Flashback - Elliott: Recalling Niekro's arrival with the Jays

When the Toronto Blue Jays acquired Phil Niekro in August 1987, they hoped the veteran knuckleballer would help lead them into the postseason. Photo: The Canadian Press

*Hall of Fame knuckleballer Phil Niekro passed away three years ago today at the age of 81.

To honour Niekro, we have resurrected this article written by Bob Elliott in August 1987 about when the Blue Jays acquired the veteran right-hander.

Originally published on August 12, 1987

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

BOSTON - Jimmy Key was a cuddly, Alabama, two-year-old, who still hadn't decided which arm to use when a right-hander named Phil Niekro signed his first pro baseball contract in 1959 and reported to a place called Wellsville, N.Y., an Atlanta New York-Penn outpost in Braves' organization.

That was five years before the Nunez family gave birth a right-hander named Jose.

Jose Nunez will be 23 and sitting in the bullpen when Niekro makes his first start in a Toronto uniform - in the spot formerly occupied by Nunez - Thursday night at Exhibition Stadium against the Chicago White Sox.

Niekro has won there before - victory No. 300 on the final day of the 1985 season against a bunch of minor leaguers and a few hung over regulars the day after Toronto won the NL East. Niekro says he evened-up matters by not throwing a knuckleball until the final pitch - a strike to Jeff Burroughs.

Now they want him to help out with their celebration.

"Toronto has moved into the favourite's role by getting Knucksie, " said second baseman Marty Barrett, the MVP of last year’s AL Championship Series. "No question now, they'll win it. "

By obtaining Niekro, 48, from Cleveland for outfielder Darryl Landrum (who was hitting .204 and wasn't even an every-day player at class-A Dunedin) the ever-changing rotation of the Jays hiccupped again.

Niekro in, Nunez out.

So much for the youth movement.

Niekro was the best the Jays, who always try to pick the pockets of the opposing team in trade talks, could do.

Millionaires may marry young girls out of their league and corporations may seek young execs, but old is better in coins, wines, stamps and pennant races.

The Minnesota Twins traded for 300-game winner Steve Carlton 10 days ago, Tom Seaver helped Boston over the top last year and now comes Niekro into the pennant chase.

And there aren't many finer human beings or more respected players than Niekro, from Blaine, Ohio. Call him baseball's Gordie Howe. That's how popular he is.

Yet at 48 there are certainly better pitchers.

"I don't see why 40 year olds can't pitch for contenders," said Niekro here Tuesday night. "There's nothing in the Basic Agreement against it. It just boils down to doing the job. If you can do the job clubs should want you. It shouldn't have anything to do with age."

How respected is Niekro?

Well there is a statue outside of Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium and the figure is throwing a knuckleball as a testament to his many successful years with the Braves.

The Jays proceeded to make him welcome when he arrived at Fenway Park Monday afternoon by taping two squares of sandpaper to his locker with the note: "Thought you could use these during my 10-day vacation. Good luck. Brother Joe. "

"He'll be our fifth starter," said manager Jimy Williams, who is five years younger than Niekro. "We have a lot of young people here. He has been through it all. That has to help."

Niekro has won 318 games, 11th on the all-time list. He has won 121 since turning 40.

The Jays were looking and continued to look at former Montreal Expo David Palmer, now with the Braves, but claimed the Braves wanted too much.

Meanwhile, the weekend consensus from the other two contenders in Detroit was yes, Niekro, who the Jays acquired Monday, will help.

There were not, however, any suggestions from either the New York Yankees or the Detroit Tigers the Jays were about to win the American League East.

"I would have to think from his experience Phil's gotta help, " said Anderson. "Who gets bumped? I hope not that kid (Jose) Nunez, I love him. If I'm running the show, I don't know whether I'd want to take him out of the rotation. I like young arms. "

While Nunez was felled by Niekro's arrival, Don Gordon couldn't clear waivers to be demoted and was claimed by Cleveland. The Jays had agreed not to re-claim as a past favour for Niekro.

"I didn't know Toronto needed any pitching help," said shortstop Alan Trammell. "But Phil is a good fellow who could help. I know it's going to come down to whoever has the best pitching wins. And Phil's quality."

Niekro is 2-7 against the Tigers' lifetime.

Yankees' Don Mattingly shook his head when told he might have to face Niekro again.

"And I thought we were done with him this year, " said Mattingly.

"Phil's a class guy, very competitive. That right there should help that club. He'll help but I don't know how much ... guess we'll have to wait and see."