Joe Niekro
[edit] Biography
Born on November 7, 1944 in Martins Ferry, Ohio, Joe Niekro (Joseph Franklin Niekro) played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins over the course of his 22 year career. Niekro broke into the bigs on April 16, 1967 with the Chicago Cubs, and put up a 3.34 ERA in 169.2 innings pitched in 1967, his rookie year.
There is some disagreement on what was Joe Niekro's most productive season. Some believe that it was 1979, when he posted a 3.00 ERA, won 21 games and struck out 119 batters. However, others believe that it was 1982, when he posted a 2.47 ERA, won 17 games and struck out 130 batters.
[edit] Statistics
[edit] Pitching Stats
| 1967
| CHI
| N
| 36
| 22
| 10
| 7
| 3.34
| 77
| 68
| 63
| 7
| 2
| 0
| 169.2
| 171
| 15
| 32
| 7
| 1
| 2
|
| 1968
| CHI
| N
| 34
| 29
| 14
| 10
| 4.32
| 65
| 93
| 85
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 177
| 204
| 18
| 59
| 8
| 3
| 3
|
| 1969
| SD
| N
| 37
| 31
| 8
| 17
| 3.70
| 55
| 91
| 83
| 8
| 3
| 0
| 202
| 213
| 15
| 45
| 9
| 4
| 0
|
| 1969
| CHI
| N
| 4
| 3
| 0
| 1
| 3.72
| 7
| 9
| 8
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 19.1
| 24
| 3
| 6
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1969
| TOT
| N
| 41
| 34
| 8
| 18
| 3.70
| 62
| 100
| 91
| 8
| 3
| 0
| 221.1
| 237
| 18
| 51
| 9
| 4
| 0
|
| 1970
| DET
| A
| 38
| 34
| 12
| 13
| 4.06
| 101
| 107
| 96
| 6
| 2
| 0
| 213
| 221
| 28
| 72
| 4
| 1
| 3
|
| 1971
| DET
| A
| 31
| 15
| 6
| 7
| 4.49
| 43
| 62
| 61
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 122.1
| 136
| 13
| 49
| 3
| 2
| 2
|
| 1972
| DET
| A
| 18
| 7
| 3
| 2
| 3.83
| 24
| 20
| 20
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 47
| 62
| 3
| 8
| 1
| 2
| 1
|
| 1973
| ATL
| N
| 20
| 0
| 2
| 4
| 4.12
| 12
| 11
| 11
| 0
| 0
| 3
| 24
| 23
| 2
| 11
| 1
| 3
| 0
|
| 1974
| ATL
| N
| 27
| 2
| 3
| 2
| 3.56
| 31
| 19
| 17
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 43
| 36
| 5
| 18
| 2
| 3
| 2
|
| 1975
| HOU
| N
| 40
| 4
| 6
| 4
| 3.07
| 54
| 32
| 30
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 88
| 79
| 3
| 39
| 4
| 2
| 2
|
| 1976
| HOU
| N
| 36
| 13
| 4
| 8
| 3.36
| 77
| 60
| 44
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 118
| 107
| 8
| 56
| 1
| 8
| 1
|
| 1977
| HOU
| N
| 44
| 14
| 13
| 8
| 3.04
| 101
| 66
| 61
| 9
| 2
| 5
| 180.2
| 155
| 14
| 64
| 3
| 5
| 1
|
| 1978
| HOU
| N
| 35
| 29
| 14
| 14
| 3.86
| 97
| 97
| 87
| 10
| 1
| 0
| 202.2
| 190
| 13
| 73
| 1
| 9
| 9
|
| 1979
| HOU
| N
| 38
| 38
| 21
| 11
| 3.00
| 119
| 102
| 88
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 263.2
| 221
| 17
| 107
| 1
| 19
| 7
|
| 1980
| HOU
| N
| 37
| 36
| 20
| 12
| 3.55
| 127
| 119
| 101
| 11
| 2
| 0
| 256
| 268
| 12
| 79
| 3
| 12
| 4
|
| 1981
| HOU
| N
| 24
| 24
| 9
| 9
| 2.82
| 77
| 60
| 52
| 5
| 2
| 0
| 166
| 150
| 8
| 47
| 4
| 7
| 0
|
| 1982
| HOU
| N
| 35
| 35
| 17
| 12
| 2.47
| 130
| 79
| 74
| 16
| 5
| 0
| 270
| 224
| 12
| 64
| 1
| 19
| 5
|
| 1983
| HOU
| N
| 38
| 38
| 15
| 14
| 3.48
| 152
| 115
| 102
| 9
| 1
| 0
| 263.2
| 238
| 15
| 101
| 5
| 14
| 3
|
| 1984
| HOU
| N
| 38
| 38
| 16
| 12
| 3.04
| 127
| 104
| 84
| 6
| 1
| 0
| 248.1
| 223
| 16
| 89
| 4
| 12
| 4
|
| 1985
| NY
| A
| 3
| 3
| 2
| 1
| 5.84
| 4
| 8
| 8
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 12.1
| 14
| 3
| 8
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1985
| HOU
| N
| 32
| 32
| 9
| 12
| 3.72
| 117
| 100
| 88
| 4
| 1
| 0
| 213
