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05/26/2013 – Niekro – 5th Annual Baseball Hall of Fame Classic Weekend at National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, May 26, 2013 – National Baseball Hall of Fame – Cooperstown, NY, USA – Photo Credit: Clough Photography / PRPhotos.com
Birth Name: Philip Henry Niekro, Jr.
Date of Birth: April 1, 1939
Place of Birth: Blaine, Belmont, Ohio, U.S.
Date of Death: December 26, 2020
Place of Death: Flowery Branch, Georgia, U.S.
Ethnicity: Polish
Phil Niekro, pronounced NEE-kro , was an American professional baseball player. A pitcher, he played for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, as well as the New York Yankees, the Cleveland Indians, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was nicknamed “Knucksie.”
Phil was the son of Henrietta “Ivy” and Philip Niekro. He was raised in Lansing, Ohio.
Phil’s paternal grandfather was Joseph “Joe” Niekro (the son of John Niekra and Yarlo Drideck). Joseph was born in Lublin, Miasto Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland.
Phil’s paternal grandmother was named Magdalene/Magdalena “Maggie” Mieszegr/Myek. Magdalene was an ethnic Polish emigrant, from the Russian Empire.
Phil’s maternal grandfather was named Francis “Frank” Klinkoski/Klinikowski. Francis was Polish.
Phil’s maternal grandmother was named Alexandra/Alexandria Martinkowski. Alexandra was Polish.
Sources: https://www.latimes.com
Genealogy of Phil Niekro – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Phil Niekro (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com