Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame pitcher and knuckleball master, dies at 81

Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, an Atlanta Braves icon who baffled hitters with his masterful knuckleball for 24 seasons, died at the age of 81, the Hall of Fame announced Sunday.

Niekro had been battling cancer, according to the Braves.

"Phil Niekro's record on the field ranks him as one of the game’s finest pitchers," Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark said in a statement. "As a mentor, leader, and friend, Phil brought out the best in all of us in Cooperstown. Over more than a decade of serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Hall of Fame, his wisdom, his compassion, and his love for the game proved to be invaluable in helping us shape our decisions."

"We are heartbroken on the passing of our treasured friend, Phil Niekro," the Braves said. "Knucksie was woven into the Braves fabric, first in Milwaukee and then in Atlanta. Phil baffled batters on the field and later was always the first to join in our community activities."

The five-time All-Star won 318 games over his career, the most by any knuckleball pitcher. "Knucksie" ranks 16th all-time in wins, 11th in strikeouts (3,342), fifth in games started (716), and fourth in innings pitched (5,404). No live-ball era pitcher threw more innings than Niekro.

Owing to his knuckleball, Niekro was a true workhorse, throwing at least 200 innings in 18 seasons along with 11 250-inning seasons and four years above the 300-IP mark. He continued to pitch effectively into his mid-40s, recording 121 of his 318 wins after his 40th birthday and only retiring at age 48. He also won five Gold Glove awards and threw a no-hitter in 1973.

Niekro, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997, spent 21 seasons with the Braves from 1964 (when they were located in Milwaukee) to 1983 and returned for his final start in 1987. The Braves failed to contend for much of his career, but he did help them to a pair of division titles and remains the franchise's leader in games pitched.

In between stints with the Braves, Niekro also pitched for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Toronto Blue Jays. Niekro made his final All-Star team with New York at age 45 in 1984 - the same year Atlanta retired his No. 35. He won his 300th game the following year.

After retiring, Niekro remained affiliated with the Braves organization in various roles and was also credited with furthering other knuckleball pitchers' careers - including R.A. Dickey, the only knuckleballer to win a Cy Young.

Phil's brother, Joe Niekro, also had a long career as a knuckleball pitcher. Together they amassed 539 wins, the most by any brothers in baseball history.