Joe Niekro Career Pitching Summary

Joe Niekro played in Major League Baseball from 1967 to 1988, appearing in 702 games over 22 seasons. He recorded a total of 221 W and 204 L, an ERA of 3.59, 1,747 SO, a WHIP of 1.319, and a WAR of 28.7.

🧾 Basic Profile

Joe Niekro
NameJoe Niekro
Date of BirthNovember 7, 1944
Nationality
United States
MLB Debut1967

Joe Niekro Yearly Pitching Stats

This chart shows the season-by-season changes in ERA, SO, and IP for Joe Niekro.

Change Chart

    📊 Career Summary

    Joe Niekro appeared in 702 games over 22 MLB seasons from 1967 to 1988. Below are his cumulative stats and MLB all-time rankings:

    GS500 (MLB Rank: 50)
    GF93 (MLB Rank: 837)
    W221 (MLB Rank: 79)
    L204 (MLB Rank: 43)
    SV16 (MLB Rank: 895)
    ERA3.59 (MLB Rank: 2,759)
    IP3584.1 (MLB Rank: 63)
    SHO29 (MLB Rank: 126)
    CG107 (MLB Rank: 366)
    SO1,747 (MLB Rank: 133)
    BB1262 (MLB Rank: 39)
    H3,466 (MLB Rank: 68)
    HR276 (MLB Rank: 88)
    SO94.39 (MLB Rank: 6,536)
    BB93.17 (MLB Rank: 7,845)
    H98.7 (MLB Rank: 8,214)
    HR90.69 (MLB Rank: 6,161)
    WHIP1.319 (MLB Rank: 8,966)
    WAR28.7 (MLB Rank: 324)

    📊 Last Season Summary (1988)

    In his final season (1988), Joe Niekro recorded the following stats:

    GS2
    GF2
    W1
    L1
    ERA10.03
    IP11.2
    SO7
    BB9
    H16
    HR2
    SO95.4
    BB96.94
    H912.34
    HR91.54
    WHIP2.143
    WAR−0.4

    📈 Seasonal Highlights

    • Most Wins: 1979, 21 W
    • Most SO: 1983, 152 SO
    • Most IP: 1982, 270 IP
    • Best WAR: 1982, 6.8 WAR
    • Best ERA: 1982, 2.47 ERA

    🎯 Postseason Performance

    Joe Niekro appeared in 2 games during the postseason. He recorded an ERA of 0, pitched 18 IP, struck out 6 batters, with 0 W and 0 L.

