The Pecan Park Eagle

The Ist Annual Knuckle Ball, a full dress benefit banquet established by the Joe Niekro Foundation to raise money for aneurysm research at Methodist Hospital in Houston, took place as scheduled on Friday night, July 31st, at Minute Maid Park. The gala dinner featured both a silent auction that filled the entire Union Station rotunda – and a live auction conducted by Stephen Lewis during the dinner itself.

With Hall of Famer Joe Morgan serving as master of ceremonies, the attending guest list read like the Who’s Who of baseball – and with a pretty good taste of some big lights in the sports of football, basketball, and soccer making roll call too. For an effort started by a great boost of energy and intelligence from  Joe’s daughter, Natalie Niekro, the program unfolded as an equal tribute to both Joe ad Natalie. It took all of the Niekro family intelligence and determination, clicking on all cylinders, to come off as well as it did – and it came off very, very well.

In addition to Joe Morgan, other Baseball Hall of Famers on hand included Joe’s brother Phil Niekro, of course, Sparky Anderson, Bob Feller, Robin Roberts, and Ozzie Smith. (Forgive me if I left anyone out.) The list of famous former Houston Astros was equally impressive, but here’s where I know I’m going to miss some names. There were just too many former Colt .45’s and Astros circulating among the crowd of several hundred people who came on this special night for absolute certainty here, but this is my humble  list of countable people: Kevin Bass, Dave Bergman, Enos Cabell, Larry Dierker, Phil Garner, Ed Herrmann, Art Howe, Craig Reynolds, Joe Sambito, Mike Scott, Bill Virdon, Carl Warwick, and Jimmy Wynn. And that Astros list is expanded importantly too by the additions of Owner/CEO Drayton McLane, Baseball President Tal Smith, Business President Pam Gardner, General Manager Ed Wade, and longtime loyal Astros employee Judy Veno. Longtime media folks like Kenny Hand and Gina Gaston of Channel 13 were also present, as were Jo Russell, the widow of former Buffs President Allen Russell, Larry Dluhy of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame, and spiritual writer and teacher Marie Wynn. Other sport icons in attendance inluded former Houston Rocket and Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes, former Houston Rocket star Mario Elle, former Houston Oiler quarterback Dan Pastorini, and former Oiler quarterback Oliver Luck, who now also happens to be President of the Houston Dynamo, the city’s first serious venture into the world of professional soccer. Former Pirate-Tiger Jim Foor and his terrrific wife Sandy Foor were also present to make everything shine all the more. Jim and Sandy have both logged time as playing members of our Houston Babies vintage base ball club as charter members of the 21st century edition of Houston’s 1888 original pro club. Other Babies players in attendance included Jimmy Disch, Scott Disch, Matt Moak, Logan Greer, and yours truly, Bill McCurdy, the Babies General Manager. – Satch and Lynn Davidson also were on hand. Satch Davidson is a former National League umpire and a member of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame; Lynn Davidson, of course,  is the well-known and respected Houston pet bereavement professional.

The reception began officially at 6:36 PM. The past normal time start was done to (1) highlight Joe Niekro’s  uniform number as an Astro; and (2) to also make the point that it is now past time, via Joe’s decesased status, to consider retiring his Houston uniform  number 36 from all service use by any future Astros. Among all his many accomplishments in baseball, Joe Niekro has held onto one very special record in Houston MLB franchise history. – With 144 wins in Houston, Joe Niekro has the most career victories as a Houston big league pitcher – and he has held that record since 1985, when he passed Larry Dierker for that distinction. Dierker remains second to Niekro in career Houston wins with 137, but current Astro ace Roy Oswalt (with 135 wins) is on course to pass both Dierker and Niekro sometime in the 2010 season, barring, heaven forbid, any further complications that may linger into 2010 from his current disk troubles. One thing this likely means is that Joe Niekro most probably will have surrendered a great Houston record next season  – but only after holding onto it for a quarter century (1985-2010).

Thousands of us ancient fans of both Joe Niekro and the Astros think it’s high time now to honor the man for all he has meant and continues to mean to this  franchise and the quality of life in Houston. The Joe Niekro Foundation and the Knuckle Ball stand tall as living proof of the Nielro family commitment to Houston. Let’s retire # 36 at Minute Maid Park in Joe Niekro’s honor during the time, or coincidant with the time, that current pitching star Roy Oswalt closes in and becomes the new record-holder next season. Such a ceremony at MMP will pack the house – and rightly so.  I cannot think of another move the Astros could make in this area that would be more deservedly supported by the fans. As a man of performace and character, no one else out there on the cusp of  receiving this special club action of honor holds even a small candle to Joe Niekro as an equally deserving recipient. – That grail belongs to Joe Niekro.  – So, let’s give it to him – and by no later than 2010, please. It’s the intelligent, tuned-in, right thing to do.

