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Monday, November 13, 2006

Tug McGraw

Eligible in 1990

John (You Can Call Me Grandma) Murphy Posted: November 13, 2006 at 07:15 PM | 15 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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   1. John (You Can Call Me Grandma) Murphy Posted: November 13, 2006 at 07:25 PM (#2236599)
"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.
   2. Juan V Posted: November 13, 2006 at 07:27 PM (#2236604)
And he never got to smoke artificial turf...
   3. Dr. Chaleeko Posted: November 13, 2006 at 07:47 PM (#2236627)
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....
   4. DavidFoss Posted: November 13, 2006 at 07:51 PM (#2236634)
Anyone know the origin of the nickname?
   5. CraigK Posted: November 13, 2006 at 08:07 PM (#2236665)
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.
   6. Steve Treder Posted: November 13, 2006 at 08:28 PM (#2236710)
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."
   7. rico vanian Posted: November 13, 2006 at 08:58 PM (#2236752)
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.
   8. Mike Webber Posted: November 13, 2006 at 11:33 PM (#2236960)
Hey Murphy, will you be giving him bonus credut for fathering a C&W singing star?
:)
   9. AndrewJ Posted: November 13, 2006 at 11:40 PM (#2236965)
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.
   10. John (You Can Call Me Grandma) Murphy Posted: November 13, 2006 at 11:56 PM (#2236980)
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. :-)
   11. Mark Shirk (jsch) Posted: November 14, 2006 at 12:47 AM (#2237035)
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 ;-)
   12. AndrewJ Posted: November 14, 2006 at 01:06 AM (#2237052)
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.
   13. Dr. Chaleeko Posted: November 14, 2006 at 01:50 AM (#2237096)
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!
   14. AndrewJ Posted: November 14, 2006 at 01:54 AM (#2237100)
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...
   15. Mark Shirk (jsch) Posted: November 14, 2006 at 02:59 AM (#2237151)
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.

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