Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, after a long battle with cancer at the age of 81. Niekro was an invaluable member of the Board of Directors of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Born on April 1, 1939, in Blaine, Ohio, he was taught the knuckler by his father. Known for his famous knuckleball, Niekro became one of MLB’s greats.
What Is A Knuckleball?
For those that may not know what a knuckleball is, it is a baseball pitch thrown to slow down the spin of the ball in flight causing the pitch to have an unpredictable motion.