Guyute
01-06-2004, 03:33 PM
Goodbye Tugger. Thanks for the memories. :cry: :sad: :cry:
sure was fun as a kid, when baseball was still a great sport. even at just 7 years old, I'll never forget that series.
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/dailynews/7644/58432309664.jpg
Tug O' the heart
McGraw recalled fondly after '80 hero succumbs to brain tumor
By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com
The most amazing thing about the amazing life of the amazingly lefthanded Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw might just be this: He was beloved by both Phillies and Mets fans.
That's a record that might never be broken.
The fun-loving, free-spirited reliever usually left a trail of laughter in his wake. And that only made the sorrow accompanying the announcement that McGraw, 59, had died yesterday after a 10-month battle against a malignant brain tumor all the more poignant.
McGraw coined his signature phrase, "Ya Gotta Believe," during the Mets' improbable pennant run in 1973.
He used the same rally cry after the shocking news that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor during spring training and was told he had only 3 weeks to live.
He secured his place in Phillies lore by striking out Kansas City's Willie Wilson to clinch the 1980 World Series, still the only world championship in franchise history. The following day, during the greatest sports celebration the city has ever seen, he appeared in a classic photograph hoisting a copy of the Daily News with the "We Win!" headline.
This was the second time in 10 days that the Phillies have lost a significant member of their extended family. Legendary former general manager Paul "The Pope" Owens died Dec. 26 after a long illness.
Ya gotta bereave.
"Tug was responsible for what I regard as Philadelphia's most defining [sports] moment," Phillies chairman Bill Giles said. "He had a special spirit. The way he pounded his glove, the way he pounded his heart. He was one of the most memorable personalities I've ever met. He loved Philadelphia and Philadelphia loved him."
The first indication that something was amiss came on March 12 while McGraw was working for the Phillies as a special spring-training instructor. Some erratic behavior led to an examination, which revealed the tumor. Before that, he was happily going about his business, practicing to catch a ball that would be dropped from a helicopter on the final Opening Day at Veterans Stadium, looking forward to joining his son, country-music superstar Tim McGraw, on stage at a concert in Tampa, Fla., working on setting up the Tug McGraw Ya Gotta Believe in Baseball Campaign.
When he was absent from Jack Russell Stadium, the rumor began to spread slowly that he had a brain tumor. Less than a week later, he underwent surgery at the prestigious Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.
Afterward, Dr. Steven Brem, who performed the surgery, was almost bubbly in his optimism.
"Tug McGraw is doing great," he said at a news conference. "He's totally neurologically intact. He's recovering and looking good. He's in great spirits. His chances for recovery are excellent."
Others sounded a note of caution. One was Janis Brewer, executive director of the National Brain Tumor Foundation based in Oakland.
"It's possible that microscopic cancer cells still exist, even if they removed the whole tumor," she explained at the time. "Doctors can be extremely precise on getting rid of the mass with the technology available today, but there may be some microscopic cells there.
"If the tumor is benign or malignant, there is a percentage of patients who survive and some don't. If it's benign, it just means that those cells are slow growing. They still can impinge on normal brain function. Anything growing uncontrolled in the brain, whether benign or not, can have deadly consequences."
Still, for a while, the prognosis remained upbeat. McGraw made his first public appearance at a news conference at the Vet on May 29.
"I'm not fearful," he said then. "I have confidence."
In the weeks that followed, however, the cancer recurred. He returned to Tampa, but was quickly released.
When he showed up at the Vet to participate in the final weekend celebration, he was noticeably puffy and sluggish, but maintained his trademark sense of humor. He had been voted to the All-Veterans Stadium team and, on the last day, re-enacted his famous leap after striking out Wilson.
Outwardly, he allowed only a glimpse of concern.
"Things are good. Things are really good," he said. "But I'm not out of the woods yet."
Privately, he was more realistic. He acknowledged that he was making regular trips to Duke University for cutting-edge therapy.
"We're just trying to stay one step ahead of it," he conceded.
On Dec. 31, Doug Grad, senior editor at New American Library, publisher of his soon-to-be-released memoir, said he was on the phone with McGraw's assistant as she drove in a car with the McGraw family.
Grad was asking about the book when the connection went dead.
McGraw had a major seizure.
"It is sad," Grad said.
McGraw died at 5:45 p.m. yesterday outside Nashville, Tenn., with his family at his side.
