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Tug Mcgraw

February 12, 2011 by · Comments Off on Tug Mcgraw 

Tug Mcgraw, Frank Edwin “Tug” McGraw Jr. (August 30, 1944 – January 5, 2004) was a pitcher for Major League Baseball relief and the father of country singer Tim McGraw and actor / TV personality Mark McGraw and Henry McGraw. It is probably best remembered for recording the final output, via a strikeout of Kansas City Royals’ Willie Wilson in the 1980 World Series, bringing the Philadelphia Phillies their first world championship. It was the last active player in the major leagues has played under manager Casey Stengel.

Tug was born in Martinez, California, to Frank Edwin “Big Mac” McGraw, Sr. and Mable McKenna. He earned the nickname “Tug” by his mother because of the particularly aggressive breast he fed. Frank Senior was the great grand son of Irish immigrants. Tug is a graduate of St. Vincent Ferrer High School in Vallejo, California in 1962. He enlisted in Solano Community College and signed with the New York Mets as an amateur free agent June 12, 1964 on graduation.

McGraw has been used as both a starter and out of the bullpen in the minors, and after only one season in the farm system of the Mets, where he went 6-4 with an earned run average 1, 64 in Class A Rookie ball, McGraw did the Mets Spring Training 1965 without ever having played double or triple A ball. That same year, when asked if he preferred the new artificial turf field at the Astrodome in Houston to real grass, he said, “I do not know, I never smoked AstroTurf “.

McGraw has made the team as a relief and was 0-1 with a 3.12 ERA and a save when he made his first start in the big leagues on July 28 against the Chicago Cubs in the second game of a double at Wrigley Field. He lasted only two-thirds of a handle and awarded three points earned on his way to a 9-0 loss (the Cubs to jump the Mets in the first game and, 7-2). On 22 August, in his second start, also in the second game of a doubleheader, but this time against the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea Stadium, McGraw has launched a complete game to earn his first major league win. He won his next start, and from 5-2 on Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers in Los Angeles. It marked the first time the Mets had already defeated future Hall of Famer. McGraw has remained in the Mets starting rotation for the remainder of the season, however, could not record another victory, going 2-6 as a starter, and 0-1 in relief.

After one season with the Mets, McGraw reported to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on September 23, 1965, with fellow New York Met pitcher Jim Bethke. He was trained as a gunner on the M-14 rifle and M-60 machine guns. McGraw later reported to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, where he (in his own words) has become a “professional killer.” Discipline, concentration, confidence and many skills he acquired during his training translates very positive about his career in the majors.

McGraw for one of the most difficult aspects of being in the army was the internal conflict that stirred in him. At the same time he completed his training ship, the Tug McGraw’s brother, Dennis McGraw, organized anti-war demonstrations at Solano Community College, where he was now present. In a March 5, 1967 New York Times article McGraw admitted that he and his brother would have arguments about how the Vietnam War was underway. But he himself, with his reserve commitment of six years in the United States Marine Corps hangs over him, would admit he was a dove when it comes to how we [the U.S.] conduct of war. ”

“Ya Gotta Believe” – Tug McGraw Foundation was established in 2003 to improve the quality of life for children and adults with brain tumors and in 2009 expanded programs to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). TMF partners and collaborates with other organizations so that we can accelerate new treatments and improving quality of life in areas of physical cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual impact of these debilitating diseases. Jennifer Brusstar is the CEO of the foundation. Brusstar is the wife of the player in the league and retired Brusstar Warren McGraw was the caregiver during his illness. The Foundation has pioneered for its new headquarters in Yountville, California, November 13, 2010.
In 2004, the Philadelphia chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America began its annual four scholarships to four members of the franchise for the Philadelphia Phillies’ late-season accomplishments, “including” Tug McGraw Good Guy Award.

On August 26, 2008, Tug McGraw was one of the “Starting Nine” inducted into the Hall Irish-American baseball fame. [Via wikipedia and various sources]

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