OPC IMAGE VARIATION: 1977 PHIL NIEKRO

Here's a really odd OPC to Topps "image variation" set for you all, the slight, and I mean really slight image change for Phil Niekro and his 1977 cards:

OPC version

Topps version

I have no idea why the change between the two companies and their cards, as you can see that all OPC did was slightly zoom in a touch, and place the facsimile autograph a little higher on the card. Very strange.

Also seems to be a little brightness added to the OPC card as well.

As for Niekro, 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.

Just an amazing talent!

1981 DRAKES BIG PITCHERS: PHIL NIEKRO

The next card from my wildly successful 1981 "Drake's Big Pitchers" custom set released last year to get the spotlight here on the blog is the one for Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro:

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.

Just an amazing talent!

 

"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: PHIL NIEKRO

On the blog today, we add the great Phil Niekro to my on-going WTHBALLS custom "Beautiful Baseball" set, which WILL see the light of day at some point this year (I promise!):

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.

Just an amazing talent!

CAREER-CAPPER: 1988 PHIL NIEKRO

Today on the blog, we have my 1988 career-capper for Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame pitcher, who wrapped up an amazing Big League career back where it all started for him some 24 years earlier, as a member of the Braves organization, now in Atlanta:

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.

Just an amazing talent!

 

1971 "BASEBALL'S GREATEST MOMENTS": PHIL NIEKRO

On the blog this fine day, we have a "missing" 1971 "Baseball's Greatest Moments" card for Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, celebrating his league-leading 1.87 earned run average of 1967:

It was his first full season in the Major Leagues after parts of three years between 1964 and 1966, but don't forget he was already 28 years of age when he finally got his shot.

And with that shot he did not disappoint, going 11-9 over 46 games, 20 of those starts, tossing a shutout while collecting nine saves with 10 complete games, throwing 207 innings for the Atlanta Braves.

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 really is astonishing to think Niekro didn’t have a full season on Big League duty until 1967, 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.

Just an amazing talent!

 

1977 N.L. CENTENNIAL: PHIL NIEKRO

Good day all!

On the blog today, we add Hall of Fame knuckler Phil Niekro to my on-going N.L. Centennial 1977 sub-set, celebrating the National league's 100th anniversary season of 1976:

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.

Just an amazing talent!

1970 "20-WIN CIRCLE": PHIL NIEKRO

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!

 

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS: 1979 N.L. STRIKEOUTS

Good day all!

On the blog today, we have the top three National League strikeout pitchers of 1978 proudly displayed on a 1979 “expanded league leader” card, featuring three studs of the mound:

 

We begin with Houston Astros ace J.R. Richard, who had himself quite a season in 1978, reaching the 300 strikeout plateau for the first time with 303 total over 275.1 innings of work.

Richard was just getting better and better at this point, reaching the 300 strikeout mark after two seasons of 214, winning 18 games each year between 1977 and 1979 with a 20-win season in 1976.

He was a beast on the mound, and would follow up his 1978 campaign with an even better 1979 season, striking out 313 batters while leading the league with a 2.71 earned run average while completing 19 of his 38 starts, throwing 292.1 innings.

I cannot even imagine how the 1980’s could have gone for him had not a tragic stroke strike him during the 1980 season, ending his career just like that.

In second place with 248 strikeouts, the 1977 K-leader in the N.L., Atlanta Braves pitcher Phil Niekro, who started 42 games while completing 22 of them, both league high marks, as well as his whopping 334.1 innings.

He went 19-18 with a very nice 2.88 ERA, tossing four shutouts and even winning the first of his five Gold Gloves, this at the age of 39! Amazing.

In third place with 226 strikeouts, a man who at that point was already a five-time K-King, Cincinnati Reds ace Tom Seaver, who had a very nice first full-season after his shocking trade to the team during the 1977 season.

“Tom Terrific” went 16-14 over 36 starts, posting an ERA of 2.88 over 259 innings, tossing one shutout while completing eight, making his eleventh All-Star team on his way to an easy Hall of Fame selection years later, in my opinion THE best pitcher of the 1970’s.

Quite the trip of arms here!

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS: 1979 N.L. VICTORIES

On the blog today, we move on to the National League’s top winners for 1978, shown on a 1979 “expanded league leader” card from my long-running thread:

 

 

We begin with the 40-year-old wonder, Gaylord Perry, who would stun everyone with a season like no other for a man of his age, taking home the Cy Young Award that year by going 21-6 in his first season with the San Diego Padres.

