Knuckleballer Joe Niekro enters the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame as one of the most qualified pitchers in this state’s history. Over the course of his 22-year MLB career (1967-88), Joe won 221, lost 204, and posted a respectable 3.59 ERA for the Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Braves, Astros, Yankees, and Twins.

In spite of his travels, Joe Niekro will be best remembered as an Astro. He played half his career in Houston (1975-85) and departed as the pitcher with the most wins in franchise history. 20 years later, his 144 wins for Houston still remains the franchise record. That achievement speaks volumes for the value of this man to the history of Major League baseball in Houston.

As the younger brother of the famous Niekro knuckleball pitchers, Joe often fell into the national shadow of older brother Phil, who earned induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. When we look at how things went during Joe’s prime years, however, we see that Joe held his own quite respectably with brother Phil. 

In 1979, Joe and Phil tied for the NL lead with 21 wins each, but it was Joe whom The Sporting News named as NL Pitcher of the Year and runner-up in the then single Cy Young vote. Joe followed his great 1979 season with another 20-win year in 1980, becoming the first Astros pitcher to put together consecutive 20-win seasons.

In 1980, Joe won the one-game playoff between the Astros and Dodgers, and then pitched a record 10 shutout innings to a no-decision in the 3rd game of the NLCS. From 1980 to 1987, Joe, already on his way to becoming the “winningest” pitcher in Astros history, had 104 wins to brother Phil’s 100. He was also 5-4 in head-to-head competition with Phil, even homering off his beloved brother in 1976. In 1987, as a member of the Yankees club, Joe finally made it to the World Series.

* NL-TSN Pitcher of the Year (1979)

* Most Career Wins in Astros 
Franchise History (144)