#Fact1Inducted into the [New York] Mets Hall of Fame in 1993.2Inducted into the [Philadelphia] Phillies Wall of Fame in 1999.3Inducted into the Auburn [New York] Baseball Wall of Fame in 2007.4Wrote the comic strip novel "Scroogie; Hello There, Ball!" back in 1977 with Mike Witte about a hapless pitcher and his team.5Was the last active major league player to have ever played for Casey Stengel.6Distant cousin of Lori Megling.7Could also throw right handed. Would often loosen up before ballgames by playing right handed catch with his teammates, making fans wonder who that righthander wearing number 45 was.8Was credited with the first Met victory over Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax on August 26, 1965. Koufax had been 18-0 against the Mets in his career up to that point.9Traded by the Mets along with outfielders Don Hahn and Dave Schneck to the Phillies on December 3, 1974 for catcher John Stearns, outfielder Del Unser and pitcher Mac Scarce. McGraw felt he was being discarded as "damaged goods" due to a back problem he'd developed that season. After the trade, he was diagnosed with a simple cyst and after surgery, recovered completely.10He got his nickname "Tug" by his mother because of the particularly aggressive way he breast-fed.11Had names for his different types of fastballs: Peggy Lee ("Is that all there is?"), Bo Derek ("A nice little tail"), the Cutty Sark ("It sailed") and the Titanic ("It sunk").12During his first spring training with the Phillies, McGraw dyed his uniform green in honor of St Patricks's Day (his favorite holiday). Since then the Phillies celebrate each St Patrick's Day by wearing special green Phillies caps in an exhibition game, then auctioning them off for their ALS charity.13Son, Tim McGraw, is a country singer.14He was the father of 6 children, 5 sons and 1 daughter. His sons are Tim McGraw, Mark McGraw and Matthew McGraw, also 2 step sons Christpher and Ian. His daughter is Cari Velardo.15He had 4 grandchildren at the time of his death.16Father of country music superstar Tim McGraw.17Father-in-law of country singer Faith Hill.18Sons: Mark, Matthew and Tim. Daughters: Cari, Katelyn and Mia Lisa.19Notable career statistics: 7.83 Hits Allowed per 9 Innings Pitched (67th All Time), 6.59 Strikeouts per 9 Innings Pitched (98th All Time), 824 Games (24th All Time), 180 Saves (42nd All Time) and 541 Games Finished (22nd All Time).20Led National League in Win-Loss Percentage (.733) in 1971.21Finished 5th in voting for 1980 National League Cy Young Award for having 20 Saves and finishing 48 games.22Named to 1972 and 1975 National League All Star Teams.23Member of 1969 World Series Champion New York Mets team. Member of 1973 National League Champion New York Mets team. Member of 1976-1978 National League Eastern Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies teams. Member of 1980 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies team. Member of 1983 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies team.24Pitcher for the New York Mets (1965-1967 and 1969-1974) and Philadelphia Phillies (1975-1984).25Children: Matthew by ex-wife Diane and two step sons Christopher and Ian with Diane; Mark McGraw and Cari Lynn by ex-wife Phyllis. McGraw was not married to Phyllis when he met Elizabeth d'Agostino; their son, Tim McGraw, was 11 when he learned of his paternity. McGraw knew of the possibility of Tim at the time, but refused to fully acknowledge the boy and wasn't interested in being a part of his life. The two eventually became close, and Tim took the surname McGraw.26Was a sports/special interest reporter for WPVI-TV in Philadelphia from 1985 to 1993.27Rejoined the Philadelphia Phillies as a Spring Training pitching instructor in 2002.28Pitched in major leagues for the New York Mets (1965-1974) and Philadelphia Phillies (1975-1984)29Much of pitching success was due to throwing a screwball, a wrong-way curveball that was effective against righthanded hitters.30Joined the Phillies for the 1975 season and became one of the city's most beloved sports figures in his ten seasons there. Struck out Willie Wilson to end the 1980 World Series, the only one ever won by the Phillies until 2008.31Coined the phrase "You Gotta Believe" while with the Mets in 1973. The Mets, who had been in last place much of the season, ended up going to the World Series.

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