Knuckle Balls

by Phil Niekro, Tom Bird

Excellent Book

Genres: Baseball, Sports

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[David Streb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Write down the names that his nicknames refer to, because you'll need them. He keeps using his nicknames for players and I found myself not knowing who in hell he was talking about!

All that buildup towards his 300th win, and he just skips it at the end with no explanation! He wrote something everyday, except that one day, and never said what happened! I had to do an internet search to figure out whether he won his 300th game on the last game of the season. He did, and Toronto pulled most of their starters because they had already clinched. Maybe that's why he didn't talk about it.


I was searching for "They Call Me Knucksie" which I remember he wrote after he played for Cleveland, but I can't find it, no one has heard of it, and now I'm wondering if it really exists! I loved Phil when he played for Cleveland, and told myself that someday I'd read his book. This one isn't it.


I wish I had read this book a year ago so I could have asked him!

[Chris Foster · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing and voice feels very inauthentic. Repetitive.

[Lane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Phil Niekro's diary of the 1985 season with the Yankees when he won his 300th game. It is interesting but feels like more could have been written. Editing could have been better as it is often difficult to follow who he is talking about. Interesting view of Ted Turner, George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin. Difficult from his comments 30 years later.

[Jason Bellamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Phil Niekro could have made a living as a comedian. Interesting prospective of the Yankees during the 1980s as well.