NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION: 1968 GRAIG NETTLES

Good day all! On the blog today, a fun card to add to the WTHBALLS checklist, a "not so missing" 1968 card for all-star third baseman Graig Nettles, who made his Major League debut in 1967 with the Minnesota Twins:

Nettles appeared in only three games for the Twins that year, going 1-for-3 at the plate, that hit being a double.

He'd appear in 22 games the following season, hitting .224 with 17 hits over 76 at-bats, including the first five home runs of his career along with eight RBIs.

It wasn’t until he got some full-time action with the Cleveland Indians in 1970 that he put up some nice numbers, becoming a productive third baseman for three years before finding himself in the Bronx after a six-player trade that left the Indians organization scratching their heads.
All Nettles would do is go on to slug 20+ homers seven straight years, leading the American League with 32 in 1976, and then topping that with 37 the following season while being an integral part of the “Bronx Zoo” championship teams of 1977 and 1978.
His incredible defensive work during the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers put him in exclusive company as a Fall Classic icon alongside the likes of Brooks Robinson and HIS defensive work in the 1970 classic against the Cincinnati Reds.
By the time Nettles was done after 22-years in the big leagues, he finished with 390 home runs, 2225 hits and 1314 runs batted in, with six all-star game nods and two Gold Gloves.

 

GIMMIE A DO-OVER: 1973 GRAIG NETTLES

On the blog today, I recently spoke about having to re-do the 1973 card for Graig Nettles since I always hated the airbrush job, and wanted a version that showed him with the Cleveland Indians since that's who he suited up for in 1972, so here you are:

Luckily there are some good images out there of "Puff" during his tenure with the Indians, so I was able to find this nice posed shot of the third baseman.

Nettles originally came up with the Minnesota Twins in the late-60’s, but it wasn’t until he got some full-time action with the Cleveland Indians did he put up some nice numbers in 1970, becoming a productive third baseman for three years before finding himself in the Bronx after a six-player trade that left the Indians organization scratching their heads.
All Nettles would do is go on to slug 20+ homers seven straight years, leading the American League with 32 in 1976, and then topping that with 37 the following season while being an integral part of the “Bronx Zoo” championship teams of 1977 and 1978.
His incredible defensive work during the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers put him in exclusive company as a Fall Classic icon alongside the likes of Brooks Robinson and HIS defensive work in the 1970 classic against the Cincinnati Reds.
By the time Nettles was done after 22-years in the big leagues, he finished with 390 home runs, 2225 hits and 1314 runs batted in, with six all-star game nods and two Gold Gloves.

 

CAREER-CAPPER: 1989 GRAIG NETTLES

Fun card to post up today, a 1989 "Career-Capper" for third baseman extraordinaire Graig Nettles, who wrapped up a borderline Hall of Fame career as a Montreal Expo in 1988:

The card was part of my latest custom set, "1980s Career-Cappers", which was a big success! Thank you all who ordered one!

Nettles originally came up with the Minnesota Twins in the late-60’s, but it wasn’t until he got some full-time action with the Cleveland Indians did he put up some nice numbers in 1970, becoming a productive third baseman for three years before finding himself in the Bronx after a six-player trade that left the Indians organization scratching their heads.
All Nettles would do is go on to slug 20+ homers seven straight years, leading the American League with 32 in 1976, and then topping that with 37 the following season while being an integral part of the “Bronx Zoo” championship teams of 1977 and 1978.
His incredible defensive work during the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers put him in exclusive company as a Fall Classic icon alongside the likes of Brooks Robinson and HIS defensive work in the 1970 classic against the Cincinnati Reds.
By the time Nettles was done after 22-years in the big leagues, he finished with 390 home runs, 2225 hits and 1314 runs batted in, with six all-star game nods and two Gold Gloves.

 

1974 GIMMIE A DO-OVER: GRAIG NETTLES

Up on the blog today, a card I have wanted to "do over" for about 40+ years now, the 1974 Graig Nettles. I have hated the original card as released by Topps since I was a kid collecting "vintage" cards in the early-80s, underwhelmed by my favorite third baseman's 1974 card:

Just a nice shot of "Puff" taking some hacks, as opposed to the hatless card of him out on the field in what looks to be Spring Training pre-game warm-ups.

Not the worst image on a card, for sure, but it has always rubbed me the wrong way, so here you go!