"It was like a roller coaster," said Phillies manager Larry Bowa, a former teammate. "You'd see him and he'd be doing great, then you'd hear he wasn't doing well. Losing two people like [Owens and McGraw] is devastating. They meant a lot to the Philadelphia sports community. They touched a lot of lives in their journeys.
"It just shows you how fragile life is. One day, he's catching a ball from a helicopter behind his back, the next he's on his back."
The tributes poured in last night.
Hall of Fame Phillies teammate Mike Schmidt: "Tug got more out of his time on earth than anyone could imagine. I have the photo of Tug allowing me to jump in his arms following the last out of the 1980 World Series on my wall. I will take it with me this summer, hang it on my office for all to see, and look at it a split second longer each day."
Phillies president David Montgomery: "Tug was special. He gave us all great perspective. He competed very hard, yet always managed to have so much fun doing it. He really connected with our fans and everyone in the organization."
General manager Ed Wade: "We were happy we were able to get Tug back in uniform 2 years ago and provide him with the opportunity to do what he loved to do. Tug was able to share his experiences and exuberance for the game and life with our young pitchers. He will be sorely missed."
Teammate Larry Christenson: "He battled right to the end like he always did. He took it on and was not afraid of the challenge. Not once did I hear him complain. He was one of my best teammates and friends."
Special assistant Dallas Green, manager of the 1980 team: "I don't think I can pick a favorite from the [championship] team, but he'd rank right up there near the top. He gave his heart and soul, not only to me, but to his teammates and the fans. He was very special to me."
Bowa: "He epitomized what Philadelphia is all about. He was hard-working, dedicated and never gave up. The picture of him jumping up in the air after the last out in 1980 is very memorable. He was a great person and will be missed.
"He didn't want anybody feeling sorry for him. He'd always be, like, 'Don't worry about me.' Not once did he say, 'Why me? Why'd this happen to me?' He fought this thing head-on, like he fought through everything else in his life.
"We could be facing the Pirates, bases loaded, no outs, and he was always positive. He'd say, 'I've got nothing left in the gas tank. I'm up here trying to fool these guys, and it ain't easy.' He'd always be the joker. You'd go in to the mound to give him a breather or something and he'd say, 'Can this get any hairier?' or 'You think I tried to do this?' He always said, 'If you can't make fun of yourself, who can you make fun of?'
"Both [Owens and McGraw] visited me in the clubhouse this year a couple of times, and all either one of them talked about was the new ballpark. I'm sure they'll be watching from a better place."
Announcer Chris Wheeler: "Tug was a fun, inspirational guy who threw the pitch to Willie Wilson that started the party in 1980. He had a unique sense of humor and just loved life. He fought his final battle with the same style and courage that epitomized his career."
Even more recent Phillies were touched by McGraw.
"I first met Tug when I was in the minor leagues," righthander Brett Myers said. "He was a great guy to be around and he always had fun. He brought a lot of that to me, and I'll always remember him for that."
Said veteran Dan Plesac, who retired at the end of the season: "This year in spring training, when he spent time to play catch with me every day, was unbelievable. I thought it was so cool to play catch with this guy that, when I was 18 years old, I thought walked on water.
"He was a big reason why the last game at the Vet was so special to me. To be on the field with him...was truly special."
Added lefthander Randy Wolf: "It's hard to lose anybody, but to lose somebody like Tug is devastating. Losing him is like losing a superhero, because he's one of the most charismatic people I've ever met."
McGraw spent 9 years with the Mets, and helped New York win the 1969 World Series. That was one more than the Phillies had won before Owens acquired him, along with outfielders Don Hahn and Dave Schneck, for Del Unser, Mac Scarce and John Stearns on Dec. 3, 1974. He was 30 and coming off a bad season.
"We were a young team that was starting to come together," catcher Bob Boone said. "But we didn't believe in ourselves. Tug changed that with his arrival. He brought that 'Ya Gotta Believe' attitude."
With McGraw, the Phillies won division championships in 1976, 1977 and 1978. It's unlikely the team would have even made it to the 1980 World Series without him. After coming off the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis on July 17, he allowed just three runs in 52 1/3 innings the rest of the season, an 0.52 earned run average.
He was the winning pitcher when the Phillies clinched the National League East on Mike Schmidt's 11th-inning home run at Montreal on Oct. 4, 1980, then appeared in nine of the team's 11 postseason games.
McGraw was born on Aug. 30, 1944, in Martinez, Calif. He graduated from St. Vincent Ferrer High School in Vallejo, Calif. He is survived by a brother, Hank; three sons, Tim, Mark and Matthew; a daughter, Cari Velardo; and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Ya gotta bereave.
sure was fun as a kid, when baseball was still a great sport. even at just 7 years old, I'll never forget that series.
