Joseph Franklin Niekro (November 7 1944 – October 27 2006) was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of first baseman Lance Niekro. A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio. He batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on 16 April 1967 and went on to play in 22 major league seasons, half with the Houston Astros and the rest with 6 other teams.