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| Tug McGraw delivers a pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies. Source: www.pinterest.834010424721050494 (may be subject to copyright) |
Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson in 1980 to win the first ever World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies.
It was the dawn of a new decade, but the twilight of a storied career.
Long before he was known as Tim’s Dad, and long before his illness was entrenched in the chart topping song, “Live Like You Were Dying” Tug McGraw made a name for himself as a relief pitcher.
McGraw gained notoriety in 1973 for repeating a mantra that helped propel the Mets comeback – “Ya Gotta Believe”.
Then, in 1974 he was gone too, shipped off to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Ya Gotta Believe
When I was maybe 10, I read this article in the sports magazine “Inside Sports” that chronicled the demise of the New York Mets. It detailed how two men, M. Donald Grant and later Joe McDonald, slowly dismantled the Mets by trading away all their great players – Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Tug McGraw among others.
When I was maybe 10, I read this article in the sports magazine “Inside Sports” that chronicled the demise of the New York Mets. It detailed how two men, M. Donald Grant and later Joe McDonald, slowly dismantled the Mets by trading away all their great players – Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Tug McGraw among others.
It was then that I learned how that group of players had come from behind in 1969 to win the National League East Division, then the first ever National League Championship Series over the Atlanta Braves, topping it off by defeating the Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series. They became known forever as the Miracle Mets or the Amazing Mets.
The dismantling began, but the Mets caught fire again in 1973, coming from well back at the all-star break. They were in last place on Aug. 30, but went 20-8 to end the season, to again win their division and then the National League Championship Series over the Cincinnati Reds before losing to the juggernaut Oakland A’s who were in the midst of winning three straight World Series. They became known forever as the Mediocre Mets.
The dismantling began, but the Mets caught fire again in 1973, coming from well back at the all-star break. They were in last place on Aug. 30, but went 20-8 to end the season, to again win their division and then the National League Championship Series over the Cincinnati Reds before losing to the juggernaut Oakland A’s who were in the midst of winning three straight World Series. They became known forever as the Mediocre Mets.
McGraw gained notoriety in 1973 for repeating a mantra that helped propel the Mets comeback – “Ya Gotta Believe”.
Then, in 1974 he was gone too, shipped off to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Reliever
By 1980, I did not even expect Tug McGraw to still be playing.
By 1980, I did not even expect Tug McGraw to still be playing.
As it turned out he was. He had joined the Phillies for the 1975 season, where he made the all-star game, and Philadelphia finished second to Pittsburgh, then helped the Phillies win three straight National League East divisions in 1976, 1977, and 1978. The year 1979 brought disappointment, as the Phillies plummeted to fourth place, 14 games behind the eventual World Series champion Pirates.
The next year, McGraw would help lead the Phillies into history.
Division championship
The Montreal Expos had come within two games of the National League East crown in 1979 and were in the thick of it again, battling the Phillies down to the wire for the divisional title.
The Montreal Expos had come within two games of the National League East crown in 1979 and were in the thick of it again, battling the Phillies down to the wire for the divisional title.
Wikipedia reports the teams went back and forth, tied when the Phillies visited Montreal in the final series of the season.
The Phillies won the opener by a score of 2-1 as McGraw earned the save, striking out five of the six batters he faced. The next day, McGraw entered the game in the ninth inning with the score tied 4-4. He pitched three innings, striking out three and giving up one hit. After Mike Schmidt hit a two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning to make the score 6-4, McGraw closed the door in the bottom of the 11th with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out Larry Parrish to end the game, and give the Phillies the National League East Division title.
Overall, McGraw finished the regular season with a 5-4 record, a 1.46 earned run average, 75 strike outs and 20 saves.
Championship series
The Houston Astros awaited the Phillies in the best-of five National League Championship Series.
The Houston Astros awaited the Phillies in the best-of five National League Championship Series.
McGraw earned the save in a Game 1, a 3-1 victory by Philadelphia.
After Houston evened the series 1-1, McGraw entered Game 3 in the eighth inning with a runner on second and one out, but got out of that inning. He held the Astros scoreless through to the 11th inning, intentionally walking two runners to load the bases, after Joe Morgan had hit a lead-off triple. The Astros scored to win the game, handing McGraw the loss.
McGraw earned the save in Game 4 as the Phillies tied the series, but blew the save in Game 5, allowing the game to go into extra innings. The Phillies scored to win in the 10th inning, taking the series 3-2 and advancing to the World Series.
McGraw had ended up pitching in all five games of the series.
World champions
McGraw appeared in four of the six games for the Phillies in the World Series, striking out 10 batters in 7 and 2/3 innings. He earned the save in Game 1, as Philadelphia won the first two games of the series. The Royals rebounded to win the next two games to tie the series 2-2, as McGraw took the loss in Game 3.
McGraw earned the save in Game 4 as the Phillies tied the series, but blew the save in Game 5, allowing the game to go into extra innings. The Phillies scored to win in the 10th inning, taking the series 3-2 and advancing to the World Series.
McGraw had ended up pitching in all five games of the series.
World champions
McGraw appeared in four of the six games for the Phillies in the World Series, striking out 10 batters in 7 and 2/3 innings. He earned the save in Game 1, as Philadelphia won the first two games of the series. The Royals rebounded to win the next two games to tie the series 2-2, as McGraw took the loss in Game 3.
