#Tug May 9

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For the 30-Day BASEBALL Coach4aday Challenge today I am writing about TUG McGraw.

Frank Edwin “Tug” McGraw was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons from 1965 to 1984. He spent most of his career with the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies, and was known for his signature pitch, the screwball. McGraw was a two-time All-Star and won two World Series championships, one with the Mets in 1969 and one with the Phillies in 1980. He passed away in 2004 at the age of 59.

FAQ about Tug McGraw

1. Tug McGraw coined the phrase “Ya Gotta Believe!” during the New York Mets’ improbable run to the 1973 World Series. The phrase became a rallying cry for the team and has since become a part of Mets lore.
2. McGraw was known for his colorful personality and pranks. He once convinced a rookie teammate that the baseball field was tilted, causing him to lose his balance and fall during a game.
3. Despite being a successful pitcher, McGraw struggled with dyslexia throughout his life. He was not diagnosed until later in life but eventually became an advocate for those with learning disabilities.
4. McGraw was a talented musician and played guitar and sang. He even recorded a song, “Ya Gotta Believe,” which became a hit among Mets fans.
5. Tug McGraw’s son is country music singer Tim McGraw, who has sold millions of records and won numerous awards throughout his career. Tim was born in 1967, during Tug’s early years with the New York Mets, and he grew up with his mother in Louisiana after his parents divorced. Tim and Tug had a complicated relationship and were not close during much of Tim’s childhood, but they eventually reconciled and developed a stronger bond in the years leading up to Tug’s death.