"Nettles was a big disappointment. The Yanks made a big off-season deal for him and he was not the same player he was in Cleveland in 1971. He hit only .234 (although he did have 22 homers), and also was erratic at third base.
Born in San Diego, Graig went to San Diego State on a basketball scholarship. His brother Jim was with the Twins, and Graig also started with Minnesota, then went to the Indians for the 1970 season in a bid deal for Luis Tiant."
-Peter Gammons, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1974 Edition
"In a quiet, unspectacular way, Graig Nettles joined the Yankees last year and set club records both at bat and in the field.
No third baseman ever hit as many home runs for the Yankees as did Graig last season. And no third baseman ever handled as many chances in the field as did Graig. Contributions such as these, which tied him for the club lead in home runs with Bobby Murcer and placed him second to Bobby in runs batted in, made Graig's debut season a notable one for the Yankees.
In his career in Cleveland, Graig was the 'Man of the Year' and the toast of the town for three seasons. His coming to New York a year ago was heralded as an important step in stabilizing the Yankee infield, and in providing a big bat in the lineup. While Graig would have liked to have hit higher, his run production was superb and he played in all but two games during the season.
Graig is one of the many young stars in baseball from Southern California, where he lives with his wife Ginger and two children. At 29 he will continue to hold down, in his own determined and steady fashion, the important third base job on the Yankees."
-The New York Yankees Official 1974 Yearbook
"Graig anchored the third base position for the Yankees last season, leading the league in assists and total chances. Offensively, he tied for the club lead in homers with Bobby Murcer, each having 22, and was second on the club in RBIs (81). Graig's 22 homers set a record for Yankee third basemen in one season, surpassing Clete Boyer who had 18 in 1962 and 1965. He has averaged 23 homers for his last four seasons.
Graig holds two major league records for third basemen - most assists in a season (412 in 1971) and most double plays in a season (54 in 1971). He just missed tying his assist record last year by two, having 410.
Nettles is a product of the Connie Mack League and American Legion baseball in the San Diego area. He starred in basketball as well as baseball at San Diego State, where he was selected to the All-West Coast College Team. Originally signed by the Minnesota Twins for the 1966 season, Graig hit five homers in his first four days in the major leagues with Minnesota in '68. He has a brother, Jim, who was also originally signed by the Twins, and is now with the Detroit Tigers."
-1974 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
NETTLES' WEEKLY AND MONTHLY AWARDS
"Graig Nettles won back-to-back American League Player of the Week awards in late April and then was honored with the award for the month of April when he tied a major league record (with Willie Stargell, 1971) with 11 homers; he had 25 hits, 23 RBIs and a .301 average during the month."
-1974 New York Yankees Scorebook & Official Program
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