Graig Nettles

Graig Nettles was born on August 20, 1944, in San Diego, California. His unique first name resulted from his mother combining ‘Greg’ and ‘Craig.’ He attended San Diego High School and later San Diego State College on a basketball scholarship, where he played both basketball and baseball. In 1964 and 1965, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Alaska Goldpanners, contributing to two league championships. Nettles was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the fourth round of the 1965 MLB draft, making his MLB debut on September 6, 1967. Over a 22-year career, he played for several teams, including the Minnesota Twins (1967–1969), Cleveland Indians (1970–1972), New York Yankees (1973–1983), San Diego Padres (1984–1986), Atlanta Braves (1987), and Montreal Expos (1988).

Nettles was renowned for his defensive skills at third base, earning two Gold Glove Awards in 1977 and 1978. Despite a modest career batting average, he was a notable clutch hitter and set an American League record for career home runs by a third baseman. His tenure with the New York Yankees was particularly successful, marked by six All-Star selections and two World Series championships in 1977 and 1978. In 1981, he was named the ALCS MVP. A significant turning point in his career came in 1984 when he was traded to the San Diego Padres after authoring a critical autobiography about his time with the Yankees, titled ‘Balls.’ He retired from playing in 1988, having accumulated 390 home runs and 1,314 RBI in 2,700 games. Nettles later coached for the Yankees in 1991 and the Padres in 1995.

After his playing career, Nettles remained involved in baseball, managing the Bakersfield Blaze in 1996 and serving as a consultant for “The Bronx Is Burning,” a television drama about the 1977 Yankees. He was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions’ Breitbard Hall of Fame in 1991. Nettles also holds the single-season major league record for assists by a third baseman, with 412 in 1971. In 2008, he publicly shared his diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer. His legacy is also maintained through his mentions in popular culture, such as the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen’s 1985 song “Glory Days.”