Perry  was just brilliant that year, leading the league with his 21 wins, while pitching to an excellent 2.73 earned run average, with two shutouts and five complete games while tossing 232.2 innings.

It was the 14^th season in a row that Perry topped 200 innings, while also reeling off five 300+ inning campaigns during the stretch. Just incredible!

By taking home the Cy Young in 1978, he became the first pitcher in major League history to win the award in both leagues, previously winning the award in 1972 when he posted 24 wins for the Cleveland Indians.

In second place with 20 wins, another pitcher who had a very successful first season with his new club, Ross Grimsley, who had what turned out to be the best year of his career in 1978 in his first year with the Montreal Expos.

Grimsley went 20-11 for Montreal that year, with a 3.05 ERA over 263 innings in 36 starts, with three shutouts and 19 complete games, looking like an excellent pick-up for the franchise.

Sadly however, Grimsley would begin to deal with injuries the following season, winning only 10 games in 1979, and lasting only parts of the next three years before retiring for good, winning only seven games between 1980 and 1982

In third place tied with 19 wins apiece, the Atlanta Braves Phil Niekro and the Los Angeles Dodgers Burt Hooton, who both had very nice seasons for their respective teams.

For Niekro, the 39-year-old just missed his third 20-win season by going 19-18 over 44 appearances, 42 of them starts, posting a 2.88 ERA over 334.1 innings while tossing four shutouts and completing 22 games.

He would follow that up in 1979 by becoming like Perry, a 20-game winner at that age, famously winning 21 games while also LOSING 20 games, though by no means his own fault, posting a very nice 3.39 ERA while throwing an amazing 342 innings for Atlanta.

If that wasn’t enough, it’s mind boggling that he was STILL to go one for another eight years before retiring after the 1987 season, pitching until he was 48! Just amazing.

For the Dodgers’ Hooton, the solid starter who is pretty much forgotten these days, he won a career-best 19 games that season, helping the Dodgers make their second-straight World Series, posting a very nice 2.71 ERA over 32 starts with three shutouts and 10 complete games, easily the best season of his 15-year career that began in 1971 with the Chicago Cubs.

By the time he hung them up after a brief stint with the Texas Rangers in 1985, he’d end up with 151 wins and a very nice 3.38 ERA over 480 games, 377 of those starts, striking out just under 1500 batters in that time.

Next week, the American League’s top winners of 1978!

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS: 1978 N.L. STRIKEOUTS

On the blog today, we have a 1978 “expanded league leader” card celebrating the top three strikeout pitchers of the 1977 season in the National League, featuring three solid pitchers of the era:

 

We begin with Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who was an absolute BEAST in 1977, leading the league with 262 strikeouts, a career-best for him, while putting in a workhorse of a year for the Atlanta Braves.

Over the course of that year Niekro started 43 games, completed 20 of them, tossed 330.1 innings while going 16-20 with a 4.03 earned run average, tossing two shutouts while allowing 315 hits while walking 164 batters!

If you can believe it he’d top those innings pitched in each of the next two seasons, throwing 334.1 and 342 in 1978 and 1979 respectively, while winning 19 and 21 games, completing 22 and 23 as well.

Just the definition of “workhorse” while throwing his knuckleball on his way to the Hall of Fame, winning 318 games while striking out 3342 batters along the way, with 45 shutouts over 864 games in his 24-year career.

Behind him with 214 strikeouts in 1977, the pitcher who would go on to lead the league in K’s the following two seasons, Houston Astros fire-baller J.R. Richard, who matched his previous season’s strikeout total while winning 18 games along with three shutouts and a 2.97 ERA.

Richard would eclipse the 300-strikeout threshold in the 1978 and 1979, with 303 and 313 before a stroke during the 1980 season tragically cut his career short after a brilliant 10-4 start with a 1.90 ERA, including four shutouts.

The man was well on his way to a dominant decade in the 1980’s, now teamed up with Nolan Ryan who arrived in 1980 to form what could have been one of the great 1-2 pitching tandems of all-time.

In third place with 206 strikeouts, overlooked ace Steve Rogers of the Montreal Expos, who had a fine year in 1977 with 17 wins and a 3.10 ERA over 40 starts, completing 17 and tossing four shutouts.

Rogers would go on to post some solid years for the Expos into the 1980’s, winning as many as 19 games (1982) and even leading the league that year with a 2.40 ERA, and shutouts in 1983 with five.

