![](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2020/12/27/90c845c5-e904-4700-a9e0-edda706ab0c3/thumbnail/1200x675/4889dfec1f1043b6e61a849f699b0a66/gettyimages-9594323881.jpg)
Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/image-5db2521b7b.jpg?w=620)
Phil Niekro dead at 81: Baseball Hall of Fame knuckleball pitcher passes away after long cancer battle
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://i0.wp.com/www.cooperstowncred.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/PHIL-NIEKRO-GEORGIA-SPORTS-HALL-OF-FAME.png?fit=537%2C349&ssl=1)
Remembering Phil Niekro: 1939-2020 - Cooperstown Cred
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/12/28/sports/28mlb-kepner-niekro-1/28mlb-kepner-niekro-1-superJumbo-v2.jpg)
With Phil Niekro's Death, Baseball Has Lost the Knuckleball and Its Master - The New York Times
MORE
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://media.nbclosangeles.com/2020/12/GettyImages-52991417.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&crop=0px%2C888px%2C2422px%2C1364px&resize=1200%2C675)
Baseball Hall of Famer, Knuckleballer Phil Niekro Dies at 81 – NBC Los Angeles
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://www.detroitnews.com/gcdn/presto/2020/12/27/PDTN/5f1e876f-1a32-4668-a602-fded60925be5-PN.jpg?crop=2730,3640,x134,y0)
Knuckleball master, 318-game winner and Hall of Famer Phil Niekro dies at 81
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/styles/fullscreen_image_popup/public/Niekro%206545.jpg.jpeg?itok=4y4FU504)
Niekro remembered for mastery of the knuckleball
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://kubrick.htvapps.com/htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/images/gettyimages-664475704-1609095261.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.738xh;0,0.0809xh&resize=1200:*)
Baseball Hall of Famer, knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/12/28/13/37329836-9091003-image-a-10_1609160496695.jpg)
Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro dies at 81 after battling cancer
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Ftomahawktake-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F13488812-850x560-7e79bff4947435191eee9cd937296f59.jpg)
An Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer passes away
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/t_2x1/t_w1536/mlb/zhprntokvv8mm6pethyz.jpg)
Phil Niekro dies at 81
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://nbcsports.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/52a93cd/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2382x1755+0+0/resize/1486x1095!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnbc-sports-production-nbc-sports.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd1%2F20%2F0653e04fe62069dcbffbd9208a67%2Fgettyimages-662037894.jpg)
Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro dies at 81 - NBC Sports
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://media.tegna-media.com/assets/WOI/images/a06a0f3f-de44-4a04-93ce-a4e36d3ed74d/a06a0f3f-de44-4a04-93ce-a4e36d3ed74d_1140x641.jpg)
Baseball great Phil Niekro dies of cancer at 81
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://ripbaseballcom.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/phil-niekro-pic2.jpg)
Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball
![Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer and former Braves pitcher, dies at 81](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e4005f3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2267x1190+0+200/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fc7%2F2f420c964a3a9f59a69b369c6812%2Fpirates-braves-spring-baseball-87122.jpg)
Phil Niekro, Baseball Hall of Famer and knuckleballer, dies at 81 - Los Angeles Times