PHILADELPHIA -- Tug McGraw, the zany relief pitcher who coined the phrase "You Gotta Believe" with the New York Mets and later closed out the Philadelphia Phillies' only World Series championship, died Monday. He was 59.
McGraw died of brain cancer in Nashville, team spokesman Larry Shenk said. He had been battling the disease since March when he underwent surgery for a malignant tumor.
McGraw participated in the closing ceremonies for Veterans Stadium, which will be demolished next month. During the program, he re-enacted his final pitch of the 1980 World Series, striking out Kansas City's Willie Wilson for the title.
McGraw's illness came as a shock last spring. He was at Phillies' training camp in Clearwater, Fla., as a special instructor, looking fine and acting as funny as ever, but was suddenly hospitalized on March 12.
"We lost a part of Mets history tonight," Mets owner Fred Wilpon said. "Tug was a battler on and off the field. I know he fought the disease with every ounce of energy he had. We'll all miss him dearly."
A left-hander who threw a screwball, McGraw was a bit of screwball himself, a fan favorite in New York, Philadelphia and throughout the majors.
Once asked whether he preferred to play on a grass field or an artificial surface, he said, "I don't know. I never smoked any AstroTurf."
ESPN.com.
McGraw died of brain cancer in Nashville, team spokesman Larry Shenk said. He had been battling the disease since March when he underwent surgery for a malignant tumor.
McGraw participated in the closing ceremonies for Veterans Stadium, which will be demolished next month. During the program, he re-enacted his final pitch of the 1980 World Series, striking out Kansas City's Willie Wilson for the title.
McGraw's illness came as a shock last spring. He was at Phillies' training camp in Clearwater, Fla., as a special instructor, looking fine and acting as funny as ever, but was suddenly hospitalized on March 12.
"We lost a part of Mets history tonight," Mets owner Fred Wilpon said. "Tug was a battler on and off the field. I know he fought the disease with every ounce of energy he had. We'll all miss him dearly."
A left-hander who threw a screwball, McGraw was a bit of screwball himself, a fan favorite in New York, Philadelphia and throughout the majors.
Once asked whether he preferred to play on a grass field or an artificial surface, he said, "I don't know. I never smoked any AstroTurf."
ESPN.com.
Rumor has it that the "Tugger" is the only elite level athlete NOT to have been booed by the hometown fans.
The topic has come up and no sportswritier or fan can EVER recall him being booed (as opposed to Schmidt, etc).
Great ballplayer, shitty father, but he finanlly did reconcile with his son, Tim McGraw the country music singer.
We'll miss you big guy.
The topic has come up and no sportswritier or fan can EVER recall him being booed (as opposed to Schmidt, etc).
Great ballplayer, shitty father, but he finanlly did reconcile with his son, Tim McGraw the country music singer.
We'll miss you big guy.
