Joe Niekro
P · 22 seasons · 1967 – 1988 · B/T: R/R
Joe Niekro ranks 1st of 0 pitchers by career roto value, one of the highest totals the site records. His best year was 1982: +11.0 roto value, 4th that season and 793rd of 51,303 player-seasons on record. The value came from wins (+19.9), strikeouts (+11.0) and ERA (+5.7), with no category working against him.
Hitting
Best Season
-1.56
1980 · #42,652 all-time
Career Z
-56.6
summed
Avg / Season
-2.57
longevity-neutral
Seasons
22
| Season ↑ | Tm | G | Z | Szn | All-Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | CHC | 36 | -1.57 | #272 | #42,857 |
| 1968 | CHC | 34 | -3.06 | #658 | #109,009 |
| 1969 | SD | 42 | -2.73 | #795 | #105,375 |
| 1970 | DET | 39 | -2.10 | #416 | #65,359 |
| 1971 | DET | 32 | -2.39 | #629 | #94,554 |
| 1972 | DET | 18 | -2.09 | #416 | #63,485 |
| 1973 | ATL | 20 | -2.29 | #447 | #86,570 |
| 1974 | ATL | 27 | -2.40 | #739 | #95,067 |
| 1975 | HOU | 40 | -2.35 | #674 | #92,053 |
| 1976 | HOU | 36 | -2.28 | #445 | #86,197 |
| 1977 | HOU | 44 | -2.91 | #873 | #107,767 |
| 1978 | HOU | 36 | -2.90 | #868 | #107,617 |
| 1979 | HOU | 38 | -3.64 | #898 | #111,146 |
| 1980★ | HOU | 37 | -1.56 | #366 | #42,652 |
| 1981 | HOU | 24 | -2.52 | #830 | #100,194 |
| 1982 | HOU | 35 | -4.03 | #932 | #111,378 |
| 1983 | HOU | 38 | -3.95 | #953 | #111,360 |
| 1984 | HOU | 38 | -3.17 | #920 | #109,743 |
| 1985 | HOU | 35 | -1.87 | #392 | #47,947 |
| 1986 | NYY | 25 | -2.31 | #503 | #89,072 |
| 1987 | MIN | 27 | -2.28 | #490 | #85,085 |
| 1988 | MIN | 5 | -2.22 | #479 | #78,842 |
★ Best season by Z
Pitching
Best Season
10.99
1982 · #793 all-time
Career Z
34.0
summed
Avg / Season
1.54
longevity-neutral
Seasons
22
| Season ↑ | Tm | G | Z | Szn | All-Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | CHC | 36 | 1.04 | #96 | #14,512 |
| 1968 | CHC | 34 | -3.66 | #275 | #49,042 |
| 1969 | SD | 41 | -0.01 | #129 | #18,516 |
| 1970 | DET | 38 | 0.87 | #119 | #15,108 |
| 1971 | DET | 31 | -2.85 | #283 | #43,785 |
| 1972 | DET | 18 | -2.07 | #223 | #32,619 |
| 1973 | ATL | 20 | -1.55 | #175 | #27,065 |
| 1974 | ATL | 27 | -1.10 | #162 | #23,994 |
| 1975 | HOU | 40 | 1.09 | #99 | #14,342 |
| 1976 | HOU | 36 | -0.61 | #145 | #21,250 |
| 1977 | HOU | 44 | 5.62 | #33 | #4,592 |
| 1978 | HOU | 35 | 2.00 | #82 | #11,597 |
| 1979 | HOU | 38 | 8.36 | #14 | #2,010 |
| 1980 | HOU | 37 | 4.65 | #46 | #6,011 |
| 1981 | HOU | 24 | 5.46 | #28 | #4,796 |
| 1982★ | HOU | 35 | 10.99 | #4 | #793 |
| 1983 | HOU | 38 | 5.45 | #40 | #4,821 |
| 1984 | HOU | 38 | 6.26 | #28 | #3,856 |
| 1985 | HOU | 35 | 1.51 | #107 | #13,037 |
| 1986 | NYY | 25 | -2.29 | #271 | #35,977 |
| 1987 | MIN | 27 | -1.84 | #246 | #29,624 |
| 1988 | MIN | 5 | -3.32 | #402 | #47,504 |
★ Best season by Z