Bizzarre Fielding Video: The Metrodome's First Triple Play May 29, 1982

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• Six men in a box. Nettles retreats to 1st as Gaetti
  is arriving with ball. Lenny Faedo (12) wonders just what his
  role is in the play, while Ron Washington points at Murcer.
  
  
• For you kids at home, score this one as a 1-2-5-3-1 triple play. "Holy Cow!," as Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto exclaimed (though Twins oldies like to credit Halsey Hall (sound file) with originating the phrase).

  
  The crazy play as seen in the video occurred on May 29, 1982 at the brand new H.H.H. Metrodome (humorously cynical Deadspin review). Minnesota and the Yankees were scoreless in the 2nd inning, with righthander Terry Felton on the mound for Minnesota. The weekend series against New York was the fourth homestand for the Twins at the new facility. They were in the midst of an inglorious 14-game losing streak.
  
  
  Baserunning Comedy

  
  
  

  The Yankees had put runners on first (Graig Nettles) and second (Bobby Murcer) with no outs. Roy Smalley then struck out on a wide 3-2 pitch from Terry Felton, with Murcer attempting to steal third base. Rifle-armed Sal Butera (right photo) threw to Gary Gaetti so far ahead of baserunning Bobby that he tried returning to second. Problem was, former Twin Nettles was standing on the bag by then (ooops!) as part of the hit and run play. He retreated back to first. 
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• Gaetti uselessly tagged Murcer after the rundown before throwing to Kent Hrbek to catch Nettles...then, Murcer, the smart ballplayer of many great years, inexplicably went back to third! Hrbek threw to Felton at third to complete the triple play, with zany left fielder Mickey Hatcher backing up the bag. None of this would ultimately matter, as the Yankees pulled off a 6-4 win with two runs in the ninth.
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Trivial Trivia

Felton (see Michael Rand 2010 story update) was 0-8 coming into the game, and got a no-decision after Brad Havens came in to blow the lead in the sixth inning. He would lose another 5 to finish his career with an 0-16 record.

Bobby Murcer (left, BD photo)was the last of the 1960’s Mickey Mantle New York Yankees remaining on the roster. He, in fact, had been tabbed as the heir apparent to the Mick - always a “great” thing that, heaping expectations on a young player. The Oklahoman was good enough to earn 3 straight top-ten MVP finishes early in his career. He had been traded even up to the Giants for Bobby Bonds in the 70’s, and had also been a Cub; New York brought him back in 1979 as a part-time player.

Craig Nettles, playing the role of Fred Astaire in his sashay back to first, would go on to several more fine seasons. He was profiled earlier at this blog (“The One That Got Away.”). Former Twin Roy Smalley had been a Yankee for less than two months, while Butch Wynegar was in pinstripes for just over two weeks after six seasons as a Twin. Of the three, only Roy would again know the joys of playing regularly on the Dome's carpeted cement pile, the lucky guy, after his 1985 trade back to the Twins.

The young Twins of 1982 represented a completely different era from the teams that had occupied Met Stadium from 1961 to 1981. Even in losing, they were thoroughly entertaining. One could see the talent in the young Gaettis, Brunanskys, Laudners, etc., and the smoke wafting out of the runway of the dugout (pregame heaters) but one knew that growing pains would be the rule for some time out. Kent Hrbek was already the star of the team, building a case (link to stats coming into that game) for inclusion on the '82 All-Star team.

"So long, everybody!" - Herb Carneal

Twins Card Spotlight: Rich Reese's 1971 Topps #349



Rich:  A SIDE BURN SUPERSTAR

For us little baseball card fiends, acquiring the Rich Reese 1971 card in a pack that summer was a clear occasion for going orgasmic. Going that  crazy over a guy who was a 1-2 season flash-in-the-pan* is a clear indication of the state of the baseball card industry in the early '70s.  All I remember are the knock-down, drag-out trade negotiations for this Twins favorite between neighborhood boys, to wit: "You can have 2 of my Charlie Manuals and 1 Leo Cardenas  for your Reese...deal...??"

*Sorry for that last comment, old-timers...Rich, a heckuva man, but he never did fulfill the early promise that made future all-star Craig Nettles expendable as a Twins prospect. 

               

Topps had finally been challenged as the industry leader in 1967 by Marvin Miller and the MLB Players Association for increased royalties (see Classic Twins post with legendary Oliva / Killebrew cards). Action shots - AND current stock photos - were finally being updated after the players' mass refusal to have their photographs taken anew. That, plus the black border format, made the '71 set such a hit with card collectors.

