Jim Nettles
From BR Bullpen
James William Nettles
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 0", Weight 186 lb.
- School San Diego State University
- Debut September 7, 1970
- Final Game September 13, 1981
- Born March 2, 1947 in San Diego, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Jim Nettles, the younger brother of Graig Nettles, appeared in 240 major league games and hit 16 home runs. He also played nine seasons in Triple A ball, and was in Mexico and Japan. Like Graig, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins and worked his way up in their system. Jim broke in during the 1970 season (after Graig had been traded to Cleveland) and gradually got more major league playing time from 1970 to 1972 with the Twins.
In the minors for 1973 and most of 1974, he came up with the Detroit Tigers in 1974 for 43 games, hitting 6 home runs.
In 1976 he played in Mexico, and in 1977-79 he was back in Triple-A ball. He did well enough that the Kansas City Royals brought him up briefly in 1979. However, Kansas City at the time was a very good team, and Nettles didn't stick. Back in the minors for 1980 and most of 1981, he came up for one game with the Oakland Athletics.
In 1989, he played alongside his brother Graig for the St. Lucie Legends and Bradenton Explorers of the Senior Professional Baseball Association. Nettles batted .216 in 21 games for Bradenton.
Nettles managed the 1983-1984 Idaho Falls A's, 1985-1989 Madison Muskies, 1990 Peninsula Pilots, 1991 Jacksonville Suns, 1992 Medicine Hat Blue Jays, 1993 Hagerstown Suns and 1995 Dunedin Blue Jays.
Nettles has a daughter named Shara, who is married to Mike Sweeney of the Kansas City Royals.
Jim managed in the Athletics organization (1981-89), Mariners organization (1990-91), Blue Jays organization (1992-95), and for the Amarillo Dillas in the Independent Texas-Louisiana League in 1996. He has an overall managerial record of 792-903 (.467).
Coach for Spokane Indians in the Northwest League in 2005 and 2006.
