Nettles was sent to the Bronx just in time for Topps to paint-up just the right spots on this nice action shot, making it look like the real thing, or close to it!
Gotta give “props” when it’s deserved!
Nettles went on to become a favorite in NYC, as part of the “Bronx Zoo” championship teams in 1977-1978 as well as a mainstay at third base at Yankee Stadium through the 1983 season, 11 years at the hot-corner.
Of course his World Series defensive performance, home run title in 1976 and five all-star nods were enough to have us kids here in NYC that were Yankee fans loving him.
He would put together a 22-year career that spanned 1967 through 1988, seeing him slam 390 homers, drive in 1314 runs and scoring 1193 himself while batting .248 with 2225 hits over 8986 at-bats in exactly 2700 games.
I’ll always remember the very first pack of 1978 cards I bought way back when, the card facing me when I got the wrapper off was “Puff” himself, in a very nice in-game action shot.
That ‘78 set is still one of my favorites!