| 197
| 21
| 99
| 6
| 21
| 5
|
| 1985
| Total
|
| 35
| 35
| 11
| 13
| 3.83
| 121
| 108
| 96
| 4
| 1
| 0
| 225.1
| 211
| 24
| 107
| 6
| 21
| 5
|
| 1986
| NY
| A
| 25
| 25
| 9
| 10
| 4.87
| 59
| 84
| 68
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 125.2
| 139
| 15
| 63
| 3
| 10
| 1
|
| 1987
| NY
| A
| 8
| 8
| 3
| 4
| 3.55
| 30
| 25
| 20
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 50.2
| 40
| 4
| 19
| 0
| 0
| 4
|
| 1987
| MIN
| A
| 19
| 18
| 4
| 9
| 6.26
| 54
| 76
| 67
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 96.1
| 115
| 11
| 45
| 0
| 13
| 6
|
| 1987
| TOT
| A
| 27
| 26
| 7
| 13
| 5.33
| 84
| 101
| 87
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 147
| 155
| 15
| 64
| 0
| 13
| 10
|
| 1988
| MIN
| A
| 5
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 1.03
| 7
| 13
| 13
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 11.2
| 16
| 2
| 9
| 0
| 2
| 0
|
| Total
| NL
|
| 555
| 388
| 181
| 157
| 3.34
| 1425
| 1225
| 1078
| 99
| 27
| 14
| 2905
| 2723
| 197
| 989
| 60
| 142
| 48
|
| Total
| AL
|
| 147
| 112
| 40
| 47
| 4.68
| 322
| 395
| 353
| 8
| 2
| 2
| 679
| 743
| 79
| 273
| 11
| 30
| 17
|
| Total
|
|
| 702
| 500
| 221
| 204
| 3.59
| 1747
| 1620
| 1431
| 107
| 29
| 16
| 3584
| 3466
| 276
| 1262
| 71
| 172
| 65
|
[edit] Fielding Stats
| 1967
| CHI
| N
| P
| 36
| 22
| 169.2
| 10
| 26
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 2
| 11
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
|
| 1968
| CHI
| N
| P
| 34
| 29
| 177.1
| 9
| 33
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 4
| 6
| 0
| 1.000
|
| 1969
| SD
| N
| P
| 37
| 31
| 202
| 19
| 29
| 5
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 6
| 8
| 2
| .906
|
| 1969
| CHI
| N
| P
| 4
| 3
| 19.1
| 2
| 5
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 1.000
|
| 1969
| TOT
| N
| P
| 41
| 34
| 221.1
| 21
| 34
| 5
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 6
| 8
| 2
| .917
|
| 1970
| DET
| A
| P
| 38
| 34
| 213
| 17
| 35
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 3
| 9
| 1
| .981
|
| 1971
| DET
| A
| P
| 31
| 15
| 122.1
| 9
| 25
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 5
| 3
| 0
| .971
|
| 1972
| DET
| A
| P
| 18
| 7
| 47
| 5
| 4
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
|
| 1973
| ATL
| N
| P
| 20
| 0
| 24
| 2
| 5
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 3
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
|
| 1974
| ATL
| N
| P
| 27
| 2
| 43
| 4
| 8
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 5
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 1.000
|
| 1975
| HOU
| N
| P
| 40
| 4
| 88
| 7
| 13
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 9
| 8
| 2
| 2
| 1.000
|
| 1976
| HOU
| N
| P
| 36
| 13
| 118
| 9
| 13
| 3
| 1
| 0
| 8
| 20
| 2
| 0
| .880
|
| 1977
| HOU
| N
| P
| 44
| 14
| 180.2
| 11
| 31
| 0
| 7
| 0
| 8
| 16
| 6
| 1
| 1.000
|
| 1978
| HOU
| N
| P
| 35
| 29
| 202.2
| 18
| 21
| 0
| 3
| 0
| 13
| 33
| 6
| 5
| 1.000
|
| 1979
| HOU
| N
| P
| 38
| 38
| 263.2
| 14
| 39
| 0
| 4
| 0
| 8
| 31
| 9
| 1
| 1.000
|
| 1980
| HOU
| N
| P
| 37
| 36
| 256
| 17
| 37
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 15
| 34
| 7
| 0
| .964
|
| 1981
| HOU
| N
| P
| 24
| 24
| 166
| 11
| 23
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 4
| 25
| 8
| 0
| 1.000
|
| 1982
| HOU
| N
| P
| 35
| 35
| 270
| 22
| 42
| 3
| 2
| 0
| 16
| 27
| 13
| 1
| .955
|
| 1983
| HOU
| N
| P
| 38
