Who is Graig Nettles - Yankee Great

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Graig Nettles at a Glance

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* Graig Nettles (born August 20, 1944, in San Diego, California) (nicknamed Puff) 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). He played collegiate baseball with the Aztecs of San Diego State University where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Nettles, known as "Puff" (because of his tendency to start trouble and then disappear when retribution was about to come down) to fans and teammates, was one of the best defensive third basemen of all time, and despite his relatively 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 when he won the Gold Glove Award and had career-highs in home runs (37) and runs batted in (107) in leading the Yankees to the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Nettles' most clutch performance came in the field, during Game 3 of the 1978 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium in back of 25-game-winning lefty Ron Guidry. With the Dodgers leading two games to none, Nettles made several plays at the hot corner to stop potential run-scoring hits, and helping the Yankees gain a key win in the series. New York went on to win the next three contests and clinch the world championship.

In his 22-season career, Nettles hit .248 with 390 home runs and 1,314 RBI in 2,700 games. He had a career fielding percentage of .964, exceptional for the hot corner (third base). After retiring at age 43, Nettles coached for the Yankees (1991) and Padres (1995).

He now resides in Lenoir City, Tennessee, a suburb of Knoxville, Tennessee. Graig and his wife Ginger have four children: Mike, Barrie, Tim and Jeff.

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Graig Nettles "With Bat, Posed" Double Matted 8" X 10" Photograph (Unframed)

Graig Nettles "With Bat, Posed" Double Matted 8" X 10" Photograph (Unframed)

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Balls / Graig Nettles and Peter Golenbock by Graig Nettles

Balls / Graig Nettles and Peter Golenbock by Graig Nettles

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Reverse of the Curse of the Bambino

Reverse of the Curse of the Bambino

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Graig Nettles Autographed New York Yankees White Majestic Jersey

Graig Nettles Autographed New York Yankees White Majestic Jersey

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Latest Blog Posts about Graig Nettles

Dustin Pedroia braces for best
Ortiz' homer also was the 390th of his career, tying him with Graig Nettles for 54th in baseball history. Perhaps the biggest improvement Daniel Nava has made since his first go-around in the majors in 2010 is his defense in left field.
Glenn Guilbeau: LSU loses, and that can be a good thing
Former Yankee great third baseman Graig Nettles once dropped a pop-up on purpose to allow the other team to score so they would not have to play extra innings. It was a spring training game. It was ? as Allen Iverson would say ? "practice.
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays: Series Preview
DH David Ortiz has 390 career home runs, tied with Graig Nettles for 54th on the all-time MLB list. Email Print Republish Add to Favourites Report an error Rss Top Stories: Kelly: Waiting for a Raptors draft miracle? That's why Toronto's an off-season ...
Podcast: One-on-One with Raul Ibanez
He loved third basemen from George Brett to Mike Schmidt to Graig Nettles. That is why it has been extra special for Ibanez to excel in a Yankee uniform. On Thursday, ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand and Ibanez spoke about his experience.

Latest News about Graig Nettles

Dustin Pedroia braces for best
Ortiz' homer also was the 390th of his career, tying him with Graig Nettles for 54th in baseball history. Perhaps the biggest improvement Daniel Nava has made since his first go-around in the majors in 2010 is his defense in left field.
Glenn Guilbeau: LSU loses, and that can be a good thing
Former Yankee great third baseman Graig Nettles once dropped a pop-up on purpose to allow the other team to score so they would not have to play extra innings. It was a spring training game. It was ? as Allen Iverson would say ? "practice.
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays: Series Preview
DH David Ortiz has 390 career home runs, tied with Graig Nettles for 54th on the all-time MLB list. Email Print Republish Add to Favourites Report an error Rss Top Stories: Kelly: Waiting for a Raptors draft miracle? That's why Toronto's an off-season ...
Podcast: One-on-One with Raul Ibanez
He loved third basemen from George Brett to Mike Schmidt to Graig Nettles. That is why it has been extra special for Ibanez to excel in a Yankee uniform. On Thursday, ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand and Ibanez spoke about his experience.

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  • John Sergio Sep 16, 2009 @ 5:48 pm | delete
    I will never forget you. You and Brooks own the greatest defensive exhibitions in world series history, and you were, in my book, the greatest yankee 3rd base over Clete and A- Rod. If you'd been on steroids you coulda hit 600 homer playing in today's bandboxes. Of course Mickey coulda hit 1500! Love ya, man.
  • Charles Nettles Oct 29, 2008 @ 10:50 pm | delete
    I don't remember you in your playing days but my dad might and we might be related in someway shape or form. My Family is from McComb,Ms and I was told a number of years ago that I had a relative that once played Pro Baseball. My grandpaw is John Webb Nettles and my dad is Charles Phillip Nettles D.V.M. Is their anyway that I can get a baseball Card of yours I am doing that history of baseball for my little brother for Christmas. If not do you know where I can get one?

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