Limited edition chef special! Did you know that the Phillies wearing green on St. Pat’s is all thanks to Tug McGraw?
The Day Tug Broke All Uniform Rules:
McGraw Has'em Seeing Green
Philadelphia Inquire-March 17, 1977
Clearwater, Fla-Tug McGraw was having trouble warming up to pitch the seventh inning for the Phillies yesterday. His top hat kept getting in the way. What top hat? The green one with “Erin Go Bragin” on it. The one Tug McGraw wore as he trotted in from the bullpen, his Irish eyes smiling, as all Irish eyes should on St. Patrick’s Day. “ Intended to pitch with it, but it went up too high (to get his arms over it)", said the Phillies’ Ambassador of Irish affairs.
So Tug McGraw made his one concession. He agreed to take off his Irish top hat while he pitched. He carefully laid the hat on the grass behind the mound, put on a real red Phillies cap and pitched a one-two-three seventh. The he placed the top hat back on his head and marched back to the dugout to a standing ovation. Yes, friends, it was time once again yesterday for the annual Tug McGraw Wearing-of-the-Green St. Patrick’s Day One-Man Parade and Pitching Exhibition.