A victim of some bad Expos teams in the early part of the 1970’s, he’d finish with a record of 158-152 over 13 seasons, with a very nice 3.17 ERA and 37 shutouts over 399 appearances, all for the Montreal franchise between 1973 and 1985.

 

1960'S DEDICATED ROOKIES: 1964 PHIL NIEKRO

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:

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.

Just an amazing talent!

1970 "IN-GAME ACTION": PHIL NIEKRO

On the blog today, we spotlight the great Phil Niekro's card in my custom 1970 "In-Game Action" two-series set released a few months back:

 

Niekro was coming off a fantastic 1969 season by the time this "card" would have seen the light of day, posting a record of 23-13 over 40 appearances, with a 2.56 ERA, four shutouts and 193 strikeouts at the age of 30, making his first All-Star game and finishing second in the Cy Young race.

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!

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS- 1975 N.L. WINS

On the blog today, we move onto the National League’s top winning pitchers for 1974 in my 1975 “Expanded League Leaders” card in my long-running thread:

 

 

For 1974 we had two pitchers tied for the top spot in wins with 20, Andy Messersmith of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Hall of Famer Phil Niekro of the Atlanta Braves.

For Messersmith, it was a banner season for the righty, as he’d finish second behind record breaking teammate Mike Marshall for the league’s Cy Young Award, based on his 20-6 record, with a very nice 2.59 ERA and 221 strikeouts for the N.L. Champs.

Tied with Messersmith with 20 wins, the great knuckler Phil Niekro, who had himself his second 20-wins season, and first since 1969, as he’d go 20-13 over 41 appearances, all but two starts, leading the league with his 18 complete games and 302.1 innings pitched.

He would also complete six games, toss a shutout, and strikeout 195 batters while also picking up a save, which all would get him a third place finish in the Cy Young race at season’s end.

In third place with 19 wins each, Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Don Sutton and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jack Billingham, with Sutton going 19-9 over 40 starts, with five shutouts and 179 strikeouts, and Billingham going 19-11 for his second straight 19-win season, while also posting an ERA of 3.94 over 36 appearances, with three shutouts and 103 strikeouts, good for a sixth place finish in the Cy Young race.

Four solid starters putting in good seasons for their respective teams.

Next week, we take a look at the American league’s top winners of 1974!

See you then!

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS: 1975 N.L. E.R.A.

On the blog this Sunday, we move on to the top three pitchers in the National League in Earned Run Average for 1974 in my on-going "expanded league leaders" thread:

 

Leading off, coming out of nowhere was Atlanta Braves pitcher Buzz Capra, a New York Mets cast-ff, who had the season of his career in 1974 when he led the league with a sparkling 2.28 ERA, completing eleven of his 27 starts while tossing five shutouts.

Those five shutouts would end up being the only ones of his seven-year Big League career, while the 16 wins represented just over half of his 31 wins.

He'd struggle with injuries after his banner year, and would play parts of the next three seasons before calling it a career at the end of 1977, still only 29 years of age.

Right behind Capra with a very nice 2.38 ERA is teammate Phil Niekro, who also led the league with his 20 wins in 1974, throwing six shutouts while completing 18 games in his 39 starts.

It was the second 20-win season of the Hall of Famer's career, and the fifth season of sub-3.00 ERA to that point.

Incredible to think that although already 35 years of age in 1974, he STILL had 13 years to go in his career, eventually finishing up with 318 wins by the time he retired after the 1987 season.

In third place with a 2.41 ERA is New York Mets pitcher Jon Matlack, who was the league leader with his seven shutouts in 1974 on his way to an unfortunate record of 13-15, completing 14 of 34 starts while striking out 195, making his first All-Star team.

There you have it! The top three ERA men of the Senior Circuit for 1974, as we move along next week for the American League.

MINOR LEAGUE DAYS- PHIL NIEKRO

Today on the blog we go and add Hall of Famer Phil Niekro to my long-running “Minor League Days” thread, celebrating stars of Major League Baseball around 1971 with a card showing them before they hit the Big Leagues:

Incredibly enough, Niekro was already a 25-year-old when he put in one season with the Denver Bears in 1964, going 11-5 with a 3.45 earned run average over 29 appearances after spending all of 1963 in the Military.
Later that season he would make his Major League debut with 10 games for the Milwaukee Braves, not factoring in a decisions while sporting an ERA of 3.45 over 15 innings.
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!