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/dailynews/7644/58432309664.jpg
Tug O' the heart
McGraw recalled fondly after '80 hero succumbs to brain tumor
By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com
The most amazing thing about the amazing life of the amazingly lefthanded Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw might just be this: He was beloved by both Phillies and Mets fans.
That's a record that might never be broken.
The fun-loving, free-spirited reliever usually left a trail of laughter in his wake. And that only made the sorrow accompanying the announcement that McGraw, 59, had died yesterday after a 10-month battle against a malignant brain tumor all the more poignant.
McGraw coined his signature phrase, "Ya Gotta Believe," during the Mets' improbable pennant run in 1973.
He used the same rally cry after the shocking news that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor during spring training and was told he had only 3 weeks to live.
He secured his place in Phillies lore by striking out Kansas City's Willie Wilson to clinch the 1980 World Series, still the only world championship in franchise history. The following day, during the greatest sports celebration the city has ever seen, he appeared in a classic photograph hoisting a copy of the Daily News with the "We Win!" headline.
This was the second time in 10 days that the Phillies have lost a significant member of their extended family. Legendary former general manager Paul "The Pope" Owens died Dec. 26 after a long illness.
Ya gotta bereave.
"Tug was responsible for what I regard as Philadelphia's most defining [sports] moment," Phillies chairman Bill Giles said. "He had a special spirit. The way he pounded his glove, the way he pounded his heart. He was one of the most memorable personalities I've ever met. He loved Philadelphia and Philadelphia loved him."
The first indication that something was amiss came on March 12 while McGraw was working for the Phillies as a special spring-training instructor. Some erratic behavior led to an examination, which revealed the tumor. Before that, he was happily going about his business, practicing to catch a ball that would be dropped from a helicopter on the final Opening Day at Veterans Stadium, looking forward to joining his son, country-music superstar Tim McGraw, on stage at a concert in Tampa, Fla., working on setting up the Tug McGraw Ya Gotta Believe in Baseball Campaign.
When he was absent from Jack Russell Stadium, the rumor began to spread slowly that he had a brain tumor. Less than a week later, he underwent surgery at the prestigious Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.
Afterward, Dr. Steven Brem, who performed the surgery, was almost bubbly in his optimism.
"Tug McGraw is doing great," he said at a news conference. "He's totally neurologically intact. He's recovering and looking good. He's in great spirits. His chances for recovery are excellent."
Others sounded a note of caution. One was Janis Brewer, executive director of the National Brain Tumor Foundation based in Oakland.
"It's possible that microscopic cancer cells still exist, even if they removed the whole tumor," she explained at the time. "Doctors can be extremely precise on getting rid of the mass with the technology available today, but there may be some microscopic cells there.
"If the tumor is benign or malignant, there is a percentage of patients who survive and some don't. If it's benign, it just means that those cells are slow growing. They still can impinge on normal brain function. Anything growing uncontrolled in the brain, whether benign or not, can have deadly consequences."
Still, for a while, the prognosis remained upbeat. McGraw made his first public appearance at a news conference at the Vet on May 29.
"I'm not fearful," he said then. "I have confidence."
In the weeks that followed, however, the cancer recurred. He returned to Tampa, but was quickly released.
When he showed up at the Vet to participate in the final weekend celebration, he was noticeably puffy and sluggish, but maintained his trademark sense of humor. He had been voted to the All-Veterans Stadium team and, on the last day, re-enacted his famous leap after striking out Wilson.
Outwardly, he allowed only a glimpse of concern.
"Things are good. Things are really good," he said. "But I'm not out of the woods yet."
Privately, he was more realistic. He acknowledged that he was making regular trips to Duke University for cutting-edge therapy.
"We're just trying to stay one step ahead of it," he conceded.
On Dec. 31, Doug Grad, senior editor at New American Library, publisher of his soon-to-be-released memoir, said he was on the phone with McGraw's assistant as she drove in a car with the McGraw family.
Grad was asking about the book when the connection went dead.
McGraw had a major seizure.
"It is sad," Grad said.
McGraw died at 5:45 p.m. yesterday outside Nashville, Tenn., with his family at his side.
"It was like a roller coaster," said Phillies manager Larry Bowa, a former teammate. "You'd see him and he'd be doing great, then you'd hear he wasn't doing well. Losing two people like [Owens and McGraw] is devastating. They meant a lot to the Philadelphia sports community. They touched a lot of lives in their journeys.
