Tug McGraw

Tug McGraw
Pitcher
Born: (1944-08-30)August 30, 1944
Martinez, California, U.S.
Died: January 5, 2004(2004-01-05) (aged 59)
Brentwood, Tennessee, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 18, 1965, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
September 25, 1984, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Games pitched824
Win–loss record96–92
Earned run average3.14
Strikeouts1,109
Saves180
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Years of service1965–1971
Rank Corporal
UnitInfantry

Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. (August 30, 1944 – January 5, 2004) was an American professional baseball relief pitcher. McGraw played in 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1965 to 1984, for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, earning a total of over $2 million.[1] He is often remembered for coining the phrase "Ya Gotta Believe", which became the rallying cry for the 1973 New York Mets and has since become a popular slogan for the team and fans.[2]

McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end the 1980 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, bringing the Philadelphia Phillies their first World Series championship in franchise history.[3][4]

McGraw was one of six Phillies players to die prematurely from glioblastoma, a brain cancer. Although it cannot be proven definitively, a theory links the cancer to toxic PFAS chemicals in the AstroTurf at Veterans Stadium.[5]

  1. ^ "Tug McGraw Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ Maaddi, Rob (January 6, 2004). "Zany pitcher made the Mets believe". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press.
  3. ^ Fimrite, Ron (October 27, 1980). "One heartstopper after another". Sports Illustrated.
  4. ^ Fimrite, Ron (November 3, 1980). "He kept tugging away at the heartstrings". Sports Illustrated.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference turf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).