In reply to: NYT obit herein (link) posted by sprack
In his 23 year career?
1978 at Wrigley. Niekro left the game in the 3rd inning and the Cubs won 8-6. That must be a rarity - Niekro not making it out of the 3rd. I had no idea... I was 7, just happy to be at the game with my peanuts and cracker jacks.
There are days with even the best of the few knuckleball pitchers when the pitch just isn't working. And in that case it's like batting practice.
I hope it's not past tense with knuckleballers. There always seemed to be at least one or two in the majors since the 1920's.
He pitched in the first inning 714 times, and in the fourth inning 699 times. There is likely some noise that keeps it from being as simple as 714-699, such as entering a game early in relief. But I would think somewhere between 12-18 would be a pretty safe bet. Pretty rare I think, but a bit higher than I would have guessed.
For reference, a few others
Maddux 740 first innings, 728 fourths, difference of 12
Carlton 709, 693, 16
Nolan Ryan 774, 731, 43
Fergie 594, 576, 18
The nearest MLB team was 600 miles away for me for 19 years. I might've seen Niekro pitch in spring training for Braves or NYY.
My reference was to seeing those knuckleballers pitch in person.
Hoyt Wilhelm, Eddie Fisher, Wilbur Wood, Charlie Hough.
I think the only others I saw at a game pitch in person were Tom Candiotti and Tim Wakefield. Possibly both Niekro brothers when they were in the AL, but I don't remember.
cards of all those players before they were big. Hoyt Wilhelm cards from the late 1950s and early 1960s when there was no inkling he would be in the Hall of Fame. One I particularly like is a Steve Carlton with fewer than 10 career wins.
Wilbur Wood was famous for starting both games in a double header. I have a 1964 Wilbur Wood card from when he was on the Red Sox.