![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/t_16x9/t_w640/mlb/uccui4oi8vwmwrpcjmnz)
Phil Niekro dies at 81
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/23SA3TLMC6LD7ZVGDUBRKXTJFA.jpg)
What they said: The death of Phil Niekro
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/ar_16:9,g_auto,q_auto:good,w_1024,c_fill,f_jpg,dpr_3.0/mlb/f3ay9d2jul3jzfu2t2zp)
Phil Niekro dies at 81
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/12/28/sports/28mlb-kepner-niekro-1/28mlb-kepner-niekro-1-threeByTwoSmallAt2X.jpg)
Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame Knuckleball Pitcher, Dies at 81 - The
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/12/27/obituaries/00niekro-02/00niekro-02-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)
Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame Knuckleball Pitcher, Dies at 81 - The
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://www.ajc.com/resizer/NMi1YLiDpYZJIDiPgeOzhfz3DI8=/fit-in/850x480/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/34LB2MDHFRA53HTLRG2Y4T3TK4)
Phil Niekro, Atlanta Braves legend known for knuckleball pitch
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://www.ajc.com/resizer/WRHd_2_tD6-sUNKR7BPxi0SJCeM=/fit-in/850x480/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6PMJG2B4BNDVDN4FIDPA3WQALQ)
Phil Niekro, Atlanta Braves legend known for knuckleball pitch
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://www.ajc.com/resizer/NA369afghHrWsBhqfhSUECRb5Xs=/fit-in/850x480/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DZMGK7D4H5G7MMEUAWBQW67CBM.jpg)
Phil Niekro, Atlanta Braves legend known for knuckleball pitch
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://www.ajc.com/resizer/ffEvdrZzJLmL52hN0Iouj9q0z0E=/fit-in/850x480/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZVPZEPBM7FEVTJ3YOFV4XILQPY)
Phil Niekro, Atlanta Braves legend known for knuckleball pitch