On the blog today, from my 1960's "Dedicated Rookies" set released a couple of years ago, my 1964 card for Hall of Famer Phil Niekro:
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Though
getting a spot on a multi-player rookie card in the 1964 Topps set, he
was yet to make his Big League debut until that very season as a 25
year-old.
Incredibly,
though getting a bit of a "late-start" in his career, the man would end
up putting in 24 years in the Majors, pitching his knuckler until the
age of 48 in 1987.
It is astonishing to think Niekro didn’t have a full season on Big League
duty until 1967 at the age of 28, yet still went on to pitch those 24
seasons, winning 318 games with a very nice 3.35 ERA along with 45
shutouts and 3342 strikeouts before he was done at the age of 48!
I always thought it amazing that at the age of 44 in 1983, he took home the last of his five Gold Gloves, ALL of which were garnered beginning his age 39 season in 1978.
I always thought it amazing that at the age of 44 in 1983, he took home the last of his five Gold Gloves, ALL of which were garnered beginning his age 39 season in 1978.
Just an amazing talent!