Joseph Franklin Niekro was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher.
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20 Facts About Joe Niekro
2.
Joe Niekro was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of former Major League first baseman Lance Niekro.
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3.
Joe Niekro was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, and attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia.
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4.
Joe Niekro was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the seventh round of the 1966 amateur draft, but he did not sign with the club.
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5.
Joe Niekro started the following season's Opening Day game for the Cubs at Crosley Field against the Cincinnati Reds.
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6.
Joe Niekro threw 122 innings in the next season and just 47 in the following.
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7.
Joe Niekro was selected off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on August 7,1973.
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8.
Joe Niekro used a fastball and a slider early in his career, with mixed results.
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9.
Joe Niekro threw harder than his brother Phil and could set up batters nearly as effectively with his fastball in combination with his excellent changeup.
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10.
Joe Niekro made the National League All-Star team in 1979, a season in which he led the league with his 21 wins and five shutouts, won the TSN Pitcher of the Year Award, and ended second in voting for the Cy Young Award behind Bruce Sutter.
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11.
Joe Niekro was the Opening Day starter for the Astros to start the 1981 season.
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12.
Joe Niekro appeared in Game 2 of the 1981 National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching eight scoreless innings, although Joe Sambito ended up being the winning pitcher for the Astros as they won in the 11th inning, though the Dodgers would win the series in five games.
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13.
Joe Niekro displayed a bit more effectiveness the following year.
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14.
Joe Niekro struck out a career-high 130 batters while walking 64 and leading all of Major League Baseball with 19 wild pitches.
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15.
Joe Niekro was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Mark Salas on June 7,1987.
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16.
Joe Niekro allowed one hit while striking out one and allowing no runs.
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17.
Joe Niekro said he was filing his nails in the dugout, but American League president Bobby Brown did not believe him, and ordered the 10-game suspension.
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20.
Joe Niekro Foundation, created by his daughter Natalie, is committed to supporting patients and families, research, treatment and awareness of brain aneurysms, AVMs, and hemorrhagic strokes.
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