“I feel we can still make a run at this thing.” The most famous line in the history of the Mets was hatched on the afternoon of Monday, July 9, 1973. It began when Tug McGraw, suffering through his most difficult season, had lunch with an old friend of Gil Hodges’ named Joe Badamo, an insurance salesman on Long Island who also dabbled as a motivational speaker. The Mets were languishing in last place, McGraw’s ERA was sitting at a grotesque 6.20, he’d blown five of his 16 save opportunities, his record was a ghastly 0-4.
— Mickey Callaway, July 7
Mickey Callaway is these Mets’ version of Tug McGraw
