Joe Niekro

Lore & Background

Niekro was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, and attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, and West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the seventh round of the 1966 amateur draft but did not sign, then was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the third round in 1967. He pitched for the Cubs, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, and Minnesota Twins. With the Astros, he perfected his knuckleball and became the first Astros pitcher to win 20 games in consecutive seasons (1979 and 1980). He made the National League All-Star team in 1979, led the league in wins that year, and won the TSN Pitcher of the Year Award. He pitched 10 shutout innings in Game 3 of the 1980 NLCS. He became the all-time winningest pitcher in Astros history on June 9, 1985, breaking Larry Dierker's record. He was caught ball-scuffing while with the Twins in 1987 and received a 10-game suspension.

In Their Own Story

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the AstroDome turf as Joe Niekro stepped onto the mound, adjusting his cap before gripping the ball. The crowd hummed with anticipation, knowing that a knuckleball could do anything—dip, rise, or dance sideways at the last second. He took a deep breath, feeling the familiar weight of the game, and delivered a pitch that seemed to float toward home plate. As the batter swung and missed, Joe smiled, exchanging a nod with his catcher, a silent acknowledgment of another battle won in Houston's unique indoor arena.

Reader's Guide

Joe Niekro's career spanned 22 seasons. He was primarily a starter, known for his knuckleball, fastball, and changeup. His best years were with the Houston Astros from 1975 to 1985, where he posted 20-win seasons in 1979 and 1980. He led the league in games started multiple times and in wild pitches. He was traded to the New York Yankees in 1985, where he briefly reunited with his brother Phil, and later to the Minnesota Twins, with whom he appeared in the 1987 World Series. He was released by the Twins in May 1988.

Did You Know?

• Joe Niekro was the first Astros pitcher to win 20 games in consecutive seasons (1979 and 1980).
• He and his brother Phil tied for the MLB wins lead in 1979, the only year two brothers shared that statistic.
• Niekro was caught with sandpaper glued to his palm during a 1987 game, leading to a 10-game suspension.
• He became the all-time winningest pitcher in Astros history on June 9, 1985, a record later surpassed by Roy Oswalt in 2010.