The front: Nettles has launched a long fly ball at Yankee Stadium. The green shin-guard indicates the opponent is Oakland. There's even a fan who appears to be wearing an A's green hat and yellow shirt. In two home day games against the A's in 1980 Nettles was 3-for-8, including a home run off of Mike Norris in a 5-3 victory on June 21. Perhaps that is what we are seeing here?
The back: 14 years in the majors leaves no room for a back blurb.
The player: Nettles has the highest WAR total of any third baseman not in the Hall of Fame, and the highest WAR total of any player with a batting average below .250. The six-time All Star was one of the big stars of the Yankee teams that won four pennants and two World Series between 1976 and 1981. He led the AL with 32 HR in 1976, and in 1977 had his best season, hitting .255 with 37 HR and 107 RBI. The Yankees traded him to the Padres before the 1984 season and helped San Diego win their first-ever pennant that year. In 2,700 major league games he hit .248 with 390 HR and 1,314 RBI. Nettles was also a terrific defender, with the most impressive highlight reel of postseason defensive gems since Brooks Robinson.
The man: Nettles was a scout and coach for a while but is now retired. He was known for his irreverent sense of humor - his autobiography was titled Balls.
My collection: I have 58 of his cards, from 1969 to 1989. I would be interested in trading for 1972 Topps #590.
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