On Saturday, November 13, 2010, athletes from across the country will come together at Minute Maid Park, in association with The Joe Niekro Foundation and The Methodist Neurological Institute to honor Houston Astros All Star #36, Joe Niekro, at the 2nd Annual Knuckle Ball – A Pitch for Life.
Major League Player Jim Bouton once said, “Me watching Niekro pitch was like a young artist inspecting his first Picasso”.
Following Joe Niekro’s sudden and tragic death as a result of a cerebral hemorrhaging brain aneurysm, his daughter Natalie established The Joe Niekro Foundation, committed to the support of aneurysm research, treatment and education.
Because of her father’s love of the Houston Astros and the City of Houston, it is only fitting that The Knuckle Ball take place in the city that gave the Niekro family their greatest memories. Last year’s Knuckle Ball raised nearly one-half million dollars for treatment and research, and the goals for 2010 are even greater.
This year, The Joe Niekro Foundation and The Methodist Neurological Institute have once again partnered to honor Joe Niekro by hosting a scientific symposium: Current and Future Endovascular and Surgical Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms, A Symposium Supported by The Joe Niekro Foundation. The symposium, which will feature nationally and internationally known neurosurgeons, endovascular neuroradiologists, neuro-intensivists and stroke neurologists, will take place on Saturday November 13th and will be followed by The Knuckle Ball gala that evening.
On behalf of The Joe Niekro Foundation and Natalie Niekro, we would like to extend our gratitude and thanks for your support of The Niekro Aneurysm Symposium and The Knuckle Ball.
Robert Grossman, MD
Chairman, Dept. of Neurosurgery
Director, Methodist Neurological Institute
Richard Klucznik, M.D.
Interventional Neuroradiologist
The Methodist Hospital
Natalie Niekro
President
The Joe Niekro Foundation
