"Feeling 7-Up, I'm feeling 7-Up..."

Can't believe he's gone. One of my childhood idols and made my first World Series memorable depite the Mets' loss.

And he never got to smoke artificial turf...

If he'd smoked the Vet's CF astroturf around 1993, he'd have gotten a surprise nicotine buzz from the stains of Lenny's massive chaw habit.

He was an occasional sports reporter in the Philly area after his playing days. He once interviewed a few octogenarian nuns in the nursing home my mother worked at. They were big Redskins fans and followed every game really closely.

Not much of a story....

Anyone know the origin of the nickname?

Anyone know the origin of the nickname?

I believe his mother said it was because he'd tug at everything when he was a baby.

I believe his mother said it was because he'd tug at everything when he was a baby.

The r-rated version of that is that his mother said he really tugged on her when she breast-fed him. I suspect the press sanitized it to just tugging on "everything."

One time Tug McGraw was on David Letteman. He was following Dr. Ruth, who was discussing food and it's "applications" during sex. Tug comes on afterwards with a plate of onion rings.

Hey Murphy, will you be giving him bonus credut for fathering a C&W singing star?
:)

I give Tugger credit for co-creating a comic strip.

I met him at a B&N appearance in 2000, coinciding with the 1980 Phillies 20th anniversary. Didn't occur to me to get an autograph. I guess I figured I'd have years and years to have him sign something.

Hey Murphy, will you be giving him bonus credut for fathering a C&W singing star?
:)

I'm assuming you have read my previous posts in regard to the "talent" of his son, so you can guess my answer. :-)

My father's favorite player. He liked him because he made the end of every game interesting. Needless to say my dad, while a Phillies fan, isn't someone who lives and dies with the team.

I was at the last game in Vet history and the moment when Tug simulated his 1980 victory celebration gave me goosebumps and I 1) was born in 1981, and 2) and not a Phillies fan, though they are my NL team. I guess the end of a era, his health, a lack of big wins in the stadium, and everything it was just a really cool moment. I think he may also have taken off the last number on the countdown thing in RF, not sure though.

Also, I do wonder if he lived like he was dyin'. Okay, someone had to say it ;-)

I think (McGraw) may also have taken off the last number on the countdown thing in RF, not sure though.

I was at the Vet finale. IIRC Harry Kalas was the one to pull off the final countdown thingee in RF.

One more plus for Tug McGraw -- Christopher (This is Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration) Guest grew up a Mets fan, but became so much of a Tug McGraw fan that when McGraw was traded to Philadelphia in 1975, Guest switched his allegiance permanently to the Phillies.

Guest switched his allegiance permanently to the Phillies.

Ugh. Talk about your ill-fated ideas. That's like deciding to root for Charley Brown to kick the football.... I should know the Phils are alos my adopted team!

Guest switched his allegiance permanently to the Phillies.

Ugh. Talk about your ill-fated ideas.

Considering where the Phillies and Mets were in the standings from 1975 through 1983, it wasn't a crummy idea at first...

You are probably right, did Tugger do it the day before? I was there as well. For some reason I jsut remember him pulling off one of the last few days.