Otherwise, Reese had mass popularity with Twins fans, not in small part for ending Oriole pitcher Dave McNally's 1969 winning streak on Aug. 3, 1969 ("Baseball In Minnesota," story link; BBRef game box).

Reese with kids, "The Big A" in Anaheim, CA
Circa 1969 Coutesy of Padre Steve

For all you cardboard stalkers who value such commodities, the entire '71 set is up for auction today on Ebay for a mere $2,000 starting bid. Walking around money for the wealthy gent!

As our Hall of Fame broadcaster Herb used to say it"

"So long, everybody!" - TT

Classic Twins Remembers Graig Nettles, The One That Got Away

Young Mr. Nettles, circa 1968.

Graig Nettles is better known as one of the all-time best New York Yankee third basemen who was also a world class wise-ass. Don't let the "I'm-All-Business" facade fool you...there was a cackling hyena just under the surface.  He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1965 Amateur Free Agent Draft.This was the first of its kind, established to limit the high bidding that had favored the more profitable Major League teams. Frank Quilici is quoted as saying the Twins probably gave up on Nettles too early, thinking a leg injury he suffered would hinder his ever becoming a solid, everyday player. One other source, an author friend of mine, told me that owner Calvin Griffith wasn't prepared to pay Nettles the money they knew he would soon command as an everyday player - which he stated very clearly in a personal letter to Craig, with his regrets. So, they traded him to the Cleveland Indians on December 10, 1969. Yes, indeed, children. It seems for every Twins trade success (see "Cesar Tovar, for Gerry Arrigo, 1964", "Tom Brunansky for Doug Corbett and Rob Wilfong, 1982"), there has been a blunder ("Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett for Delmon Young, 2007, or allowing David Ortiz to flee after the 2001 season - please hit me with a hammer, now!!). A good chronology of Nettles' stay in the Twins system is at the Fack Youk blog (yes, you read that correctly), with some fine graphics.

(Nettles, losing shoe while reaching reaching third base,
probably in a game against the Red Sox on August 29, 1969. Syd O'Brien
takes throw. He played left field that day for that 1969 Twins team 
(team page at BBR). Photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins: 
Bob Showers, "The Twins At The Met")

THE INSIDE SCOOP:

A Twin Cities author informed me of the following: once the trade was transacted, Twins owner Calvin Griffith sent Nettles a letter, stating to the effect that: "We sure wanted to keep you Graig - but there was no way we would be able to pay you what you will deserve." An unusual gesture, with unusual candor, to say the least.


After Nettles was traded to the Indians, all he did in 1970 was lead the AL third basemen in fielding percentage (.967), and hit 26 homers.  He and Mike Schmidt were the top third basemen in their respective leagues. He became one of the signature characters in the late 1970's with the New York Yankees, aka; The Bronx Zoo. His chief roles on that club were being the smooth, lovely-to-watch fielder, hitter with pop, and chief court jester. To wit:

"When I was a kid I wanted to play baseball and join the circus. With the Yankees, I've been able to do both."

1969 Twins Spring Training

"From Cy Young to sayonara in one season."

--Graig Nettles, on Sparky Lyle going from winning the Cy Young Award to being traded a year later by the Yankees

Minor League Nettles Feature in
"The Sporting News" - Aug. 10, 1968



Hello! My name is Graig in the World Series, and I can fly!

Graig Nettles had an excellent, long career, finishing with the Montreal Expos in 1988, after brief stops in Atlanta and his birthplace of San Diego. His fine SABR biography can be found here. His Wikipedia entry is a fine how-do-you-do as well, shedding some more light on that interesting spelling of his name. I kind of like the way the old Minneapolis Star writer Dick Gordon gets right to it. An added bonus is this 1965 amateur video footage (You Tube) of Nettles' elite amateur team playing in Alaska, called the Alaska Goldpanners (see link to team feature article).This winning squad included Rick Monday, Tom Seaver, Gary Sutherland, and, of course, Herr Nettles. You can view a "Nettles Chronology" timeline of his career highlights at Baseball Library. A Nov., 2008 video at MLB.Com shows what Graig looks like today, in a Q & A session at a "Legends For Youth Dinner."

As our old friend at the mic, Herb Carneal, used to say: "...And the count rides along." - TT