 

NO-HITTERS SPECIAL SUB-SET: PHIL NIEKRO. AUGUST 5TH, 1973

Next up in my on-going journey celebrating no-hitters through the 1970’s is the very first gem tossed for the Braves after relocating to Atlanta, Hall of Famer Phil Niekro’s No-No tossed against the San Diego Padres on August 5th:

Niekro used a mix of fastballs and sliders during the first seven or so innings of the no-hitter, then switched to a heavy knuckleball for the final two innings, striking out four while walking three, improving his record to 11-5 and lowering his earned run average to 3.44 in the 9-0 win.
Dusty Baker and Frank Tepedino both helped the cause with two RBIs each, while lead-off hitter Ralp Garr went 3-for-3 with three runs scored for the bulk of the Braves offense.
Niekro finished his no-hitter on this Sunday afternoon in just under 2 1/2 hours in front of only 8,748 in attendance watching two teams struggling to stay out of the basement, the Padres at 37-73 and the Braves at 52-64.

BASEBALL BROTHERS: PHIL AND JOE NIEKRO

Here’s a thread I’m starting that plays off of the 1977 “Brothers” sub-set, where I sprinkle in some “Baseball Brothers” specialty cards throughout the decade’s sets.
We’ll start off with a 1971 card for the Niekro brothers, pretty much the most glaring omission from the 1977 subset:

What needs to be said about these two that hasn’t already been stated?
These two guys put in 46 years of Major League service, winning almost 550 games, and even led the National League in wins during the same season of 1979 (something I always thought was awesome) making for a cool league-leader card.
Joe put in two 20-win seasons while big brother Phil had three, and between them they struck out over 5000 batters while knuckling their way in the record books.
I wonder why Topps didn’t manage to get them into that 1977 sub set?
Anyone know?

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.

MISSING IN ACTION-"IN ACTION" #28: 1972 PHIL NIEKRO

Let's go and give "Knucksie" Phil Niekro an "In Action" card in that fabulous 1972 Topp set, shall we:

Niekro was in the middle of an incredible run of 10 consecutive years where he averaged about 275 innings pitched a season!

His 1979 season is always fun to re-examine: a 21-20 record with a 3.39 earned run average, 44 starts, 208 K's, 23 complete games and 342 innings pitched!

He led the National League in BOTH wins and losses, along with starts, complete games, innings pitched hits allowed, walks and hit-batsmen, and got a sixth-place finish in Cy Young voting along with a Gold Glove for his efforts!

A 318-game winner over the course of 24 seasons between 1964 and 1987, Niekro seemed to pitch forever for the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays.

Throw in his 45 career shutouts, 3342 strikeouts and 245 complete games with his five Gold Gloves and it's clear why he was inducted into the Baseball hall of Fame in 1997.

Keep an eye out for my "Knucksie" "Nicknames of the '70s" card in the not-too-distant-future!

HALL OF FAME LEADERS XVII: 1978 STRIKEOUT LEADERS

Next up on my "Hall of Fame" league-leader card thread we move onto 1978, and the only leader card that would feature solely future Hall of Famers: #206 Strikeout Leaders, with (once again) Nolan Ryan and knuckle-baller Phil Niekro.

For Ryan, this was beginning to be "old hat", as he whiffed 300+ batters for the fifth time in his career (already a Major League record), and won his fifth strikeout title.

This was the height of the "Ryan Express", and he'd go on to win another SIX titles before he was done, including another 300+ K season in 1989 at the incredible age of 42!

All told Ryan would win 11 strikeout crowns and post six 300+ strikeout seasons.

Just sick…

For Niekro, this would be the only time he'd lead the league in strikeouts, whiffing a nice 262 in 330.1 innings. The total would be a career high, and actually was the first time he struck out over 200 batters in a season in his 14-year career at that point.

On top of that, he was 38 years old when he did it, and he'd follow that up with his second best strikeout season the very next year with 248.

1977 was actually a bit of a down year for "Knucksie", as he also lead the National League in losses (20), earned runs (148), wild pitches (17) and walks (164).

It would also mark four straight seasons of leading the league in losses, with totals of 20, 18, 20 and 18 between 1977 and 1980.

But that didn't hurt his path straight to the Hall of Fame, as he eventually topped 300 career wins and 3000 career strikeouts, benchmarks for induction (at the time), getting voted in in 1997.

Next up on this thread, the last "Hall of Famer" leader card of the decade: 1979 #8 Leading Firemen featuring "Goose" Gossage and Rollie Fingers.