GRAIG NETTLES

Although Brooks Robinson stood ahead of him during most of his prime and Buddy Bell came along just as he was getting his due for his amazing performances in the '77 and '78 World Series, Graig Nettles was one of the great fielding third basemen of all-time. In fact, if you compare him to the Hall of Fame third basemen, Nettles stacks up pretty well. His 390 home runs stack up very well no matter who you compare him to. Like Rusty Staub, he ranks higher than you might suspect in several lifetime offensive categories. He has very little chance of Cooperstown either, because his third base contemporaries were Brett and Mike Schmidt, as well as Pete Rose.

He did make the All Star squad six times, including every year from 1977-80, hit as many as 37 dingers in 1977 and led the AL with 32 in 1976. The San Diego native had three brief instant coffees with the Twins, then anchored the left side of Cleveland's infield in the early '70s. Ironically, the then CBS-owned Yanks traded a bunch of cast-offs for him in November of '72, a mere two months before a Cleveland shipping magnate (named George Steinbrenner) bought the Bronx Bombers and immediately started trying to rebuild them into the fabled Yanks of old. Nettles, Chris Chambliss and Thurman Munson, and later, Reggie Jackson, did give the Yanks flashes of their old glory, appearing in the post season in '76, '77, '78 and '80. The afore-mentioned quartet, along with stars like Lou Piniella, Willie Randolph, Mickey Rivers, and Roy White, got the Yanks 100 victories for the first time in 14 seasons. Pitchers like Hunter and Guidry, Torrez and Figueroa, as well as closer Sparky Lyle fought each other, Steinbrenner, manager Billy Martin, opposing teams, fans and the press, but tawdry as they were, they won, and New York demands a winner. Nettles reached the pinnacle of his fame in the '78 World Series. For the first time since 1956, the Yankees were facing their ancient enemies, the Dodgers; Brooklyn or L.A., the rivalry was still intense, the history hovering in the background like the twilight shadows in left field. These were the Dodgers of the eight-year infield, Garvey at first, Lopes, second, Russell, shortstop, Cey, third base, as well as Reggie Smith and Dusty Baker, Hooton and Sutton and Hough and John and young Bobby Welch. The first two games at Chavez Ravine went to the Dodgers, 11-5 and 4-3. Ron Guidry, aka Louisiana Lightning, was 25-3 for NY that year, but was shaky throughout Game Three, giving up eight hits and seven free passes. Nettles rose to the occasion with spectacular catch after spine-tingling throw and the Yanks miraculously held the Dodgers to a single run, while they scored five. Revitalized, with good pitching, two long blasts by Reggie and more fine fielding by Nettles and crew, the Yanks went on to sweep the last four contests, winning the Series, 4-2. Nettles crackling defense in Game Three is generally regarded as the turning point of the Series, the morale booster that turned a two game deficit into a World Championship.

The World Series was the crescendo of Nettles' career. The following season, for the first time in a decade, Nettles failed to appear in 150 games. He remained the regular hot corner man, still making plays that dazzled, but his hitting tailed off, from the .260's to the .230s, from 25 homers to 15. Still worth having in the line-up? The Padres thought so and right before the '84 season they sent Dennis Rasmussen to NY, returning Nettles to his home port. By '85 he had the NL convinced, becoming one of a handful to be All Stars in both leagues. That was the last hurrah. His at bats fell off from 440 in '85, to 354, then 177, (with Atlanta). Finally, after appearing mostly as a pinch hitter with Montreal in '88, one of the finest third basemen ever exits the dugout for the final time.