Til then, the music plays on, – and there were all kinds of musically soaring spirits going on at Friday night’s electric Knuckle Ball. The Houston Astros are to be congratulated for lending their magnificent facilities to the cause as the most fitting venue for this banquet celebration of Joe Niekro’s life. Everything that everyone saw and experienced on the broad ban of things worked out beautifully. Special applause goes out to Drayton McLane in this regard too. The man’s support of things that are good for Houston fly too far beneath the radar. It is time that people started recognizing that we have a club owner in Houston who shows his caring for happens in this community in ways that count. I’ll start the line here by saying, “Thank you, Drayton! You are, without a doubt,  the good man that your daddy raised you to be – and we appreciate you! The Knuckle Ball could not have succeeded on its high level this first year, and under these economic conditions, had it not been for you and your people. – Houston thanks you!”

The evening program following the reception began with a delicious meal and a heartwarmig welcome and explanation from Natalie Niekro about how the Joe Niekro Foundation and the Knuckle Ball came to be as a “Pitch for Life” against the sudden silent killer that is aneurysm. Natalie was followed  by one of  her dad’s former Astros teammates, Enos Cabell, who spoke of what it meant personally to have known Joe Niekro as a fellow player and friend.

I shared a table with several wonderfully knowledgeable  Houston people, including Hal Finberg and Marc Melcher of the Global Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch team. Hal kept us posted at the banquet on the Astros@Cardinals scores from St. Louis, and Marc shared some interesting news of the Heritage Society’s plans to stage a major show next year on the history of baseball in Houston. Marc Melcher serves on their board. Hmmm! I wonder if I know of anyone who might enjoy getting involved in that project? – Now, how in the world did Marc and I happen to find ourselves seated next to each other by “accident?”

The old age jokes were flying high in my neighborhood on Friday night. Jim Foor enjoyed introducing me as the original and only General Manager of the Houston Babies. – The Babies played their first game on March 6, 1888! – Later on, Dave Bergman and Ed Herrmann stopped by to speak with me as we were waiting on our cars in the valet parking pickup line. They each wanted to tell me how much they enjoyed my poem about Joe Niekro, but Ed Herrmann acted as though he didn’t expect to be remembered. “I remember you, Ed,” I said. “You were a catcher.” Herrmann got this stunned look on his face as I said these words, but before either of us could speak again, former first baseman Bergman chirped in with, “See there, Ed! I told you if you just came with me tonight that we’d eventually run into somebody who was old enough to remember you!”

What great fun we all had – and all for a worthy cause too!

Music at the end of the evening’s program was provided by Grammy Award Country Music Artist Collin Raye.

My role on this magic Friday was to recite a poem that I had written about Joe Niekro and the new Knuckle Ball purpose. I was there by special invitation from Ms. Niekro. Although I did not read the title on Friday night, I’m calling this piece “A Pitch for Life Against Sudden Death.” I’m just happy that I was able to get through my recitation without tongue-tripping over my own material before this once-in-a-lifetime audience. Here’s the copy – without the spoken voice breaks and pauses that breathe it completely into life:

Born in Martins Ferry – in the fall of ’44, Joe and Brother Phil – were the knuckler’s paramour! – They wound their way through baseball, vexing hitters all the same – From Mendoza’s line to Da Vinci’s circle, the knuckler was to blame!

A batter couldn’t hit a pitch that floated, dipped, and dove. – He simply left his hopes stillborn, back on the old hot stove. – The Niekros didn’t waver; their pitches danced and sang. – They stung their foes with K’s and woes; the victory bell they rang!

Three-hundred Eighteen wins for Phil; Two Twenty-One for Joe!  – Phil found his way to Cooperstown; Joe’s glory came too, you know! – In 2005, Joe Niekro, – for his Astros heart, so game, – Was proudly too inducted by the Texas Hall of Fame!

And when we lost sweet Joseph – in October of ’06, – There were no words to heal the shock of a loss that so transfixed, – Our attention to the cause of loss – aneurysm was its name, – And wiping out that assassin is the Knuckle Ball’s lone game!

And as we think of Joseph now – as we surely always will, – We shall always think of him and Phil – and all they did to thrill, – The hearts of baseball fantasy – that rode the knuckler wave, – One as a loyal Astro – the other as a mighty Brave!

And as we say hello again to a baseball summer night, – We shall not see a sky with stars that does not soon invite, – All our fondest memories of the knuckler – and the man, – Ascending all around us! – Count the diamonds, if you can!

Go forth, Joeseph Niekro, through the heavens afar! – Throw your tantalizing knuckler, so we’ll know where you are! – And, on some summer night soon, across a sky, black as tar, – We shall find you fluttering wobblers, striking out a shooting star!

And every time we find you again, our prayer shall be simple, but true: – “Lead us in the Knuckle Ball pitch, Joe, for an answer to aneurysm too!” – The silent monster must be slain; the resident villain must be banned! – We shall not rest until the day – there are cures for the evil at hand!

So, go forth for us all, Joe Niekro, through the infinite heavens afar! – Throw your tantalizing knuckler again, so we’ll know where you are! – And on some summer night soon, across a sky pitch-black as tar, – We shall find you fluttering wobblers, striking out a shooting star!

We can do it with your help, Joe! – You’re pitching in the Bigger League now!

Tags: Baseball, Houston, Houston Astros

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