Graig Nettles is one of the most under-appreciated stars in baseball history. This is largely because he career concluded before the revolution in statistical analysis.

Upon closer inspection, Nettles hits many high notes in both traditional and SABRmetric statistics.

Playing the least-represented position in Cooperstown, the third baseman totaled 2,225 hits, 1,193 runs, 390 homers, 1,314 RBI, 1,088 walks. The six-time All Star earned two Gold Gloves, six League Championship rings, and back-to-back World Series titles.

According to BaseballReference.com, Nettles’ career WAR and JAWS numbers are slightly above the average of the Hall’s 15 men at his position. Nettles’ career WAR is 68.4, his 7-year WAR peak is 43.0, while his JAWS and WAR/162 stand at 55.7 and 5.1, respectively. In those same categories, the average Cooperstown third baseman stands a shade below Nettles at 68.0/42.4/55.2/4.1.

Here is the back of the check issued to Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles on August 15, 1973. The day before Nettles received the check he was the key man in New York’s 7-2 victory over the California Angels.

In the bottom of the first at the Bronx, Nettles hit a single to center to drive in Bobby Murcer for the Yankees second run of the inning. The Angels tied the score with two in the sixth.

Nettles came up again with two outs in the 8th and Murcer standing on second as the go-ahead run. He delivered the decisive blow a two-run homer, deep over the right-field wall.

The Yankees added three more in the inning to break the game open 7-2.

Shown here is the back of the check. Nettles’ signature appears at the top of the check in the form of his endorsement.

Perhaps the greatest rivalry in all of baseball is between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. When Graig Nettles played, the rivalry was alive and well.

On May 20, 1976 the two teams squared off at Yankee Stadium. New York led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the 6th inning. With two out, Lou Piniella and Nettles reached base with back-to-back singles.

Otto Velez smoked a line drive base hit to right field fielded. Third base coach Dick Howser waved Piniella home. Boston right fielder Dwight Evans came up with the ball and threw a laser to catcher Carlton Fisk. Piniella crashed into the Boston backstop who tagged him out.

Chaos ensued.

Nettle’s describes the action: “It started with a collision at home plate with Piniella and Fisk and they came up fighting. The year before we’d had a fight in Boston and Bill Lee said the Yankees fought like Times Square hookers. I just wanted to let him know we had some tough hookers in Times Square.

“He was in on the pile and I saw him taking swings at people. I threw him on the ground and he told me he’d get me next time.

“I said, ‘Let’s not wait ’till next time, let’s do it now.’

“So I popped him in the eye a couple of times. I remember some of their players coming up to me the next day congratulating me so they wouldn’t have to put up with that guy.”

Lee suffered a dislocated shoulder and a bruised ego. He didn’t pitch again until July 15th. On July 23rd he faced the Yankees for the first time since the brawl. Nettles went 2-for-4, including a two-run homer off of Lee as the Boston left-hander gave up 7 earned runs in four innings of work.

Shown here is a 1973 Topps card signed by Bill Lee. In ’73 the left-hander moved to the starting rotation he put up career-best numbers in wins, strikeouts, ERA+, and WAR.

Ken Griffey Jr. grew up in and around big league clubhouses. His father and namesake showed him the inner workings of baseball.

Not all of the early education was positive. One lesson Junior learned at an early age stuck with him forever.

His father and namesake broke in with the Reds in 1973 and was a key cog in back-to-back World Series champions. After 9 seasons in Cincinnati, he was traded to the New York Yankees. George Steinbrenner promptly signed him to a six-year deal.

During Griffey’s time in the Big Apple, Junior learned he never ever wanted to play for the Yanks.

In his own words, the reason becomes clear.

“I came up to visit my dad. It was just me and him and got to the ballpark early. I’m sitting in the dugout. The security guard comes over and says, ‘Hey, George [Steinbrenner] doesn’t want anybody in the dugout.’ My dad was like, ‘What? That’s my son.’

“So he goes, alright, ‘Hey go to my locker. But before you go, look at third base.’

“It’s Craig Nettles’ son taking ground balls at third base.

“And at that time my dad was 38 years old and he’s like, ‘I ain’t fightin’ this no more. I got somebody a little younger and a little bit better.’

“You know there are certain things that a dad drills into you as a kid that just stick with you. And that was one of them.”

Junior never forgot the double standard imposed by Steinbrenner. Throughout his career he said he’d rather retire than play for the Yankees.

In this letter, he reflects on the beauty of baseball. “People ask me my favorite part of the game and I tell them: the whole thing. It’s making that impossible catch; it’s gunning down a speeding baserunner at home plate from deep in centerfield. And it’s the feeling you get when you see your pitch. Then you hear the crack of the bat and you know the ball is gone.”