Tug McGraw

Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. (August 30, 1944 – January 5, 2004) was an American professional baseball relief pitcher. Born in Martinez, California, he was the second of three sons of Frank Edwin "Big Mac" McGraw Sr. and Mable McKenna. He earned the nickname "Tugger" from his mother because of the aggressive way he breast-fed; the name stuck, and he preferred it, asking to be called "Tug" by his kindergarten teacher.

McGraw played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1984, pitching for the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. He is often remembered for coining the phrase "Ya Gotta Believe," which became the rallying cry for the 1973 New York Mets and has since endured as a popular slogan for the team and its fans. With the Phillies, McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end the 1980 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, bringing Philadelphia its first World Series championship in franchise history.

McGraw was one of six Phillies players to die prematurely from glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.