Phil Niekro

OCTOBER 6, 1985 — Phil Niekro was on the hill for the New York Yankees in the 1985 regular-season finale against the Toronto Blue Jays at Exhibition Stadium. The knuckleballer scattered just four hits over nine scoreless innings pitched with five strikeouts. The winning effort made Niekro the 18th pitcher in MLB history to win 300 career games. Niekro withheld his legendary knuckleball until the final batter he faced. “I figured if there's any way I'm going to win my 300th by striking the guy out, I was going to do it with the pitch that won the first game for me,” Niekro was quoted.