    Joe Niekro Career Pitching Stats Overview

    seasonWLERAW-L%SVSOIPWARWHIPHRHBBRERERA+FIPSO9SO/BBGSGGFCGSHOHR9H9BB9BKHBPIBBWPBF
    1967
    10
    7
    3.34
    0.588
    0
    77
    169.2
    1.8
    1.196
    15
    171
    32
    68
    63
    106
    3.38
    4.1
    2.41
    22
    36
    9
    7
    2
    0.8
    9.1
    1.7
    0
    2
    7
    1
    706
    1968
    14
    10
    4.31
    0.583
    2
    65
    177.1
    -1
    1.483
    18
    204
    59
    93
    85
    74
    4.02
    3.3
    1.1
    29
    34
    4
    2
    1
    0.9
    10.4
    3
    0
    3
    8
    3
    769
    1969
    8
    18
    3.7
    0.308
    0
    62
    221.1
    2.5
    1.301
    18
    237
    51
    100
    91
    97
    3.7
    2.5
    1.22
    34
    41
    6
    8
    3
    0.7
    9.6
    2.1
    0
    0
    9
    4
    928
    1970
    12
    13
    4.06
    0.48
    0
    101
    213
    2.6
    1.376
    28
    221
    72
    107
    96
    93
    4.45
    4.3
    1.4
    34
    38
    2
    6
    2
    1.2
    9.3
    3
    0
    3
    4
    1
    914
    1971
    6
    7
    4.49
    0.462
    1
    43
    122.1
    0.4
    1.512
    13
    136
    49
    62
    61
    81
    4.38
    3.2
    0.88
    15
    31
    5
    0
    0
    1
    10
    3.6
    0
    2
    3
    2
    540
    1972
    3
    2
    3.83
    0.6
    1
    24
    47
    0.4
    1.489
    3
    62
    8
    20
    20
    83
    2.78
    4.6
    3
    7
    18
    4
    1
    0
    0.6
    11.9
    1.5
    0
    1
    1
    2
    199
    1973
    2
    4
    4.13
    0.333
    3
    12
    24
    0.1
    1.417
    2
    23
    11
    11
    11
    98
    4.02
    4.5
    1.09
    0
    20
    11
    0
    0
    0.8
    8.6
    4.1
    0
    0
    1
    3
    99
    1974
    3
    2
    3.56
    0.6
    0
    31
    43
    0.2
    1.256
    5
    36
    18
    19
    17
    107
    4.04
    6.5
    1.72
    2
    27
    9
    0
    0
    1
    7.5
    3.8
    0
    2
    2
    3
    178
    1975
    6
    4
    3.07
    0.6
    4
    54
    88
    1.4
    1.341
    3
    79
    39
    32
    30
    111
    3.2
    5.5
    1.38
    4
    40
    21
    1
    1
    0.3
    8.1
    4
    0
    2
    4
    2
    378
    1976
    4
    8
    3.36
    0.333
    0
    77
    118
    -0.3
    1.381
    8
    107
    56
    60
    44
    95
    3.66
    5.9
    1.38
    13
    36
    5
    0
    0
    0.6
    8.2
    4.3
    0
    1
    1
    8
    515
    1977
    13
    8
    3.04
    0.619
    5
    101
    180.2
    2.5
    1.212
    14
    155
    64
    66
    61
    117
    3.71
    5
    1.58
    14
    44
    12
    9
    2
    0.7
    7.7
    3.2
    1
    1
    3
    5
    737
    1978
    14
    14
    3.86
    0.5
    0
    97
    202.2
    0.9
    1.298
    13
    190
    73
    97
    87
    85
    3.68
    4.3
    1.33
    29
    35
    2
    10
    1
    0.6
    8.4
    3.2
    0
    9
    1
    9
    861
    1979
    21
    11
    3
    0.656
    0
    119
    263.2
    3.5
    1.244
    17
    221
    107
    102
    88
    117
    3.96
    4.1
    1.11
    38
    38
    0
    11
    5
    0.6
    7.5
    3.7
    0
    7
    1
    19
    1095
    1980
    20
    12
    3.55
    0.625
    0
    127
    256
    0.9
    1.355
    12
    268
    79
    119
    101
    93
    3.34
    4.5
    1.61
    36
    37
    1
    11
    2
    0.4
    9.4
    2.8
    0
    4
    3
    12
    1096
    1981
    9
    9
    2.82
    0.5
    0
    77
    166
    1.8
    1.187
    8
    150
    47
    60
    52
    117
    3.15
    4.2
    1.64
    24
    24
    0
    5
    2
    0.4
    8.1
    2.5
    0
    0
    4
    7
    676
    1982
    17
    12
    2.47
    0.586
    0
    130
    270
    6.8
    1.067
    12
    224
    64
    79
    74
    135
    3.1
    4.3
    2.03
    35
    35
    0
    16
    5
    0.4
    7.5
    2.1
    0
    5
    1
    19
    1067
    1983
    15
    14
    3.48
    0.517
    0
    152
    263.2
    1.7
    1.286
    15
    238
    101
    115
    102
    97
    3.52
    5.2
    1.5
    38
    38
    0
    9
    1
    0.5
    8.1
    3.4
    1
    3
    5
    14
    1113
    1984
    16
    12
    3.04
    0.571
    0
    127
    248.1
    2.2
    1.256
    16
    223
    89
    104
    84
    109
    3.71
    4.6
    1.43
    38
    38
    0
    6
    1
    0.6
    8.1
    3.2
    1
    4
    4
    12
    1027
    1985
    11
    13
    3.83
    0.458
    0
    121
    225.1
    1.5
    1.411
    24
    211
    107
    108
    96
    91
    4.49
    4.8
    1.13
    35
    35
    0
    4
    1
    1
    8.4
    4.3
    1
    5
    6
    21
    983
    1986
    9
    10
    4.87
    0.474
    0
    59
    125.2
    -0.6
    1.607
    15
    139
    63
    84
    68
    84
    4.91
    4.2
    0.94
    25
    25
    0
    0
    0
    1.1
    10
    4.5
    1
    1
    3
    10
    571