Tug McGraw Battles Back From Brain Cancer

by Sharon Chapman

March 12, 2003, started out like any other spring day for Mets Hall of Famer and Phillies' legend Tug McGraw. He woke up and headed over to the Phillies' spring training complex in Clearwater, Florida. Except when he arrived, nobody else was at the ballpark -- Tug had forgotten that it was an off day for the Phillies.

OK, that kind of thing happens to the best of us. But, as Tug explained during a May 29th press conference at Veterans Stadium, he now realizes that this was an indication that something was seriously wrong. Another indication was when he "went to the kitchen, but wasn't making coffee." After longtime friend John McManus witnessed McGraw mistaking the kitchen for the restroom, McManus contacted some of Tug's friends and the group brought McGraw to Clearwater's Morton Plant Hospital. "That," Tug says, "was Stage I of saving my life."

At Morton Plant, McGraw was diagnosed as having a malignant brain tumor, and was told that the prognosis was bleak. "The way it was put to me in the emergency room in Clearwater was that I was going to die within three weeks." Within a day of his hospitalization, McGraw's son, country music star Tim McGraw, and his daughter-in-law, singer Faith Hill, arrived on the scene and took action. "Tim got there and said, 'This is unacceptable.' That's when he and Faith got me somewhere they knew what they were talking about."

That somewhere was the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in nearby Tampa. After quickly doing some research, Tim and Faith learned that the Moffitt Center was one of the premier cancer institutes in the nation, and made arrangements to transfer Tug there. Tug described this as, "Stage II of saving my life."

Stage II started out with a 6-hour surgical procedure by Dr. Steven Brem on March 18th to remove the tumor. That was followed by a month of radiation and chemotherapy treatments -- twice a day, five times a week. After that Tug had a month off from treatments, followed by an MRI exam. The MRI showed that the operation site on the right side of the brain had completely healed, but there was an "area of concern" on the left side. While it was possible that the area of concern was merely scar tissue, to be on the safe side McGraw resumed chemotherapy. In a press release, McGraw said, "My recent blood tests and an MRI have shown favorable results. I will continue to receive follow-up examinations at the Moffitt Center to monitor my progress."

Having received clearance to travel, McGraw returned home to Philadelphia on May 28th, and held a press conference at Veterans Stadium the following day. At the conference, Tug wore a cap with the phrase "You Gotta Believe" that was given to him by his radiology technician at the Moffitt Center. (While Tug's fans recognize that the phrase he coined for the 1973 Mets was actually, "Ya Gotta Believe," everybody appreciates the sentiment despite the spelling.) When asked about the phrase at the press conference, McGraw explained that to him it's a spiritual thing, although "it's not a religious kind of thing. I've always believed in my teammates." McGraw told the crowd that he is feeling, "pretty good, thank you," although he acknowledged that the chemotherapy left him a little tired. He removed his cap to show the media his surgical scars, but reassured everyone that he still has the same positive outlook that one would expect from Tug McGraw. "I'm not fearful. I have confidence," he said.

On the subject of his teammates, McGraw took advantage of the fact that the Mets were playing the Phillies on the day of the press conference. He took his 7-year-old son Matthew to meet friends and former teammates in both clubhouses that afternoon. Tug described the scene in the Phillies' clubhouse as "a lovefest. Everyone came over and had something nice to say. There were some hugs, and a few kisses." Then, realizing the humor of his statement, in quintessential Tug McGraw fashion he added, "There are a couple of switch-hitters in there, I guess."

McGraw also spoke about the "unbelievable" support he has received from his fans, specifically referring to those in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and "New York, of course -- they're right there too." Tug has received thousands of letters, prayer cards and e-mails from his fans. "The response was overwhelming to me. The labor is trying to read them all." However, the fact that Tug mentioned his www.tugmcgraw.com website and tug@tugmcgraw.com e-mail address in this press release indicates that this is the kind of labor he relishes.

Although he spoke and moved somewhat more slowly and deliberately than in the past, it was exhilarating to see Tug looking tan and fit and as sharp as ever at the press conference. McGraw told the assembled crowd, "I'm alive, so the three weeks thing didn't work. And I'm supposed to be alive for a long time."

And Ya Gotta Believe that he will!