1975 Topps Set Card 303/660 – #130 – Phil Niekro, Braves

1975 Topps Set Card 303/660 – #130 – Phil Niekro, Braves

Progress: 303/660

Card Number:  130

Player Name:  Phil Niekro

Team:  Atlanta Braves

Position:  Pitcher

Image Style:  Posed Pitching

Years In The Major Leagues: 24 seasons, 1964-87

Notes From His 1975 Season:  Phil Niekro appeared in 39 games for the Atlanta Braves in 1975.  He went 15-15 on the year with 13 complete games and 1 shutout.  Niekro worked 275 innings in 1975, allowing 285 hits and 115 runs en route to a 3.20 ERA.  He was chosen as a National League All-Star during the season.

Notes From Career:  Hall of Famer Phil Niekro has 318 career wins as a major league pitcher, including two 20-win seasons.  Niekro is a 5-time All-Star and 5-time Gold Glove Award winner with a career ERA of 3.35.  He threw 5,404 innings during his career, striking out 3,342 batters during that time.

1978 HEADLINE: Gaylord Perry Becomes First Pitcher To Win The Cy Young Award in AL & NL

1978 HEADLINE: Gaylord Perry Becomes First Pitcher To Win The Cy Young Award in AL & NL

On this day in 1978 Gaylord Perry was awarded with the National League Cy Young Award.  Winning this individual award marked the first time in major league history in which a pitcher earned that honor in both leagues.

Here is a quick peek at Perry’s two Cy Young Winning seasons:

1972 – AL – 24-16, 1.92 ERA, 29 complete games, 5 shutouts, 234 strikeouts

1978 – NL – 21-6, 2.73 ERA, 5 complete games, 2 shutouts, 154 strikeouts

Congratulations Mr. Perry!!!

1994 HEADLINE: Greg Maddux Wins Third Straight Cy Young Award

1994 HEADLINE: Greg Maddux Wins Third Straight Cy Young Award

On this day in 1994, Greg Maddux won his third straight Cy Young award.  He was the first pitcher in major league history to earn the award in three consecutive seasons.

Being one of the best pitchers in the sport over that length of time is a major accomplishment.  And when some of your greatest competition is coming from your teammates, I am sure that the pride of being the ‘Ace’ of the staff gave Maddux even more gratification.

Here is a look at Maddux’s numbers from those three seasons:

1992 – 20-11, 2.18 ERA, 9 complete games, All-Star, Gold Glove

1993 – 20-10, 2.36 ERA, 10 complete games, Gold Glove

1994 – 16-6, 1.56 ERA, 10 complete games, All-Star, Gold Glove

Oh, and it should be noted that Maddux went on to win the Cy Young award in 1995 too – setting an all-time record with four consecutive wins!!

Happy Anniversary Mr. Maddux!!!

1985 HEADLINE: Phil Niekro Joins The ‘300 Wins Club’

1985 HEADLINE: Phil Niekro Joins The ‘300 Wins Club’

On this day in 1985, and at the age of 46, Phil Niekro joined the 300 Wins Club.

A seasoned veteran with 24 years of major league experience, Niekro tallied win after win through 3 decades leading up to this historic day.

On the last day of the regular season, Niekro and his New York Yankees team was on the road to take on the Toronto Blue Jays.  44,000+ fans packed the stadium and watched history be made as Niekro earned his 300th victory as the Yankees won the game 8-0.  In the game, he pitched all 9 innings en route to 4-hit shutout.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Neikro!!!

Did You Know…

Two pitchers in major league baseball history have ended their careers with exactly 300 career wins: Lefty Grove & Early Wynn.

Happy Birthday Gaylord Perry!!!

Happy Birthday Gaylord Perry!!!

Gaylord Perry turns 75 years old today.

The legendary Hall of Famer and member of the ‘300 Wins Club’ has a lengthy resume full of stuff that makes baseball players legends.

Check it out:

• 2-time Cy Young award winner
• 314 wins
• 3,534 strikeouts
• 303 complete games
• 53 shutouts
• 3.11 ERA
• 5-time All-Star

Happy Birthday to an incredible pitcher, one of the greatest – Hall of Famer, Gaylord Perry!!

Happy Birthday Randy Johnson!!!

Happy Birthday Randy Johnson!!!

Randy Johnson turns 51 years old today.

And now that he has been out of the game for almost a few seasons, it gets pretty easy to look back at his amazing career and say that he is one of the greatest pitchers from his era and ranks pretty high on the all-time list as well.

With a pitching career that boasts of every major pitching accomplishment achieved, and some multiple times, Johnson was a machine during his playing days.  From No-Hitters to Cy Young awards to Strikeout records to perfect games to 300 wins to World Series championships, Johnson has done it all.

He is an absolute first-ballott Hall of Famer, and I personally feel that his talents would have dominated any generation of the sport.

Happy Birthday to ‘The Big Unit’!!!

1975 HEADLINE: Tom Seaver Becomes 1st Pitcher To 200 Strikeouts In 8 Straight Seasons

1975 HEADLINE: Tom Seaver Becomes 1st Pitcher To 200 Strikeouts In 8 Straight Seasons

On this day in 1975, Tom Seaver became the first pitcher in major league history to collect 200 or more strikeouts in eight consecutive seasons.

Showing off the remarkable ability to be a consistent and healthy performer, Seaver’s ability to dominate batters was unmatched during this time.

Here is a closer look at the numbers from those eight seasons:
1968 – 205
1969 – 208
1970 – 283
1971 – 289
1972 – 249
1973 – 251
1974 – 201
1975 – 243

And just for good measure, Seaver collected 235 hitters in 1976 extending the record to nine straight seasons!

How did he do in 1977?  196!!!

Happy Anniversary to ‘Tom Terrific’!!!

1989 HEADLINE: Nolan Ryan Becomes 1st Pitcher To 5,000 Strikeouts!!!

1989 HEADLINE: Nolan Ryan Becomes 1st Pitcher To 5,000 Strikeouts!!!

On this day in 1989 Nolan Ryan recorded the 5,000th strikeout of his professional baseball career.

During a game in Arlington Stadium in front of 42,000+ fans, Nolan Ryan became the first player to ever eclipse the 5,000 strikeout mark.  And to do this in front of his home fans in the state he grew up in was especially monumental!!

In the top of the 5th inning with his team trailing 1-0, Ryan struck out All-star Rickey Henderson to capture #5,000!

Amazingly Ryan struck out 13 batters in this game.  And although his team lost 2-0, this was Ryan’s night.  Oh, and he was 42 years old at the time and still dominant as ever!!

Happy Anniversary Nolan Ryan!!!

1985 HEADLINE: Tom Seaver Joins The ‘300 Wins Club’

1985 HEADLINE: Tom Seaver Joins The ‘300 Wins Club’

On this day back in 1985 Tom Seaver recorded the 300th win of his career!!

Battling against the most popular team in the sport, Seaver’s White Sox team was at Yankee Stadium to take on ‘The Bronx Bombers’.

The Sox won the ball game with a 4-1 win and Seaver won the 300th game of his career at the age of 40.  Here is a quick look at his numbers from this historic event:

Innings pitched	9
Hits allowed	6
Strikeouts	7
Walks	1
K’s : Walks	7:1
Runs allowed	1

Not a bad effort for the 40-year old baseball history making machine huh?  For Seaver, it was an incredible effort and another amazing accomplishment during his brilliant baseball career.

Happy Anniversary to ‘Tom Terrific’!!!!