Tug sets sail for Philly

The Philadelphia Phillies make a trade 50 years ago today that eventually leads to their first World Series title in 1980 as they pick up closer Tug McGraw from the New York Mets.

The Phillies also acquire journeymen outfielders Don Hahn and Dave Schneck with the Mets receiving outfielder Del Unser, relief pitcher Mac Scarce and top catching prospect John Stearns.

While Schneck never plays for the Phillies and Hahn comes to bat only six times for them, McGraw becomes a fixture for the next 10 years in Philly, where his finest work comes in 1980 with four postseason saves as the Phillies win their first World Series title after 97 seasons of existence.

Scarce appears in only one game for the Mets, while Unser has a productive season for the Mets in 1975 before they repackage him to Montreal midway through the 1976 season.

Unser eventually returns to Philadelphia in time to become a key bench player for the Phillies’ 1980 World Series winner.

As for Stearns, he becomes a four-time All-Star with the Mets between 1977 and ’82. He eventually extends his career with coaching stops with the Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners.

The McGraw trade – just sounds better than the “Schneck trade” – is not the only headliner of the day 50 years ago.

McGraw’s soon-to-be-teammate in Philadelphia – first baseman Dick Allen – finds himself going from the Chicago White Sox to the Atlanta Braves for the ubiquitous player to be named later.

Allen later refuses to join Atlanta, prompting his trade a month into the 1975 season to Philadelphia along with catcher Johnny Oates for a package that includes outfielder Barry Bonnell, catcher Jim Essian and $150,000.

The Braves then regift Essian to the White Sox as the aforementioned player to be named later from the trade 50 years ago today that sends Allen from Chicago to Atlanta.

Allen and McGraw remain teammates through the 1976 season, which ends with the Phillies reaching the postseason for the first time since 1950.