Niekro’s knuckler produces 3,000th strikeout

Pitching in his 21st big league season in 1984, Phil Niekro was the acknowledged master of the knuckleball.

On July 4 of that year, America’s independence wasn’t the only thing being celebrated, as the Yankees pitcher recorded his 3,000th strikeout in a 5-0 shutout over the Texas Rangers in front of more than 39,000 fans in Arlington, Texas.

Entering his 757th game, Niekro was sitting on 2,998 career strikeouts. He struck out Buddy Bell in the third and fanned Larry Parrish in the fourth to become the ninth player in history to reach the 3,000-strikeout club.

Niekro received a standing ovation from the eighth-largest crowd in franchise history at Arlington Stadium. Yankees catcher Butch Wynegar was excited for the chance to hand the ball to his teammate following the memorable moment. However, in a rare turn of events, Wynegar dropped the pitch for a passed ball and Parrish advanced to first base.

“I wanted to catch it and give it to him personally,” Wynegar told the Associated Press. “But unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. It’s a shame it had to happen on his 3,000th.”

The 45-year-old pitcher struck out five players during the shutout which brought his strikeout total to 3,003 and lowered his ERA to 1.84, the best in the American League.

“I don’t consider myself a strikeout pitcher. And I sure don’t scare anybody out there,” said Niekro despite the career milestone. “I was comfortable with the whole game. I was ’round the plate. I got behind on a couple guys. Then I threw a little sinking fastball and got out of it.”

Niekro finished the season with a 16-8 record and a 3.09 ERA. He would earn his 300th win the following season on Oct. 6 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Niekro remains one of only 10 major leaguers to have both 3,000 strikeouts and 300 wins.

Niekro played for the Braves, Yankees, Indians and Blue Jays – and after a 24-year Major League career the Blaine, Ohio, native ended his career with 3,342 strikeouts, 318 wins and a lifetime ERA of 3.35. He pitched for a total of 5,404 innings – the most of any player who started his career in the Live Ball Era. He was a five time All-Star, won five Gold Glove Awards, was the recipient of the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1979 and the Roberto Clemente Award in 1980. He also served in the U.S. Army in 1963.

Niekro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 and passed away on Dec. 26, 2020.

Emma Harby is the 2024 public relations intern in the Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Leadership Development