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Graig Nettles (born August 20, 1944 in San Diego, California) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins (1967-69), Cleveland Indians (1970-72), New York Yankees (1973-83), San Diego Padres (1984-86), Atlanta Braves (1987) and Montreal Expos (1988).
Nettles was one of the best defensive third basemen of all time, and despite his low career batting average, he was an excellent offensive contributor, setting an American League record for career home runs by a third baseman. As a part of four pennant-winning Yankee teams, Nettles enjoyed his best season in 1977. He won the Gold Glove and hit career highs in home runs (37) and runs batted in (107) to lead the Yankees to the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In his 22-season career, Nettles hit .248 with 390 home runs and 1314 RBI in 2700 games. He had a career fielding average of .964, exceptional for the hot corner. After retiring at age 43, Nettles coached for the Yankees (1991) and Padres (1995).
Highlights
- 6-time All-Star (1975, 1977-80, 1985)
- Two Gold Glove awards (1977-78)
- Led American League in HRs (32, 1976)
- 3 times led AL in total chances per game (1971, 1973, 1976)
- Won AL Championship Series MVP (1981)
- Holds the Major League single-season records for assists and double plays by a third baseman (412 and 54, 1971)
- Holds American League career record for home runs by a third baseman (333)
- Followed Lou Gehrig and Thurman Munson in the role of Yankee captain
Brothers milestone
- On September 14, 1974, Nettles and his brother Jim homered in the same game, joining a select club that includes Bret and Aaron Boone, José and Héctor Cruz, Felipe and César Crespo, Al and Tony Cuccinello, Joe and Dom DiMaggio, and Rick and Wes Ferrell. The seven set of brothers hit their homers playing for opposing teams.
Fact
- The controvertial book Balls (Putnam, 1984) is a memoir of Nettles' baseball career written in collaboration with Peter Golenbock, in which the player criticize George Steinbrenner, the ostentatious Yankees owner, and some players as well. When the book's advance promotion came to Steinbrenner's attention in March 1983, Nettles was summarily traded to the San Diego Padres.
See also
External links
- Craig Nettles at:
- Baseball Library (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/N/Nettles_Graig.stm)
- Baseball Page (http://www.thebaseballpage.com/past/pp/nettlesgraig/)
- Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/nettlgr01.shtml)
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