1984 phil niekro

following his october 1983 release by the atlanta braves, future hall of famer phil niekro signed a free agent deal with the new york yankees.  here's his 1984 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

the braves released their longest tenured player 88 strikeouts short of 3000.  not to worry, though.  in 1987 they brought him back for one last start.  in the meantime, niekro won 16 games in 1984 and made the all star team.  he didn't pitch in the game, however, as each league used only 5 pitchers in the midsummer classic.

as for his 3000th strikeout, he achieved that milestone on july 4, 1984 against the rangers.  in the bottom of the fourth inning, larry parrish led off and struck out, becoming niekro's milestone victim.  in true knuckleballer fashion, however, strike 3 was a wild pitch and parrish wound up on first.

voici à vous, 1984 phil niekro!