Ashes of late Phils reliever McGraw put on field

The late Tug McGraw threw the final pitch the last time the Philadelphia Phillies won a World Series in 1980. Thanks to his son, country music singer Tim McGraw, he was remembered before Game 3 this time around.

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Accompanied by kids from a local chapter of the Boys & Girls Club, Tim McGraw threw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday night. He brought some of his father's ashes along and at one point, reached into his pocket, took them out and sprinkled them on the mound. Tim also re-enacted his father's trademark slap of his baseball glove across his thigh when he got a batter out.

Tug McGraw gained stardom as a reliever for the New York Mets, both during their 1969 World Series victory and again in 1973, when he was credited with coining the phrase, "Ya Gotta Believe!" as the long shot Mets made it back to the Series before losing to Oakland.

He became the Phillies' closer and struck out Kansas City's Willie Wilson for the final out in 1980.

Robin Roberts threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 4, and fellow Hall of Famer and ex-Phillies pitching great Jim Bunning will do it before Game 5.


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