On
the blog today, we have Phil Niekro added to my 1970 "20-Win Circle"
sub-set, celebrating all the 20-game winners of the 1969 season:
Niekro
had his best season yet in the Major Leagues in 1969, finishing runner
up in the Cy Young race with a record of 23-13 and a sparkling 2.56
earned run average.
Over
his 40 appearances, of which 35 were starts, Niekro also completed 21
games, tossed four shutouts and struck out 193 batters over 284.1
innings for the N.L. West champ Atlanta Braves.
It is incredible 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 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.
Ageless!
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.
Ageless!
