Niekro suffered a brain aneurysm. He went 221-204 over his 22-year major league career, with a 3.59 ERA (97 career park-adjusted ERA+). He was not a great pitcher and was nowhere near as good as his brother Phil, but he had scattered good years.
David Eckstein won the World Series MVP, and Barry Bonds plans to file for free agency. Congrats to the Cardinals, I guess. They made mincemeat of the Tigers.