{"copyright":"Copyright 2026 MLB Advanced Media, L.P.  Use of any content on this page acknowledges agreement to the terms posted here http://gdx.mlb.com/components/copyright.txt","people":[{"id":119785,"fullName":"Joe Niekro","link":"/api/v1/people/119785","firstName":"Joseph","lastName":"Niekro","primaryNumber":"36","birthDate":"1944-11-07","currentAge":61,"birthCity":"Martins Ferry","birthStateProvince":"OH","birthCountry":"USA","height":"6' 1\"","weight":190,"active":false,"primaryPosition":{"code":"1","name":"Pitcher","type":"Pitcher","abbreviation":"P"},"useName":"Joe","useLastName":"Niekro","middleName":"Franklin","boxscoreName":"Niekro","gender":"M","isPlayer":true,"isVerified":true,"deathDate":"2006-10-27","deathCity":"Tampa","deathStateProvince":"FL","deathCountry":"USA","lastPlayedDate":"1988-04-29","mlbDebutDate":"1967-04-16","batSide":{"code":"R","description":"Right"},"pitchHand":{"code":"R","description":"Right"},"nameFirstLast":"Joe Niekro","nameSlug":"joe-niekro-119785","firstLastName":"Joe Niekro","lastFirstName":"Niekro, Joe","lastInitName":"Niekro, J","initLastName":"J Niekro","fullFMLName":"Joseph Franklin Niekro","fullLFMName":"Niekro, Joseph Franklin","strikeZoneTop":3.255,"strikeZoneBottom":1.643}]}