| 38
| 263.2
| 9
| 36
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 25
| 45
| 9
| 1
| .918
|
| 1984
| HOU
| N
| P
| 38
| 38
| 248.1
| 19
| 39
| 2
| 5
| 0
| 20
| 34
| 16
| 0
| .967
|
| 1985
| NY
| A
| P
| 3
| 3
| 12.1
| 3
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 1.000
|
| 1985
| HOU
| N
| P
| 32
| 32
| 213
| 14
| 34
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 27
| 44
| 7
| 1
| .980
|
| 1985
| Total
|
| P
| 35
| 35
| 225.1
| 17
| 36
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 28
| 47
| 7
| 1
| .981
|
| 1986
| NY
| A
| P
| 25
| 25
| 125.2
| 9
| 13
| 1
| 2
| 0
| 10
| 23
| 1
| 0
| .957
|
| 1987
| NY
| A
| P
| 8
| 8
| 50.2
| 5
| 5
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 4
| 7
| 3
| 0
| .909
|
| 1987
| MIN
| A
| P
| 19
| 18
| 96.1
| 6
| 11
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 8
| 25
| 3
| 0
| .944
|
| 1987
| TOT
| A
| P
| 27
| 26
| 147
| 11
| 16
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 12
| 32
| 6
| 0
| .931
|
| 1988
| MIN
| A
| P
| 5
| 2
| 11.2
| 2
| 3
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 2
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 1.000
|
| Total
|
|
| P
| 702
| 500
| 3584.1
| 253
| 532
| 25
| 41
| 1
| 187
| 415
| 122
| 15
| .969
|
[edit] Batting Stats
| 1967
| CHI
| N
| 36
| 46
| 5
| 9
| 0
| 11
| .196
| .204
| .239
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 13
| 0
| 9
| 1
| 0
| 1
|
| 1968
| CHI
| N
| 34
| 60
| 2
| 6
| 0
| 0
| .100
| .156
| .100
| 0
| 0
| 4
| 23
| 0
| 9
| 0
| 0
| 1
|
| 1969
| SD
| N
| 38
| 51
| 1
| 6
| 0
| 2
| .118
| .207
| .137
| 1
| 0
| 6
| 17
| 0
| 5
| 0
| 0
| 3
|
| 1969
| CHI
| N
| 4
| 5
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 2
| .200
| .200
| .400
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1969
| TOT
| N
| 42
| 56
| 1
| 7
| 0
| 4
| .125
| .206
| .161
| 2
| 0
| 6
| 18
| 0
| 6
| 0
| 0
| 3
|
| 1970
| DET
| A
| 39
| 66
| 8
| 13
| 0
| 7
| .197
| .274
| .273
| 3
| 1
| 7
| 17
| 0
| 15
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1971
| DET
| A
| 32
| 30
| 5
| 4
| 0
| 2
| .133
| .188
| .167
| 1
| 0
| 2
| 9
| 0
| 6
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1972
| DET
| A
| 18
| 12
| 2
| 3
| 0
| 1
| .250
| .308
| .333
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 4
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1973
| ATL
| N
| 20
| 3
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| .333
| .333
| .333
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1974
| ATL
| N
| 27
| 5
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| .000
| .000
| .000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1975
| HOU
| N
| 40
| 14
| 1
| 3
| 0
| 0
| .214
| .313
| .214
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1976
| HOU
| N
| 36
| 27
| 1
| 5
| 1
| 1
| .185
| .214
| .370
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 8
| 0
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1977
| HOU
| N
| 44
| 50
| 2
| 7
| 0
| 2
| .140
| .173
| .140
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 13
| 0
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 2
|
| 1978
| HOU
| N
| 36
| 65
| 6
| 9
| 0
| 5
| .138
| .138
| .169
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 18
| 0
| 9
| 0
| 0
| 2
|
| 1979
| HOU
| N
| 38
| 83
| 1
| 10
| 0
| 4
| .120
| .140
| .145
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 21
| 0
| 13
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1980
