centerfield maz

Monday September 1, 1975: It was a big night for  the '75 Mets. Interim Manager Roy McMillan's third place Mets (72-64) were just four games behind the first place Pittsburgh Pirates (75-59). Roy McMillan had taken over the club on August 6th after Yogi Berra had been fired. Since then, the Mets were 16-9 & had gained four games in the standings. Tonight,  the Mets hosted Danny Murtaugh's Pirates at Shea Stadium in front of 45,991 fans.  The Mets were trying to stop a two-game  losing streak, after having won five straight on a long 14 game west coast road trip that included a three-game  stop in Houston.  Roy McMillan Tonight,  was the first home game since August 17, two weeks ago. The Pirates sent New York native, John Candeleria (7-4) to go up against the 1975 Years Cy Young Award winner; Tom Seaver (19-7).   Seaver was going for his 20th victory of the season & going after an MLB feat that had never been done before. MLB Record Breaker:   Tonight,  Tom Se

Sunday September 1st, 1974: Yogi Berra's fifth place Mets (60-71) were nine games back at the start of September, but unlike last year in 1973, there was no NL Pennant run in store this September.  The Mets were still the reigning NL Champs but were to lose their title in the next month.  Tonight, the Mets hosted Clyde Kings third place Atlanta Braves (73-61) in front of 33,879 fans at Shea Stadium. The Braves former Rookie of the Year, Carl Morton (14-7) went up against The Mets Tug McGraw (5-7). In his Mets career, Tug McGraw made 36 starts for the club, most of them in the earlier part of his career. In the upsetting Mets 1974 season, the team needed help in the starting rotation at times & McGraw filled in making four starts. This game would be the only shut out he pitched in his fine career, where he made 39 starts in 824 appearances. In the 1st inning, that year's NL Batting champ Ralph Garr "the Roadrunner" led off with a base hit. Marty Perez then

  1973 Mets N.L. Pennant Season:   Tug started out the season with another Opening Day save, after relieving Tom Seaver to finish off ta shut out of the Philadelphia Phillies.  At the end of April, he had four straight saves and was posting a 1.59 ERA, just like the Tug McGraw of old.  But in May he began to struggle, on May 4th he entered a tie game against the Astros, with the bases loaded in the 8th inning. He walked three runs in & had to be removed, the Mets lost it in extra innings.  On May 6th, he came  into  the game in the 6th inning, with two on & the Mets up on the Astros 7-3. He gave up a double to Cesar Cedeno & a three run HR to Bob Watson tying up the game. In the 7th, he gave up two hits & then walked two batters blowing the  four-run  lead having to be removed again. The Mets blew the game losing 14-8. Tug did get a bit on track saving three games until May 19th, when he served up HRs to the Pirates Bob Robertson & a three runs blast to Willie Starg

After the Pennant- 1974:   After their pennant season, the Mets struggled the next season.  McGraw was no exception. On Opening Day he gave up a walk off HR to Mike Schmidt in Philadelphia. He did earn his first save the next day. On April 14th, he took an extra inning loss at Shea, this one to the Phillies as well. On May 5th the Padres tagged him for two runs, to come from behind in a 5-4 win, earning him another loss. By May 15th, his ERA was an enormous 9.00. In a June 30th double header he gave up HRs in both ends, taking the loss in the night cap, when Bake McBride hit a 10th inning HR.  It wasn't until July 28th, when he earned his first win. In August he did win four games but also blew two games where he took the loss.  Player of the Week: On August 27th he was given a start at Shea against the Astros. He gave up just one run in six innings to earn the 4-2 win. On September 1st, he threw his only career shut out. It came against the Atlanta Braves in a 3-0 win, where he a

Frank Edwin McGraw was born August 30, 1944 in Martinez, California.  Nickname: When he was just a baby, he would firmly nurse on his mother’s breast as she fed him. "he's a real tugger" she said & the name stuck with him forever. Quotes- Tug McGaw: "On my first day of kindergarten, the teacher asked if there was anyone's name she didn't call? I raised my hand & said my name is Tug McGraw. She looked at the role & said "I have a Frank McGraw" I said No, that's my dad. He already went kindergarten." His mother Mabel  was manic depressive, she was verbally & physically abusive. She ran away on the family while on a weekend pass from Napa State Mental Hospital. Tug & his brothers were raised by their father, Big Mac. The boys attended  Catholic schools &  played sports, all the time. Family: Tug’s brother Hank, was an outstanding catching prospect that was signed by the Mets scout Roy Partee in 1961. A couple of ye