Ranking the top 10 MLB players from the state of Ohio

7. Phil Niekro, P

Because of the knuckleball, Niekro played in the major leagues until he was 48.

His Baseball Hall of Fame career spanned four teams, but he spent most of his near-quarter-century odyssey with the Braves, moving with the club from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966. He led the majors with a 1.87 ERA the following go-round.

Niekro’s 318 career wins are the 16th most all-time and only four pitchers have made more than his 716 starts on the hill. He had 13 15-win seasons and paced the National League in innings pitched and complete efforts four times each.

Niekro was born in Blaine, Ohio, and played in high school at Bridgeport High School.