that year, going 20-13 with a 2.38 earned run average, six shutouts and 195 strikeouts, good for a third-place finish in Cy Young voting.
It's amazing to think he was already 35 years-old in 1974 considering he finally retired after the 1987 season! Amazing.
All told he topped 300 wins, 3000 strikeouts, 45 shutouts and 700 starts over his 24-year career.
It took him five years of eligibility, but he finally got into Cooperstown in 1997, wrapping up a stellar career that happily took him through the Bronx, enabling me to see him play in person as a teen going to Yankee games in 1984 and 1985.