| HOU
| N
| 37
| 80
| 7
| 22
| 0
| 10
| .275
| .310
| .338
| 5
| 0
| 4
| 15
| 0
| 18
| 0
| 0
| 2
|
| 1981
| HOU
| N
| 24
| 51
| 1
| 9
| 0
| 6
| .176
| .208
| .196
| 1
| 0
| 2
| 10
| 0
| 11
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1982
| HOU
| N
| 35
| 89
| 2
| 8
| 0
| 5
| .090
| .099
| .112
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 30
| 0
| 7
| 0
| 0
| 1
|
| 1983
| HOU
| N
| 38
| 85
| 1
| 8
| 0
| 2
| .094
| .105
| .118
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 22
| 1
| 12
| 0
| 0
| 1
|
| 1984
| HOU
| N
| 38
| 83
| 4
| 11
| 0
| 6
| .133
| .153
| .133
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 21
| 0
| 11
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1985
| NY
| A
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| .000
| .000
| .000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1985
| HOU
| N
| 32
| 68
| 6
| 17
| 0
| 6
| .250
| .257
| .265
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 16
| 0
| 10
| 0
| 0
| 4
|
| 1985
| Total
|
| 35
| 68
| 6
| 17
| 0
| 6
| .250
| .257
| .265
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 16
| 0
| 10
| 0
| 0
| 4
|
| 1986
| NY
| A
| 25
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| .000
| .000
| .000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1987
| NY
| A
| 8
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| .000
| .000
| .000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1987
| MIN
| A
| 19
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| .000
| .000
| .000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1987
| TOT
| A
| 27
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| .000
| .000
| .000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| 1988
| MIN
| A
| 5
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| .000
| .000
| .000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| Total
| NL
|
| 557
| 865
| 40
| 132
| 1
| 62
| .153
| .179
| .180
| 21
| 0
| 28
| 232
| 1
| 125
| 1
| 0
| 17
|
| Total
| AL
|
| 149
| 108
| 15
| 20
| 0
| 10
| .185
| .254
| .250
| 5
| 1
| 10
| 30
| 0
| 22
| 0
| 0
| 0
|
| Total
|
|
| 706
| 973
| 55
| 152
| 1
| 72
| .156
| .188
| .188
| 26
| 1
| 38
| 262
| 1
| 147
| 1
| 0
| 17
|
[edit] Transactions
- Selected by Cleveland Indians in the 7th round of the free-agent draft - did not sign (January 29, 1966).
- Selected by Chicago Cubs in the 3rd round of the secondary phase of free-agent draft (June 7, 1966).
- Traded by Chicago Cubs with Gary Ross and Frankie Libran to San Diego Padres in exchange for Dick Selma (April 25, 1969).
- Traded by San Diego Padres to Detroit Tigers in exchange for Pat Dobson and Dave Campbell (December 4, 1969).
- Claimed on waivers by Atlanta Braves from Detroit Tigers (August 7, 1973).
- Sold by Atlanta Braves to Houston Astros for $35000 (April 6, 1975).
- Traded by Houston Astros to New York Yankees in exchange for Jim Deshaies and 2 players to be named later (September 15, 1985); Houston Astros received Neder Horta (September 24, 1985) and Dody Rather (January 11, 1986).
- Granted free agency (November 12, 1985).
- Signed by New York Yankees (January 8, 1986).
- Traded by New York Yankees to Minnesota Twins in exchange for Mark Salas (June 7, 1987).
- Granted free agency (January 22, 1988).
- Signed by Minnesota Twins (February 9, 1988).
- Released by Minnesota Twins (May 4, 1988).
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