"It just shows you how fragile life is. One day, he's catching a ball from a helicopter behind his back, the next he's on his back."
The tributes poured in last night.
Hall of Fame Phillies teammate Mike Schmidt: "Tug got more out of his time on earth than anyone could imagine. I have the photo of Tug allowing me to jump in his arms following the last out of the 1980 World Series on my wall. I will take it with me this summer, hang it on my office for all to see, and look at it a split second longer each day."
Phillies president David Montgomery: "Tug was special. He gave us all great perspective. He competed very hard, yet always managed to have so much fun doing it. He really connected with our fans and everyone in the organization."
General manager Ed Wade: "We were happy we were able to get Tug back in uniform 2 years ago and provide him with the opportunity to do what he loved to do. Tug was able to share his experiences and exuberance for the game and life with our young pitchers. He will be sorely missed."
Teammate Larry Christenson: "He battled right to the end like he always did. He took it on and was not afraid of the challenge. Not once did I hear him complain. He was one of my best teammates and friends."
Special assistant Dallas Green, manager of the 1980 team: "I don't think I can pick a favorite from the [championship] team, but he'd rank right up there near the top. He gave his heart and soul, not only to me, but to his teammates and the fans. He was very special to me."
Bowa: "He epitomized what Philadelphia is all about. He was hard-working, dedicated and never gave up. The picture of him jumping up in the air after the last out in 1980 is very memorable. He was a great person and will be missed.
"He didn't want anybody feeling sorry for him. He'd always be, like, 'Don't worry about me.' Not once did he say, 'Why me? Why'd this happen to me?' He fought this thing head-on, like he fought through everything else in his life.
"We could be facing the Pirates, bases loaded, no outs, and he was always positive. He'd say, 'I've got nothing left in the gas tank. I'm up here trying to fool these guys, and it ain't easy.' He'd always be the joker. You'd go in to the mound to give him a breather or something and he'd say, 'Can this get any hairier?' or 'You think I tried to do this?' He always said, 'If you can't make fun of yourself, who can you make fun of?'
"Both [Owens and McGraw] visited me in the clubhouse this year a couple of times, and all either one of them talked about was the new ballpark. I'm sure they'll be watching from a better place."
Announcer Chris Wheeler: "Tug was a fun, inspirational guy who threw the pitch to Willie Wilson that started the party in 1980. He had a unique sense of humor and just loved life. He fought his final battle with the same style and courage that epitomized his career."
Even more recent Phillies were touched by McGraw.
"I first met Tug when I was in the minor leagues," righthander Brett Myers said. "He was a great guy to be around and he always had fun. He brought a lot of that to me, and I'll always remember him for that."
Said veteran Dan Plesac, who retired at the end of the season: "This year in spring training, when he spent time to play catch with me every day, was unbelievable. I thought it was so cool to play catch with this guy that, when I was 18 years old, I thought walked on water.
"He was a big reason why the last game at the Vet was so special to me. To be on the field with him...was truly special."
Added lefthander Randy Wolf: "It's hard to lose anybody, but to lose somebody like Tug is devastating. Losing him is like losing a superhero, because he's one of the most charismatic people I've ever met."
McGraw spent 9 years with the Mets, and helped New York win the 1969 World Series. That was one more than the Phillies had won before Owens acquired him, along with outfielders Don Hahn and Dave Schneck, for Del Unser, Mac Scarce and John Stearns on Dec. 3, 1974. He was 30 and coming off a bad season.
"We were a young team that was starting to come together," catcher Bob Boone said. "But we didn't believe in ourselves. Tug changed that with his arrival. He brought that 'Ya Gotta Believe' attitude."
With McGraw, the Phillies won division championships in 1976, 1977 and 1978. It's unlikely the team would have even made it to the 1980 World Series without him. After coming off the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis on July 17, he allowed just three runs in 52 1/3 innings the rest of the season, an 0.52 earned run average.
He was the winning pitcher when the Phillies clinched the National League East on Mike Schmidt's 11th-inning home run at Montreal on Oct. 4, 1980, then appeared in nine of the team's 11 postseason games.
McGraw was born on Aug. 30, 1944, in Martinez, Calif. He graduated from St. Vincent Ferrer High School in Vallejo, Calif. He is survived by a brother, Hank; three sons, Tim, Mark and Matthew; a daughter, Cari Velardo; and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Ya gotta bereave.