January 5, 2004
WHO BELIEVED, NOW MOURN:
Former Pitcher Tug McGraw Dies at 59 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 1/05/04)
Tug McGraw, the zany relief pitcher who coined the phrase ``You Gotta Believe'' with the New York Mets and later closed out the Philadelphia Phillies' only World Series championship, died Monday. He was 59. [...]A left-hander who threw a screwball, McGraw was a bit of screwball himself -- a fan favorite in New York, Philadelphia and throughout the majors.
Once asked whether he preferred to play on a grass field or an artificial surface, he said, ``I don't know. I never smoked any AstroTurf.''
McGraw was known for charging off the mound, slapping his right hand on his thigh and tapping his chest after a close call.
"Patting his hand on his heart after a guy hits a home run foul, who would do that in the heat of the battle?'' said Phillies manager Larry Bowa, who played with McGraw on the 1980 championship team. "But it showed he had no fear. He was loose. That's how he played the game.''
McGraw's playful personality often overshadowed his talent. He was an outstanding big-game pitcher, helping not only the Phillies but the Mets win World Series titles during his 19-year career.
In 26 postseason games, he had a 2.23 ERA and was 3-3 with eight saves.
"You"? How about "Ya"? Posted by Orrin Judd at January 5, 2004 10:06 PM
Come now, Mr. Judd, we wouldn't want to encourage the man in talking "as if [he's] ignorant." "Ya" is hardly proper English; the AP is merely encouraging New Yorkers, with their noted difficulties in speaking the language, to meet the standards of the society they are trying to succeed in.
Posted by: John Thacker at January 6, 2004 12:53 AMGee, that brings back memories. Thanks....
Posted by: Barry Meislin at January 6, 2004 1:37 AMThey messed up the "grass" quote too....he wasn't asked if he preferred to "play on a grass field", he was asked "Do you like grass or astroturf better?"...to which he replied: "I don't know, I never tried to smoke astroturf." It's just not funny the way the AP wrote it.
Posted by: Foos at January 6, 2004 9:59 AM