Jeff Kurkjian is in Clearwater, Florida and had a chance to talk with Dickie Noles, who was teammates with Tim McGraw’s dad, Tug McGraw. Both Noles and McGraw played together on the 1980 World Championship Phillies.
McGraw also played for the New York Mets, here he throwing out the first pitch at a game in Flushing, New York. The Mets were in fact playing his other former team, our Philadelphia Phillies but unfortunately, New York took this one 4-3.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Country Connection To Tim McGraw’s Dad
Tug McGraw (once again, Tim McGraw’s dad) obviously has a massive connection to country music being that his son is an absolutely massive country music singer. In fact, just a few weeks back, we heard from Tim on The Andie Summers Show talking about his newest single and of course, I had to ask him about that love for baseball!
Back To Baseball
While I was in Spring Training (thanks to our friends at the Phillies and Ashley Homestore) I had a chance to chat with Dickie Noles who was teammates with Tug McGraw on the 1980 World Series Championship team.
If you look closely enough, you can see both Noles and McGraw’s pictures below in this photo taken when fans were not allowed in the stadium during the COVID outbreak.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 10: Cardboard cutouts of the 1980 World Series Champions Philadelphia Phillies are displayed in the stands in right field during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 10, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
What Did Noles Have To Say About McGraw?
Unfortunately, Tug McGraw passed away from brain cancer in January of 2004. Noles would visit him and chat during his treatments and he was shocked about the one thing McGraw was so focused on. You have to hear it below!
Thank Ashley Homestore!
