Tug McGraw

Tug McGraw
Tug McGraw
	Pitcher
	Born: August 30, 1944; Martinez, California, U.S.
	Died: January 5, 2004 (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 pitched	824
Win–loss record	96–92
Earned run average	3.14
Strikeouts	1,109
Saves	180
Teams
	New York Mets (1965–1967, 1969–1974); Philadelphia Phillies (1975–1984);
Career highlights and awards
	2× All-Star (1972, 1975); 2× World Series champion (1969, 1980); New York Mets Hall of Fame; Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame;
Allegiance
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Years of service	1965–1971
Rank	Corporal
Unit	Infantry

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]

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

[statistics-1] "Tug McGraw Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com.

[zanyapobt-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.

[kept-4] Fimrite, Ron (November 3, 1980). "He kept tugging away at the heartstrings". Sports Illustrated.

[turf-5] Cite error: The named reference turf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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