From Yahoo! Sports:

Former major league pitcher Joe Niekro, Houston's career victory leader, died Friday, Astros president Tal Smith said. He was 61.

The two-time 20-game winner suffered a brain aneurysm Thursday and was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital in nearby Plant City, where he lived. He later was transferred to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he died.

He was a Yankee for part of 1985, having been traded on September 15 to the Yankees in exchange for Jim Deshaies, Neder Horta and Dody Rather. He pitched 3 games that year, going 2-1 with a 5.84 ERA. He was granted free agency, but we brought him back with a new contract. In 1986, his only full year for the Yankees, he pitched 25 games, going 9-10 with a 4.87 ERA. In 1987, he pitched only 9 games for New York (going 3-4 with a 3.55 ERA) before being dealt to the Twins for Mark Salas.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family.