![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-1240w,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2020_52/3438262/201227-phil-niekro-jm-1458.jpg)
Baseball Hall of Famer, knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81
![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/okjj7nmlvtwvnhtcrhxb)
Phil Niekro dies at 81
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://ripbaseballcom.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/phil-niekro-pic4.jpg?w=350)
Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball
![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://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/UYLRBLQOSJC7OHBV4PMFN7GUCE.jpg)
What they said: The death of Phil Niekro
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://ripbaseballcom.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/phil-niekro-pic5.jpg?w=550)
Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball
![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/ct74fwdyhcc5m3jnucxs)
Phil Niekro dies at 81
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://lifetimetopps.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/hof-niekro-bb-card-jersey.jpg)
RIP Phil Niekro, 1939-2020
![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/HxnI8OhULoQ7Fjoz4WUWNPA7vAs=/fit-in/850x480/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6EMPIIQOFVYANP7T3IE2AWA5YA.jpg)
What they said: The death of Phil Niekro
![Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020) – RIP Baseball](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/t_16x9/t_w640/mlb/mmzwfjjv9geacio2vbp3)
Phil Niekro dies at 81
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Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame knuckleballer, dies of cancer at 81