Riverdogs Win On
“Tug McGraw Night”

CHARLESTON, SC - Monday night, May 22, the Charleston Riverdogs proudly hosted “Tug McGraw Foundation Night” at the Joseph P. Riley Ball Park, raising over $2,500 for the Foundation. Despite stormy weather, fans gathered to cheer on the Riverdogs as they took on the Rome Braves while raising awareness for the fight against brain cancer.

The Riverdogs are the Class-A affiliate for the New York Yankees and chose this special fundraising event as part of their “Dogs For the Cause” program. A check for $1,250 reflecting advance ticket sales was presented on the field that evening. Family members of glioblastoma (GBM) patients sold Tug McGraw 45 YGB bracelets during the game, and a raffle for those attending included autographed prizes and Tim McGraw/Faith Hill concert tickets, bringing the combined total to $2,500.

Local television and radio helped to promote “Tug McGraw Night” throughout the community. “Our very first patron to buy a bracelet was a couple who had seen us on “The Charleston Morning Show,” said Thompson. “Their daughter had just been seen by Dr. Friedman at Duke and had been diagnosed with a GMB. They didn’t know about the Tug McGraw Foundation, and they were thrilled to hear about it.”

Game announcer Josh Maurer of AM-ESPN 910 Radio even invited Thompson into the booth to talk about her event in between plays during the game. “He is from Philadelphia and a huge Tug [formerly with the Philadelphia Phillies] fan,” said Thompson.

Thompson noted Maurer’s inspired enthusiasm for the Riverdogs as they muscled out a 3-2 win in the tenth inning over the Braves, putting them one step closer to the top spot in their division. “He used Tug’s ‘Ya Gotta Believe’ several times during the game,” shared Thompson, “saying that ‘Tug McGraw Night’ and the ‘Ya Gotta Believe’ spirit had rubbed off on the Riverdogs and rallied them to win!”

“There is no better way to remember Tug and inform people about brain cancer than at a baseball game,” said a smiling Nancy Thompson.

The Tug McGraw Foundation thanks the Charleston Riverdogs, Nancy Thompson, Ted Burns and “The Saturday Morning Talk Show,” Josh Maurer, and “The Charleston Morning Show” for their support.