Phil Niekro Will Pitch for Braves

Phil Niekro, who first pitched in an Atlanta uniform in 1966, signed a contract with the Braves Wednesday and will make one last start Sunday in the club’s final home game of the season.

Niekro, 48, who was released by the Cleveland Indians earlier this season, has won 318 games in 24 years in the major leagues. He will start against the San Francisco Giants, the team he beat for his last National League victory, 6-2, on Sept. 26, 1983.

On Wednesday, the Braves sold 2,600 tickets for the game to go with an advance sale of 11,500 that had been boosted amid speculation Niekro would pitch. Officials said they expect a crowd of about 25,000 Sunday. Without Niekro, they indicated the crowd would have been about 12,000.

Niekro, who was released by the Braves after the 1983 season, said: “I feel great. It’s the best feeling I’ve had in four years since I left Atlanta.”