Nettles came over to the Yanks from the Cleveland Indians before the 1973 season and did nothing but perform, helping them head straight to three straight American League Pennants and two World Championships by the end of 1978.
Along the way he also led the A.L. with 32 homers in 1976, then following that up with a career-high 37 in 1977, while also taking home two Gold Gloves and getting named to five All-Star teams.
Of course, the man was also known for his stellar glove work, especially in the Fall Classic when he put on a clinic against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 3 in 1978, helping the Yanks win the game and swing the series momentum.
A master a quips as well, I’ll always remember “You went from Cy Young to Sayonara”, which he stated to Cy Young winning reliever Sparky Lyle after the Yankees acquired Rich Gossage, as well as "when I was a little boy, I wanted to be a baseball player and join the circus. With the Yankees I have accomplished both”, about his time in the Bronx.
When it was all said and done, Nettles played for 22 seasons, finishing up with 390 homers, 2225 hits, and 1314 runs batted in, with 1193 runs scored and a reputation that still has him considered one of the finest defensive third basemen in history.

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS: 1978 A.L. HOME RUNS

On the blog today, we move on to the American League and their top three home run hitters celebrated on a 1978 “expanded league leader” card, featuring three top-notch batsmen of the era:

 

 

We begin with Boston Red Sox legend Jim Rice, who took home his first home run title that year, pacing the league with 39 homers, which he would follow up the following year with a league-leading 46 on his way to an MVP Award.

Rice would have an insane three-year run between 1977 and 1979, where he would hit 39 or more homers, drive in 100+ RBIs, hit .315 or better, while topping 200 hits each and every year, while also collecting 36 triples while slugging over a combined .600.

The man was a monster at the plate and I was one of many who was happy he finally got his Hall of Fame due when he was elected in 2009.

Tied for second with 37 homers apiece were California Angels Bobby Bonds and New York Yankees Graig Nettles, who were actually just teammates two seasons earlier in 1975.

For Bonds, he fell two homers short of a career-best, which he accomplished while still with the San Francisco Giants in 1973, though he did establish a new career-high with 115 runs batted in while reaching 100+ runs scored for the sixth time.

It was also the fourth of what would be five times he would reach the 30/30 club, as he stole 41 bases to go along with his 37 “jacks”, something he’d do one more time the following season in 1978.

Also in second place with 37 homers, Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles, who established a new career-high after leading the American League with 32 the year before.

For Nettles, he also reached 100+ RBIs for what would be the only time in his long career, with 107, just missing 100 runs scored with 99 for the eventual World Champs, also a career best.

Not a bad threesome slugging their way to the top of the homer chain!

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS: 1977 A.L. HOME RUNS

Greetings everyone!

Up on the blog today, we move along in my on-going “expanded league leaders” thread to the top three American League home run hitters for 1976, proudly displayed on a 1977 card:

 

 

This would have been an awesome card to have issued by Topps, as we’ll see later on.

But first, we begin with the home run champ for the Junior Circuit in 1976, third baseman Graig Nettles of the New York Yankees, who hit 32 homers for the American League champs, a career-best for him at that time.

Normally, 32 homers would not lead your league, but the 1970’s was somewhat of a “dead-ball” era for homers, with the low-to-mid 30’s being a great total for the A.L. then.

Nettles also set career-bests at that time with 88 runs scored and 93 runs batted in, all numbers (including his home run total) he would top the very next season with 99, 37 and 107 respectively.

Behind him with 27 homers in 1976, a tie between Sal Bando of the Oakland A’s and Reggie Jackson of the Baltimore Orioles, who BOTH found themselves on new teams for the 1977 season, while also airbrushed into these new uni’s for their 1977 Topps card.

Now THAT is the reason this expanded league-leader card would have been awesome to pull from a pack back then, as we would have had Bando as an Oakland A’s player while a Milwaukee Brewer on his base card, but more importantly to us card nerds, PROOF that Reggie Jackson was an Oriole for a year, with this card showing him in Baltimore garb.

Certainly a small twist on the 1977 Topps set if this card were included in that set!

Amazing to think that Jackson led the American League in 1976 with a slugging percentage of only .502! Talk about a sign-of-the-times!

Next, week? We move on to the 1976 RBI leaders for the National League!

See you then!

1978 SPECIAL SUB-SET- "1977 30 HOME RUN CLUB" GRAIG NETTLES

Next up in my on-going 1978 "30 Home Run Club" sub-set is New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles, who put in his top Big League power season in 1977 with 37 homers, good for second place in the American League after leading the league the previous year:

 

Nettles, coming off a 32 homer campaign in 1976 which was good for the league crown, followed that up with 37 homers for the Yanks in 1977, two behind leader Jim Rice and tied with Bobby Bonds of the California Angels.