McGraw entered Game 5 in the seventh inning with the Phillies trailing 3-2. He pitched three scoreless innings while his teammates rallied with two runs in the ninth inning to take a 4-3 lead. McGraw again shut the door. After walking Frank White, he struck out George Brett, walked Willie Mays Aikens, induced Hal McRae to ground out, walked Amos Otis to load the bases, then struck out Jose Cardenal to end the game. McGraw earned the win, and now the Phillies were just one win away from the championship.
McGraw entered Game 6 in the eighth inning with Philadelphia up 4-0. There were no outs and runners on first and second. He allowed one run to score but finished the inning with the Phillies leading 4-1. It was Kansas City’s last chance in the top of the ninth. McGraw struck out Otis then walked Aikens and allowed singles by John Wathan and Cardenal to load the bases. White fouled out on a play I remember clearly. Catcher Bob Boone, bobbled the ball and, just as it was tumbling to the ground Pete Rose reached down and caught it to record the out. McGraw then got ahead 0-2 on Willie Wilson. After a pitch high, he struck out Wilson to end the game and give the Phillies their first World Series in franchise history.
The rest of the story
That was the last high point of Tug McGraw’s career.
The next season, 1981, the Phillies won the first half title in a strike-plagued season, but fell to the Montreal Expos in the National League East Divisional Series. Overall for the season, McGraw went 2-4 with a 2.66 earned run average, 26 strike outs and 10 saves. His role diminished over the next three years, becoming more of a set-up man before retiring at the end of the 1984 season. In 1982, he was 3-3 with a 4.31 earned run average, 25 strike outs and five saves. Those would be his last saves. In 1983, he was 2-1 with a 3.56 earned run average and 30 strike outs. In 1984, his last season, he was 2-0 with a 3.79 earned run average and 26 strike outs.
McGraw entered Game 6 in the eighth inning with Philadelphia up 4-0. There were no outs and runners on first and second. He allowed one run to score but finished the inning with the Phillies leading 4-1. It was Kansas City’s last chance in the top of the ninth. McGraw struck out Otis then walked Aikens and allowed singles by John Wathan and Cardenal to load the bases. White fouled out on a play I remember clearly. Catcher Bob Boone, bobbled the ball and, just as it was tumbling to the ground Pete Rose reached down and caught it to record the out. McGraw then got ahead 0-2 on Willie Wilson. After a pitch high, he struck out Wilson to end the game and give the Phillies their first World Series in franchise history.
The rest of the story
That was the last high point of Tug McGraw’s career.
The next season, 1981, the Phillies won the first half title in a strike-plagued season, but fell to the Montreal Expos in the National League East Divisional Series. Overall for the season, McGraw went 2-4 with a 2.66 earned run average, 26 strike outs and 10 saves. His role diminished over the next three years, becoming more of a set-up man before retiring at the end of the 1984 season. In 1982, he was 3-3 with a 4.31 earned run average, 25 strike outs and five saves. Those would be his last saves. In 1983, he was 2-1 with a 3.56 earned run average and 30 strike outs. In 1984, his last season, he was 2-0 with a 3.79 earned run average and 26 strike outs.
The years after
McGraw had a brief relationship in 1966 with Betty D’Agostino that produced a son, Tim McGraw. However, Tug would not acknowledge Tim until the boy was 18 years old. Their relationship would grow though, as Tim McGraw blossomed into a country music superstar.
McGraw had a brief relationship in 1966 with Betty D’Agostino that produced a son, Tim McGraw. However, Tug would not acknowledge Tim until the boy was 18 years old. Their relationship would grow though, as Tim McGraw blossomed into a country music superstar.
Tug McGraw was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2003 and, after a promising surgery, he passed away in 2004. That same year, Tim McGraw recorded “Live Like You Were Dying” in part in his father’s honour. The video features McGraw striking out Wilson to win the World Series. Four years later, Tim scattered a handful of his father’s ashes on the pitcher’s mound of the Phillies' current stadium before Game 3 of the 2008 World Series. The Phillies would win that game and went on to win their second World Series in franchise history.
Parting thoughts
What I will always remember about Tug McGraw was that nasty screwball that is most effective for left-handed pitchers. He was deadliest in that 1980 season when he was lights out coming out of the bullpen. He was also so emotional, his energy could not help but inspire his team. He would pump his glove up and down, and against his right leg after every strike and every out.
What I will always remember about Tug McGraw was that nasty screwball that is most effective for left-handed pitchers. He was deadliest in that 1980 season when he was lights out coming out of the bullpen. He was also so emotional, his energy could not help but inspire his team. He would pump his glove up and down, and against his right leg after every strike and every out.
I never really cheered for him or the Phillies, because they battled Montreal and Houston who were my two favourite teams, and Kansas City who was another team I really liked.
Yet, when I heard about his cancer, how he handled it with such grace, and his relationship with Tim McGraw, I became a fan.
I have to admit, when I saw the clip of Tug McGraw strike out Willie Wilson in the video for “Live Like You Were Dying”, it brought a tear to my eye.
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