Niekro was one of baseball’s most successful knuckleball pitchers during his 24 years on the mound.
In a statement announcing his death, the Braves said they were heartbroken on the passing of a treasured friend.
The Ohio-native broke into the big leagues as a member of the Milwaukee Braves and moved with the team to Atlanta two years later.
It was with the Braves where notched the bulk of his 318 career victories, including a National League leading 20 wins 1974 and 21 wins in 1979. He has pitched in the most games in Braves history and is second in franchise history in strikeouts and innings pitched.