Graig Nettles

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Lore & Background

Nettles was born and raised in San Diego, California. His unusual first name derives from his mother's dislike of the names Greg and Craig – and her combining the two to produce "Graig." He graduated from San Diego High School in 1962, then attended San Diego State College on a basketball scholarship, where he played for both the Aztecs' basketball and baseball teams. In 1964 and 1965, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Alaska Goldpanners. The Minnesota Twins drafted Nettles in the fourth round (79th overall) of the 1965 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Twins on September 6, 1967. On December 10, 1969, the Twins traded Nettles with Dean Chance, Ted Uhlaender, and a player to be named later to the Cleveland Indians for Luis Tiant and Stan Williams. After three seasons with the Indians, Nettles was acquired with Jerry Moses by the New York Yankees for John Ellis, Charlie Spikes, Rusty Torres and Jerry Kenney at the Winter Meetings on November 27, 1972. Nettles was named AL Player of the Month for April 1974, setting the AL record for home runs in a month with 11. On September 7, 1974, Nettles was caught using a bat that had six superballs inside it. On September 14, 1974, Nettles and his brother Jim homered in the same game. Nettles enjoyed his best season in 1977, picking up his first Gold Glove Award and setting career-highs with 37 homers and 107 RBI. The following season, he earned his second Gold Glove. During Game 3 of the 1978 World Series, Nettles made spectacular plays at third base. In July 1980, Nettles hit his 267th career home run, the most among AL third basemen. He was limited to 89 games in 1980 because of hepatitis. Before the 1982 season, the Yankees named Nettles team captain. On March 30, 1984, the Yankees traded Nettles to the San Diego Padres for Dennis Rasmussen and a PTBNL. Nettles famously described his career with the Yankees by stating, "[w]hen I was a little boy, I wanted to be a baseball player and join the circus. With the Yankees I have accomplished both." Nettles was involved in the 1984 "San Diego Padres–Atlanta Braves Beanball Game" on August 12, 1984. In 1985, after teammate Eric Show surrendered Pete Rose's record-breaking 4,192nd hit, Nettles made a comm

In Their Own Story

The air at Yankee Stadium was thick with humidity and anticipation during Game 6 of the 1978 World Series. Graig Nettles stood in the batter's box, his oversized glove resting casually by his side between innings, looking almost casual against the backdrop of a roaring crowd. The Dodgers had taken an early lead, but Puff knew the rhythm of this moment. He stepped into the pitch, connected with a sharp crack that echoed through the stadium, and watched the ball sail deep into the right-field stands. It was his third home run of the night, a display of power that silenced the opposition and sent the Bronx into a frenzy. As he rounded the bases, the crowd's roar seemed to lift him off the ground, a testament to the man who had turned the hot corner into an art form.

Reader's Guide

Graig Nettles played for the New York Yankees from 1973 to 1983. He won two Gold Glove Awards (1977 and 1978), not five. He set the major league record for career home runs by a third baseman, not just the American League record. In the 1978 World Series, Nettles made spectacular defensive plays in Game 3, not three home runs in Game 6.

Did You Know?

• Nettles's first name was created by his mother combining 'Greg' and 'Craig'.
• He set the AL record for home runs in a month with 11 in April 1974.
• Nettles once used a bat containing six superballs, which he said he received from a fan.
• He and his brother Jim homered in the same game on September 14, 1974.
• Nettles's 68.0 WAR is the highest among all players with a batting average of .250 or lower.