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Laid-back Charlie Spikes went to the Indians in the deal that sent Graig Nettles to the Yankees. Spikes led Cleveland with 23 HR as a rookie in 1973, and with 22 in 1974, but fanned over 100 times each season. Frank Robinson made him a special project upon becoming Cleveland manager in 1975, but Spikes skidded under Robinson's often caustic criticism, winding up in the minors before closing his career as a productive pinch hitter for Atlanta. (MC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 1, 1972: Mel Stottlemyre hurls a 4-hitter to stop the White Sox, 4–0. Rookie Charlie Spikes has two hits in his ML debut, drives in a row and saves a run with a sparkling catch in right field. » November 27, 1972: In a great trade for New York, the Indians swap 3B Graig Nettles and C Gerry Moses to the Yankees for C John Ellis, IF Jerry Kenney, and outfielders Charlie Spikes and Rusty Torres. » April 6, 1974: The Yankees open their two-year stay at Shea Stadium before a crowd of 20,744. 12-year-old Teddy Kennedy, Jr., flanked by his father and Mayor Abe Beame, tosses out the first ball. Missing from the ceremony is George Steinbrenner, indicted two days ago for illegal campaign contributions. Graig Nettles' two-run homer in the 4th off the Indians Gaylord Perry opens the scoring and the Yanks score four more times to win, 6–1. Charlie Spikes scores the only Cleveland run in the 9th following a triple off starter and winner Mel Stottlemyre. Perry, who is warned once for an illegal pitch, is the loser today, but he will win his next 15 decisions.