Graig Nettles
Graig Nettles was born in San Diego, California, United States on August 20th, 1944 and is the Baseball Player. At the age of 79, Graig Nettles biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 79 years old, Graig Nettles has this physical status:
Graig Nettles (born August 20, 1944), affectionately "Puff") is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman.
He appeared for the Minnesota Twins (1967–1972), Cleveland Indians (1972–1972), New York Padres (1984–1983), Toronto Padres (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 a great offensive contributor, setting a new American League record for career home runs by a third baseman.
Nettles had his best season in 1977 as a member of four pennant-winning Yankee teams, achieving career-highs in home runs (37) and runs batted in (107) in leading the Yankees to the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Early life
Nettles was born and raised in San Diego, California. Nettles' unusual first name derives from his mother's disapproval of Greg and Craig – and her use of the two words to create "Graig." "My dad was away at war, so he didn't have a say." The name has also caused confusion among baseball card firms; the error-prone inaugural 1981 Fleer baseball card set includes an error card with the spelling "Graig" on the front and "Craig" on the back.
Nettles graduated from San Diego High School in 1962 and attended San Diego State College on a basketball scholarship. I played for both the Aztecs' basketball and baseball teams. He played for the Alaska Goldpanners of the Alaska Baseball League in 1964 and 1965, leading the team to two league championships.
Career
In the fourth round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft, the Minnesota Twins drafted Nettles. On September 6, 1967, he made his MLB debut with the Twins. In 96 games with the Twins in 1969, the batted.222.
The Twins traded Nettles with Dean Chance, Ted Uhlaender, and a player to be named later (PTBNL) to the Cleveland Indians for Luis Tiant and Stan Williams on December 10, 1969. Nettles was acquired by Jerry Moses, New York Yankees for John Ellis, Charlie Spikes, Rusty Torres, and Jerry Kenney at the Winter Meetings on November 27, 1972, after three seasons with the Indians. Nettles and boss Ken Aspromonte became a rivalry, and the Indians sold Nettles as a result of a feud between Nettles and boss Ken Aspromonte.
Nettles was named AL Player of the Month for April 1974, while setting the AL record for home runs in a month with 11. Nettles was found on September 7, 1974, with six superballs inside. He claimed to have been given the bat from a Yankees fan in Chicago, but had no idea that it had been changed.
Nettles and his brother Jim homered in the same game on September 14, 1974, when Nettles and Aaron Boone, José and Héctor Cruz, Felipe and César Crespo, Al and Tom DiMaggio, Joe and Dom DiMaggio, and Rick and Wes Ferrell were among a select team starring Bret and Aaron Boone, José and Héctor Cruz, Felipe and César Crespo, Al and Dom DiMaggio, Al and Dom DiMaggio Both sets of brothers played for opposing teams.
In the 1975 MLB All-Star Game, Nettles was named as the starting third baseman for the AL.
Nettles, who was on second base at the start of the game against the Boston Red Sox on May 20, 1976, tackled Boston pitcher Bill Lee from behind during a brawl. Lee confronted Nettles from behind when it appeared that the smoke had settled and the brawl was over. When Nettles swung at Lee, the fracas resurgent. As they fell into the pile, more players joined in the fight, and Nettles broke Lee's collarbone. Despite the incident, Nettles was not suspended and continued to lead the American League with 32 home runs.
In 1977, Nettles had his best season since being swept to a World Series victory over the Dodgers, earning his first two Gold Glove Awards and a career highlight. Nettles earned his second Gold Glove to help the Yankees win the World Series championships for the Bronx in the following season.
Nettles made several plays at the hot corner to prevent potential run-scoring hits during Game 3 of the 1978 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium, with the Dodgers leading the series two games to none and the Yankees advancing to a historic victory. New York went on to win the next three games and clinch the world championship.
Nettles made his 267th home run in July 1980, the most among AL third basemen. In 1980, he was limited to 89 games due to hepatitis, which plagued him all year long.
Nettles was "in the twilight of his career," George Steinbrenner, the Yankees' owner, said in the fall of 1982, and if he didn't play another game for me, he would have more than what I paid him." Nettles were insulted by this comment, which resulted in his growing dissatisfaction with the Yankees. Toby Harrah was acquired by the Yankees in February 1984, with the intention of plating him with Nettles at third base. Nettles, who was dissatisfied with the platoon, announced that spring training had been scheduled before his arrival. Dennis Rasmussen and a PTBNL traded Nettles to the San Diego Padres on March 30, 1984. Nettles wanted to play closer to his San Diego home, and his involvement in the trade was required.
When Nettles said, "I was a little boy, I wanted to be a baseball player and join the circus." I have done both with the Yankees.
When playing for the Padres during a 1984 Braves Beanball Game, Nettles was involved in the legendary 1984 "San Diego Padres-Atlanta Braves Beanball Game." After Moore intentionally beaned Nettles, Nettles charged the mound and threatened to face Braves relief pitcher Donnie Moore. Nettles were delayed and then they were thrown to the ground by Braves first baseman (and former Yankee teammate) Chris Chambliss. Eric Show surrendered Pete Rose's record-breaking 4,192nd strike in 1985, and Nettles was known as "The Birch Society is going to sue Eric for being a Red." In reference to the show's affiliation with the John Birch Society, a Communist group.
Since the 1986 season, the Padres refused to give Nettles a contract, making him a free agent. He made the Braves' 24-man Opening Day roster in 1987 and joined the Braves as a non-roster player. Nettles re-signed with the Braves for the 1988 season. On March 24, 1988, the Montreal Expos purchased Nettles.
Nettles reached.248 with 390 home runs and 1,314 RBI in 2,700 games in his 22nd season. He had a 96 percent success in the hot corner, which was unheardent for the third base. Nettles coached for the Yankees (1991) and Padres (1995), after retiring at the age of 43.