Date of Birth
30 August 1944,
Martinez, California, USA
Date of Death
5 January 2004, Williamson County, Tennessee, USA (brain cancer)
Birth Name
Frank Edwin McGraw Jr.
Height
6' (1.83 m)
Spouse
| Phyllis Kline |
(? - 1988) (divorced) 2 children |
| Diane |
(? - ?) (divorced) 1 child |
Trivia
Coined the phrase "You Gotta Believe" while with the Mets in 1973. The Mets, who had been in last place much of the season, ended up going to the World Series.
Joined the Phillies for the 1975 season and became one of the city's most beloved sports figures in his ten seasons there. Struck out Willie Wilson to end the 1980 World Series, the only one ever won by the Phillies.
Much of pitching success was due to throwing a screwball, a wrong-way curveball that was effective against righthanded hitters.
Pitched in major leagues for the New York Mets (1965-74) and Philadelphia Phillies (1975-84)
Rejoined the Philadelphia Phillies as a Spring Training pitching instructor in 2002.
Was a sports/special interest reporter for WPVI-TV in Philadelphia from 1985 to 1993.
Children: Matthew by ex-wife Diane; Mark McGraw and Cari Lynn by ex-wife Phyllis. McGraw was married to Phyllis when he met Elizabeth d'Agostino; their son, Tim, was 11 when he learned of his paternity. McGraw knew of Tim at the time, but refused to acknowledge the boy and wasn't interested in being a part of his life. The two eventually became close, and Tim took the surname McGraw.
Pitcher for the New York Mets (1965-67 and 1969-74) and Philadelphia Phillies (1975-84).
Member of 1969 World Series Champion New York Mets team. Member of 1973 National League Champion New York Mets team. Member of 1976-78 National League Eastern Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies teams. Member of 1980 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies team. Member of 1983 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies team.
Named to 1972 and 1975 National League All Star Teams.
Finished 5th in voting for 1980 National League Cy Young Award for having 20 Saves and finishing 48 games.
Led National League in Win-Loss Percentage (.733) in 1971.
Notable career statistics: 7.83 Hits Allowed per 9 Innings Pitched (67th All Time), 6.59 Strikeouts per 9 Innings Pitched (98th All Time), 824 Games (24th All Time), 180 Saves (42nd All Time) and 541 Games Finished (22nd All Time).
Sons: Mark, Matthew and Tim. Daughter: Cari.
Father-in-law of country singer Faith Hill.
Father of country music superstar Tim McGraw.
He had 4 grandchildren at the time of his death.
He was the father of 4 children,3 sons and 1 daughter. His sons are Tim McGraw, Mark McGraw and Matthew McGraw. His daughter is Cari Velardo.
Son, Tim McGraw, is a country singer.
During his first spring training with the Phillies, McGraw dyed his uniform green in honor of St Patricks's Day (his favorite holiday). Since then the Phillies celebrate each St Patrick's Day by wearing special green Phillies caps in an exhibition game, then auctioning them off for their ALS charity.
Had names for his differnt types of fastballs: Peggy Lee ("Is that all there is?"), Bo Derek ("A nice little tail"), the Cutty Sark ("It sailed") and the Titanic ("It sunk").
He got his nickname "Tug" by his mother because of the particularly aggressive way he breast-fed.
Traded by the Mets along with outfielders Don Hahn and Dave Schneck to the Phillies on December 3, 1974 for catcher John Stearns, outfielder Del Unser and pitcher Mac Scarce. McGraw felt he was being discarded as "damaged goods" due to a back problem he'd developed that season. After the trade, he was diagnosed with a simple cyst and after surgery, recovered completely.
Was credited with the first Met victory over Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax on August 26, 1965. Koufax had been 18-0 against the Mets in his career up to that point.
Could also throw right handed. Would often loosen up before ballgames by playing right handed catch with his teammates, making fans wonder who that righthander wearing number 45 was.
Personal Quotes
When asked what he will do with his share of the World Series money "I'm going to spend 90% of it on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other 10% I'm going to waste."
"Ten million years from now, when the sun burns out and the earth is just a frozen snowball hurling through space, nobody's going to care whether or not I got this guy out." (On the Mets losing the 1973 World Series to the Oakland A's; This became one of his famous quotes, known as the Frozen Snowball Theory)
... Phillies, Tug McGraw.
THE OBIT FOR TUG McGRAW
