"Nettles had an unhappy season, yet led the Indians in hits, doubles, home runs and runs batted in. He was platooned at third base after getting off to his usual slow start, leading to words with manager Ken Aspromonte; he asked to be traded. Graig dropped off from his 28-homer and 86-RBI totals of 1971 but was still a dangerous hitter and an outstanding third baseman.
'For all-around defense,' Dodgers' third baseman Ken McMullen says, 'Graig's got it all.' Nettles set major league records for third basemen in 1971 with 412 assists and 54 double plays.
Born in San Diego on August 20, 1944, Nettles received a basketball scholarship to San Diego State and played semi-pro ball for the Alaska Goldpanners. He hit five home runs in his first four days with the Minnesota Twins but was traded the following year to the Indians. His brother, Jim, is still with the Twins.
His first name has fared poorly at the hands of linotypists. Craig is the common alternative."
-Joe Gergen, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1973 Edition
"Graig Nettles' value to the Yankees can be measured in part by the fact that they agreed to trade a fistful of brilliant young prospects: Spikes, Ellis, Torres and Kenney.
Nettles led the Cleveland Indians in homers in each of the last three years with 26, 28 and 17. He had spectacular success against the Yankees with a dozen homers, five at the Stadium and seven in Cleveland.
But power isn't Nettles' only asset by any means. The 28-year-old Californian is an exceptional third baseman and will give the Yanks the kind of defensive strength they have not had since Clete Boyer. In 1971, Graig set two major league fielding marks at third-most assists in a season (412) and most double plays in a season (54).
Nettles' acquisition probably means the Yankees will see even more left-handers than usual, especially at the Stadium. But this is of no concern to Graig. He has hit for a better average against lefties than versus the conventional right-handers during his major league career."
-The New York Yankees Official 1973 Yearbook
"Graig Nettles represents the major change on the Yankees for the 1973 season. He's a solid left-handed power hitter whom the Yankees feel will add much strength to the middle of their lineup while manning the important defensive position of third base. He's led the Indians in home runs the past three seasons and has had great success against the Yankees. He's hit 12 homers vs. New York, five in Yankee Stadium and seven in Cleveland, with a season high of seven in 1971. A premier third baseman, he holds two major league records at that position - most assists in a season, 412 in 1971; and most double plays in a season, 54, also in 1971.
Graig began playing baseball in the Connie Mack and American Legion leagues of San Diego and has starred in every league he has played in since. He starred in basketball as well as baseball in college at San Diego State, where he was selected to the All-West Coast College Team.
The Minnesota Twins signed him for the 1966 season and he led the Midwest League in homers his first season of pro ball. The next year he led the Southern League in RBIs and tied in homers, in addition to leading the league's third basemen in chances, assists and double plays. 1968 found him in the Pacific Coast League where he was Rookie of the Year, led third basemen in chances and double plays, made the All-Star team and was voted the top-hitting prospect by PCL managers.
The Twins brought him up at the tail end of the '68 season and he promptly rapped out five homers in his first four days in uniform. He remained with the Twins through 1969 and then Cleveland acquired him. His younger brother, Jim, currently plays for the Twins."
-1973 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
"Graig Nettles won't hit any more homers against the Yankees. In his brief American League career, the lefty-hitting third sacker has driven a dozen homers against New York, five of them in Yankee Stadium.
Graig, who came to the Yankees from Cleveland last winter, has averaged close to 25 home runs each of the last three seasons. Known for his power hitting, Graig is one of the premier fielding third basemen in baseball today."
-1973 New York Yankees Scorecard & Official Program
"Graig Nettles is happy to be a Yankee. The quiet, but hard-hitting third baseman (obtained by the Yankees from the Cleveland Indians over the winter) can hit the long ball and his swing is considered ideal for Yankee Stadium. A fine RBI man, too, Graig is expected to hit fifth, immediately behind Bobby Murcer in the Yankee batting order ... at least at the start of the season. Nettles may be known as a power hitter, but fans soon will discover he is an outstanding defensive player as well."
-1973 New York Yankees Scorecard & Official Program
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