Unofficial fan projectSeaver, the Miracle, and Two Pennants
Tug McGraw
Relief pitcher · Mets 1965–1967, 1969–1974
The part fans remember
What the numbers leave out.
McGraw’s screwball, personality, and belief made him unforgettable. His Ya Gotta Believe spirit helped carry the 1973 Mets from last place to the pennant.
McGraw first reached the Mets in 1965 as a young starting pitcher, struggled, and spent time in the minors before returning as a reliever. The new role changed his career. His screwball gave hitters a look they hated, and he became an important part of the bullpen when the Mets won their first championship in 1969.
His name became part of baseball language in 1973. The Mets were injured and buried in last place when Tug began pushing ‘Ya Gotta Believe.’ It could have sounded silly, but then he pitched brilliantly down the stretch and the team climbed all the way to a pennant. He worked multiple innings, escaped jams, and made his confidence contagious.
The Mets traded him to Philadelphia after 1974 in a deal that brought back John Stearns. McGraw later won another championship with the Phillies, but ‘Ya Gotta Believe’ always remained a Mets phrase. His personality captured something true about the franchise: hope works best when it knows how ridiculous it looks and chooses to keep going anyway.
The honest version
The best stretch
McGraw’s 1971–73 peak turned the screwball into one of the most important pitches in Mets history. He could work more than one inning, escape traffic, and bring his full personality into every appearance. In 1973, after struggling early, he became almost untouchable down the stretch as the Mets climbed from last place to a division title.
The part that got messy
Ya Gotta Believe lasted because McGraw made it feel true. The phrase was not empty cheerleading; it came from a reliever who kept taking the ball while an injured team tried to survive. He pitched repeatedly in the NLCS and World Series, covering high-pressure innings with almost no margin. The Mets fell one win short against Oakland, but McGraw had already become the spirit of the run.
Why fans still care
He was also part of the 1969 champions, giving him a place in both great early Mets teams. The trade to Philadelphia ended his Queens career, and he later recorded the final out of a championship for the Phillies. Mets fans still claim the original version: the slap of the glove, the leap off the mound, and the belief that a strange season could turn if everyone refused to leave.
Tug did more than say ‘Ya Gotta Believe.’ He pitched often, escaped trouble, and gave a battered 1973 club the emotional permission to think it still had a chance. The screwball and the slap of the glove mattered; so did the grin. He was made for a franchise that has always needed a little humor to survive the tension.
Signature Mets momentThe emotional leader and relief ace of the 1973 National League champions.
The short list
The stuff worth remembering.
- 011969 World Series champion
- 021973 National League champion
- 031972 Mets All-Star