Wayne Garrett, Don Hahn, Tug McGraw and other Mets talked strategy in the dugout during the 1973 NLCS. McGraw (no. 45) would pick up the save in Game 5, a 7-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that ended the series with a Mets pennant.

Facing a tough Philadelphia Phillies team in May 1976, the Mets pulled one out in the 9th as Wayne Garrett and Roy Stager had extra-base RBI hits off the Phillies closer (and former Met) Tug McGraw. The Mets went on to win, 5-2.

The media guide for 1965 lists a rookie pitcher named Frank McGraw, whose impressive season in the New York-Penn league had earned him a spot on the big league roster. Later known by his nickname “Tug,” McGraw became a successful relief pitcher and significant contributor to the World Series expeditions in 1969 and 1973.

Ron Swoboda discusses his teammates and the 1969 Mets bullpen.

Each player in this Transogram 1969 World Series collector toy set is the stuff of Mets legend. Future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan earned the save in Game 3, the only Fall Classic appearance in his 27-season career. Although reliever Tug McGraw did not appear in the World Series, he put the Mets on track […]

Peer through the pinhole into a universe of Mets stars from the 1969 team. By clicking a small button at the base of the toy, fans of all ages could take a peek at the Miracle Mets team that made the World Series victory possible, including Cleon Jones, Tom Seaver, Ken Boswell, Tommie Agee, Donn […]

Four-time All-Star John Stearns spent over a decade in New York during the 1970s and 1980s. Nicknamed “Bad Dude” for his hard-nosed style of play, Stearns first shined on the baseball and football teams at Colorado University. In 1973, he was selected in both the MLB and NFL drafts and ended up signing with the […]

MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn donned a Mets cap as he set up a practice drill for Tug McGraw. In addition to hurling pitches, McGraw was also responsible for fielding on the mound. In nine seasons in New York, the closer tallied 42 putouts and 120 assists to just 15 errors.

As a reliever and occasional starter for the Mets, Tug McGraw often found himself in the thick of the action. During the 1969 NLCS, he pitched three scoreless innings to end Game 2 in an 11-6 Mets victory over the Atlanta Braves on the road.

As soon as Tug McGraw became a Met in 1965, he performed both on the mound and in dugout stump speeches. McGraw was central in rallying the Mets in 1973 with his “Ya Gotta Believe!” catchphrase, as New York battled in late September for the NL East division title and ultimately won it by 1 […]