Tug McGraw Became a Phillie

In a trade that helped build the Phillies into a contender, they obtained Tug McGraw from the Mets on this date in 1974 for Del Unser, John Stearns and Mac Scarce. Turned out to be a one-sided deal... with the exuberant McGraw resuming his place as a fan favorite -- and one of the National League's best relievers. 




On August 30th, 1984, the summer after the Phils second pennant winner, the club saluted McGraw on his birthday at Veterans Stadium during a twi-night doubleheader. Dennis and I drove down from New York to catch the event. (left) Tug takes his place as the between-games ceremony gets underway, while (below) his number 45 is aglow on the video board.
On the turf, the Phillies split a twin-bill with the Giants -- losing the opener and taking the nightcap, both by 6 - 5 scores. Below, from the early game, it's ex-Phil Randy Lerch on the mound for San Francisco (which was managed by Danny Ozark, the skipper for Philadelphia's three consecutive division winners of the '70s).

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