Frank Edwin McGraw, Jr. made his major league debut for the
New York Mets in 1965. He was not very effective as a starting pitcher so in 1969, he became a reliever on a full-time basis. Unfortunately, he did not pitch in the
1969 World Series even though he collected 12 saves during the regular season.
After a few mediocre seasons, the
Mets appeared to be headed down that same path in 1973. Then the man known to all as
Tug fired up the team and its fans when he reminded everyone that the season was not yet over.
"Ya Gotta Believe" became the mantra for the underdog
Mets as they went from last place in August to winning the division title the day after the regular season ended.
The magic continued in the playoffs as the
Mets eliminated heavily favored
Cincinnati in the National League Championship Series and took the defending champion
Athletics to the seventh game of the
World Series before ultimately succumbing to
Oakland.When
Tug McGraw was traded from the
Mets to the
Philadelphia Phillies after the 1974 season, he was the franchise leader in saves and games pitched, a mark which is now held by another lefty who wore #45,
John Franco.McGraw helped the
Phillies win their first ever
World Series in 1980, recording the final out of the sixth and deciding game against another team seeking their first championship, the
Kansas City Royals. He pitched four more seasons in
Philadelphia, retiring after the 1984 season.
Fast forward to 2003. It was on March 12 that
McGraw received the shocking news that he had a malignant, inoperable brain tumor. Although he was only given weeks to live, he managed to live throughout 2003 before finally passing away on January 5, 2004.
Before his death, the
Tug McGraw Foundation was established. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with brain tumors and to raise awareness and money for brain tumor research. (Recently, the
Foundation was expanded to include
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and
Traumatic Brain Injury.)
In 2003, just months before he passed away,
Tug McGraw was in attendance at
Shea Stadium. He was signing autographs along with former
Met second baseman
Felix Millan at the
Fan Fest that was held prior to weekend games at
Shea. I was in attendance that day, but noticed
McGraw and
Millan after they had signed their last autographs. I was disappointed, feeling that I had missed my chance to meet
McGraw, a man who pitched before my time but was very much a part of what made me into the
Mets fan I am today.
As he was leaving, the
Tugger picked up a T-shirt that was being given away that day and flung it out to the crowd. (Although he was a southpaw, I'll never forget that he tossed it into the crowd with his right hand.) Guess who caught that shirt?
No, it wasn't
Joey who caught the shirt. He hadn't even been born yet! He just likes doing his
Vanna White impersonation whenever there's a photo op. The shirt above is the one
Tug McGraw threw into the crowd that I was fortunate enough to catch. To this day, I have never worn the shirt since his fingerprints are still on it.
Note the
"Believe" logo (after
Tug's famous phrase) on the shirt, directly over the depiction of a
Mets Master Card. If you have a
Mets Master Card (or any credit card), perhaps you'd like to make a donation to the
Tug McGraw Foundation.Sharon Chapman, a friend of the
Studious Metsimus staff, will be running in the
2010 ING New York City Marathon to raise money for the
Tug McGraw Foundation. Her goal is to raise $3,000 for brain tumor research. Please help
Sharon reach her goal by clicking
here and making a donation to
Team McGraw.
Tug McGraw was a hero to many
Mets fans during his tenure with the team. Almost six years after his passing, he is still a hero to many people who are benefiting from the progress being made in brain tumor research due to the
Tug McGraw Foundation.In 1973,
Tug McGraw brazenly proclaimed
"Ya Gotta Believe" to all the world. With your help,
ya gotta believe that the quality of life will improve for people with brain tumors. From all of us at
Studious Metsimus, we'd like to thank you for helping
Sharon reach her goal and for your support of the
Tug McGraw Foundation. We believe. So should you!
Sharon Chapman (seen here with fellow Empire State Building runner Phil Hees during the 2010 ING New York City Marathon) scores the winning run every time she participates in a charitable event. She is also a die-hard Mets fan and is a big hit with Mets bloggers, as evidenced by her Mets cap, Team McGraw bracelet and singlet, "Ya Gotta Believe" necklace and Faith and Fear in Flushing wristband. (Photo taken by Kevin Chapman) 
Sharon and Phil will be seeing this familiar face as they make their ascent to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building.
