ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, January 7, 1997               TAG: 9701070106
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-1  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: Associated Press

HALL CALLS FOR NIEKRO AFTER WAIT FORMER BRAVES ACE ELECTED BY WRITERS

Phil Niekro, the only knuckleball pitcher to win 300 games, found his way into the Basebal Hall of Fame on his fifth try,becoming the lone player elected to the shrine Monday.

Niekro, the top vote-getter in 1996 when no one was elected, was named on 380 of the 473 ballots. He received 80.34 percent of the vote, surpassing the required 75 percent.

``It's a day of a dream. I've had my nightmares,'' Niekro said at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Don Sutton, another 300-game winner, fell nine votes short of the 355 needed. Former slugger Tony Perez missed by 43 in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Niekro, 318-274 in 24 seasons mostly with the Atlanta Braves, will join reliever Hoyt Wilhelm as the pre-eminent knuckleballers in the hall when he is enshrined as the 229th member. The exact date for the induction ceremonies in Cooperstown, N.Y., has not yet been determined.

``Giving a description of today's phone call is impossible,'' Niekro said. ``I've been stunned before. I just didn't prepare myself this year. I was not going to get myself so high.''

Niekro received 68.3 percent of the vote a year ago.

Billy Williams was the last player who had to wait as long as Niekro to be elected to the hall by the writers. The former Chicago Cubs star was elected on his sixth try, in 1987.

Niekro had a 3.35 ERA in 24 seasons. He spent two seasons in Milwaukee, moved with the team to Atlanta , where he pitched from 1966-1983. Niekro also pitched for the New York Yankees, Cleveland and Toronto. He made a final, farewell appearance for Atlanta in 1987.

A five-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove winner, Niekro ranks 14th on baseball's career victories list and is eighth in strikeouts (3,342). He is one of 20 pitchers to win 300 games and combined with his brother, fellow knuckleballer Joe, to win 537 games - the most in major-league history by brothers.

Sutton missed the hall on his fourth try. He was 324-256 with a 3.26 ERA in 23 seasons, most of them with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Like Niekro, Sutton never won a Cy Young. He had one 20-victory season.

Perez, on the ballot for the sixth time, ranks 16th on baseball's career RBI list with 1,652 - every player ahead of him is in the hall.

The Veterans Committee will meet March 5 in Tampa, Fla., to consider older candidates. The late Nellie Fox is expected to be selected.

LENGTH: Medium:   55 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  (headshot) Phil Niekro. color.