Days of Yankees Past: Graig Nettles

In the dark days of the early ‘70s, during the infamous reign of Michael Burke and the CBS ownership group, there were a couple of deals that set up the future Yankee dynasty that came to fruition later that decade.   Among the most famous of these was Yankee GM Lee MacPhail dealing John Ellis, Jerry Kenney, Charlie Spikes and Rusty Torres for Jerry Moses and a temperamental, talented 3B named Graig Nettles. 

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Nettles would go on to solidify the Yankee infield and lineup, providing one of the premiere power bats of his generation and becoming known as one of the greatest defensive third basemen of all time.

A five-time Yankee all-star, two-time Gold Glove winner, Nettles joined the Yankees at the time they moved to Shea Stadium while Yankee Stadium was being renovated. Moving into this pitchers park limited his power numbers as he hit 22 homers each of his first three seasons with the Yanks. But with the move back to the Bronx, and the lineup around him solidified (subsequent acquisitions of 1B Chris Chambliss, LF Lou Piniella, rookie 2B Willie Randolph, CF Mickey Rivers centered around original Yankee and captain C Thurman Munson), Nettles unleashed his three best power years, leading the AL in homers in 1976 with 32; knocking 37 in 1977; and “slumping” to 27 in 1978.

The Nettles reputation would be solidified with his post-season performances in the field. With a glove ironically marked with “E-5”, Nettles made several outstanding, diving, jumping plays behind Ron Guidry in Game 3 of the 1978 World Series that saved that game, and ultimately the series for the Yanks.

Nettles was also known for his temper. Rumors of his inability to get along with Indians manager Ken Aspermonte was one reason for the trade to the Yankees. On those “Bronx Zoo” teams of the ‘70s, fighting (with themselves and other teams) was a regular attraction. Nettles was featured in in the of two of the most famous fights of the ‘70s – the Fisk/Piniella brawl in May 1976:

And the Game 5 1977 fight with

of the Kansas City Royals:

Nettles hit .500 in the 1981 ALCS, going 6-for-12 with 9 RBI, in the Yankees’ 3 game sweep over Oakland. He had 3 RBI in each game, the last 3 coming in the top of the 9th inning of Game 3, leading the Yankees to a 4-0 win.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t as much of a factor in the World Series that year, breaking his thumb in Game 2 against the Dodgers. The Yankees never won another game in that series after he got hurt, and lost that series 4 games to 2. In 1982, now a senior member of the team, Nettles was named captain – only the third player at the time to be honored with that title. Just before the 1984 season, Nettles was traded to the San Diego Padres for P

. In true Nettles fashion, he shared the team leadership in homers with 20 and won his sixth and last pennant.

Retired since 1988, Nettles will go down as one of the greatest third basemen in Yankees history, and arguments can be made for Hall of Fame consideration.  As a teenager, I had a unique perspective on Nettles career – season tickets in the first row right in the middle of the left-field tarp – right in back of number 9 – and I never had to worry about any balls getting through.