Nettles also drove in a career-best 107 runs and scored 99 himself, giving him his second All-Star berth as well as a fifth place finish in the MVP race at season's end.

It wasn't until recently I also realized that for a guy who was considered a "slugger", he never struck out much!

I really never realized in all these years that he never struck out 100+ times in a season over his 22 year career, but incredibly, for someone who hit 390 homers, he only AVERAGED 55 strikeouts a year over his career!

Think about that. That is absolutely wild.

When it was all said and done, Nettles played for those 22 seasons, finishing up with 390 homers, 2225 hits, and 1314 runs batted in, with 1193 runs scored and a reputation that still has him considered one of the finest defensive third basemen in history.

1975 IN-ACTION: GRAIG NETTLES

Next up in my long-running “1975 In-Action” series is New York Yankees All-Star third baseman Graig Nettles, one of my childhood favorites:

Nettles came over to the Yanks from the Cleveland Indians before the 1973 season and did nothing but perform, helping them head straight to three straight American League Pennants and two World Championships by the end of 1978.
Along the way he also led the A.L. with 32 homers in 1976, then following that up with a career-high 37 in 1977, while also taking home two Gold Gloves and getting named to five All-Star teams.
Of course, the man was also known for his stellar glove work, especially in the Fall Classic when he put on a clinic against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 3 in 1978, helping the Yanks win the game and swing the series momentum.
A master a quips as well, I’ll always remember “You went from Cy Young to Sayonara”, which he stated to Cy Young winning reliever Sparky Lyle after the Yankees acquired Rich Gossage, as well as "[w]hen I was a little boy, I wanted to be a baseball player and join the circus. With the Yankees I have accomplished both”, about his time in the Bronx.
When it was all said and done, Nettles played for 22 seasons, finishing up with 390 homers, 2225 hits, and 1314 runs batted in, with 1193 runs scored and a reputation that still has him considered one of the finest defensive third basemen in history.

FUTURE STARS- GRAIG NETTLES

Snow Day Today! Everyone on the East Coast be safe with this weather out there...
The next 1978 “future star” card I post here is of former all-star third baseman Graig Nettles, who made a name for himself both for his defensive work and his hitting, becoming a fan favorite for us kids growing up in NYC in the late-70s/early-80s:

Nettles originally came up with the Minnesota Twins in the late-60’s, but it wasn’t until he got some full-time action with the Cleveland Indians did he put up some nice numbers in 1970, becoming a productive third baseman for three years before finding himself in the Bronx after a six-player trade that left the Indians organization scratching their heads.
All Nettles would do is go on to slug 20+ homers seven straight years, leading the American League with 32 in 1976, and then topping that with 37 the following season while being an integral part of the “Bronx Zoo” championship teams of 1977 and 1978.
His incredible defensive work during the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers put him in exclusive company as a Fall Classic icon alongside the likes of Brooks Robinson and HIS defensive work in the 1970 classic against the Cincinnati Reds.
By the time Nettles was done after 22-years in the big leagues, he finished with 390 home runs, 2225 hits and 1314 runs batted in, with six all-star game nods and two Gold Gloves.

NICKNAMES OF THE 1970'S: GRAIG "PUFF" NETTLES

The next nickname card I whipped up was for former all-star third baseman Graig Nettles, a childhood hero of mine, and his somewhat odd “Puff” tag:

I really don’t know why he had that nickname, but I’ll use any excuse to make a card up for him. Growing up in Brooklyn during the mid-70s through the early-80’s, Nettles was right up there with Munson, Jackson, Randolph and Guidry on that “Bronx Zoo” all-star cast as far as we were concerned.
A home run champ in 1976, a World Series hero for his stellar defensive work at third base, his hilarious quips like “You went from Cy Young to Sayonara” to Sparky Lyle when the Yankees got Rich Gossage to be their new reliever, we were all crushed when he went to his hometown Sand Diego Padres in 1984, especially seeing him (and Rich Gossage) play in the World Series that year.
He would end up playing 22-years in the Majors, hitting 390 homers with 1314 runs batted in and 1193 runs scored with 2225 hits, while collecting two Gold Gloves and appearing in six all-star games.
Anyone know where the name “Puff” came from?

A FINE AIRBRUSHING JOB- 1973 GRAIG NETTLES

All things considered, here’s a card I always thought was a GREAT job at Topps and airbrushing: the 1973 Graig Nettles card:

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!