Ya Gotta Believe

Improving quality of life for those affected by brain-related military trauma and glioblastoma brain tumors through education, resources and brain wellness programs.

Full recap coming from this weekend's insane 🤣Mixed Nutts opener against @leadershipnv Truly a game like no other. Thank you @993thevine @winedownmedia @visitnapavalley it was a blast having you there.

We hope @leadershipnv has been practicing for this weekend opener 🤣 Game on 🔥 Sunday, May 18th @ 1030. Cleveland Borman Field. #mixednutts #tugmcgrawfoundation #yountvilleveteranshome #leadershipnapavalley #station12yountville #dirtydozen #softball #bormanfield #brainhealth #veterans

Wishing a very Happy Mother's Day to all and the Mom's that are no longer with us. #mothersday #roses #tugmcgrawfoundation

Ya Gotta Believe, Navy veteran, Dale "Trucker" Read at bat for the first time since highschool. Welcome to the Nutts!!#tugmcgrawfoundation #yountvilleveteranshome #yountville #softball #brainhealth #navy #truckers

#Resilience

Dale Bell, an Army veteran and caretaker of the Tug McGraw Brain Food Garden, is about to uncover a connection to the veteran for whom a Battlefield Tree from Vicksburg was dedicated, 108 years later. The garden honors the history of these trees in Memorial Grove, symbolizing sacrifices made by previous generations. Gratitude is expressed to veterans Dale, Paul, John, Benny and to Patriots Mark, Joshua, and Frank who helped us move this beast of a tree. Because of you, we can continue to honor and connect past and present veterans. More updates are to come.

#tugmcgrawbrainfoodgarden #healingardens #veterans #redoak #napavalley #brainhealth #memorialgrove #neverforget #homedepotfoundation

Attention Leadership Napa Valley’s Roots and Shoots Team! 🍇

Oops! It seems we ( the Mixed Nutts) might have overlooked mentioning that this is no ordinary game of softball. With just 11 days until opening day, it feels only right to inform you that there are no rules in this game. We may have also added a few more players to the Mixed Nutts, famously known as the 🔥 Dirty Dozen of Yountville. #gameon #yagottabelieve #tugmcgrawfoundation #leadershipnapavalley #yountvilleveteranshome #station12yountville #bormanfield #napavalley #yountville

Jake @laura_regusci we did it in 2 takes just for you!! Happy Birthday from the Mixed Nutts, Station 12 and Leadership Napa Valley. 🎂🎁🎈🎉

Gearing up for the Mixed Nutts Opening Day! 5-18-25 Borman Field. We welcome all fans 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 including an occasional Dodger 🤣🤣🤣 #yountville #napavalley #yountvilleveteranshome #tugmcgrawfoundation #tugmcgraw #veteranbrainhealth

Happy Birthday 🎂 to this dude. A great dad, father, and humanitarian. 🐐🤠🗺️⭐️@thetimmcgraw #birthdayvibes #timmcgraw

Our hometown hero Jake is such an inspiration to us all. Sharing a post from his beautiful mama. We love you Jake and glad you'll be Home for your Birthday! . #repost @laura_regusci This sweet boy gets to head home tomorrow after 35 days at Stanford Hospital — just in time for his 23rd birthday this Friday, May 2nd!

We’re not sure how we’ll celebrate yet, but being home is the greatest gift of all. It’s also Kentucky Derby weekend — a fun tradition tied to Jake’s birthday over the years. 🐎

Jake is most excited to be with his brother Andrew (and Rascal, the lab), and we’re hoping for a weekend filled with family, friends, favorite foods, and the simple joy of waking up in his own bed — no beeps, no bright lights, just home sweet home.

We’ll be back to Stanford next week for appointments and a surgical procedure, with his second CAR-T infusion set for May 19. But for now, we’re soaking in this homecoming and celebrating life, love, and Jake’s incredible strength.

Napa Valley's Foutain of Youth. Borman Field at the Yountville Veterans Home. Mixed Nutts getting ready for their Home Opener on Sunday, May 18th. Come get your youth on!! Free tickets in link 🙌 #tugmcgraw #yountvillevetetanshome #fieldofdreams #veterans #station12 #firefighters #brainhealth #yountville #napavalley #danielseavey

Turning the cameras around on these three amigos! Mixed Nutt, John Lew, Holly Holtzen the Home's Administrator, and PIO, Jena Kaeppeli. Checking out Mixed Nutts practice on our beautiful Borman Field. 📸🥎 #veterans #tugmcgrawfoundation #calvet #mixednutts #yountvilleveteranshome #yountvillelife #playball #brainhealth

#repost @dukebraintumorcenter #yagottabelieve @dukebraintumorcenter At just 10 years old, David Fitting faced a daunting diagnosis: glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. Despite initial treatments, his tumor relapsed a year later. In May 2025, David will celebrate an extraordinary milestone: 22 years of survivorship, defying expectations and inspiring countless others.

David’s journey led him to the @dukebraintumorcenter, where he participated in a groundbreaking treatment protocol. Reflecting on his experience, David shares, “When nobody else would treat me, Duke is the one that gave me a chance and put me in that trial.”

His story is a testament to resilience, innovative care, and the unwavering spirit of those who refuse to give up. As David says, “I’ve been so fortunate to have received care from Duke. It’s not just about treating the disease - it’s about treating the person.”

Read more about David’s inspiring journey by visiting our website via the link in our bio!

#glioblastoma #braintumorawareness

Ya Gotta Believe. We love this photo of Tug or in this case Beelieve. #tugmcgraw #mets #yagottabelieve

Ya Gotta Believe: Nothing but a good time. Meet Mixed Nutts Player, Army Veteran, John "Yoda" Lew. 93 years young. Yoda brings a lot of spirit and love to the game. #tugmcgraw #tugmcgrawfoundation #army #softball #mixed Nutts #yountville #napa #bormanfield

We are ready for it!!! Thank you @phillies And our Debbie for hooking up the students from @meristem_ca for our preseason game on 24 April at Noon with the Mixed Nutts. In our 5th year, A heartfelt game for many of the students who've never had the opportunity to play an organized sport. We can't wait ❤️ #yagottabelieve #phillies #autism #veterans #yountville #napavalley

Ya Gotta Believe the beauty of the California Poppies in the Tig McGraw Brain Food Garden. Garden season opens April 24, 2025 #poppies #tugmcgrawfoundation #tugmcgrawbrainfoodgarden #yountvilleveteranshome #yountville #napavalley @homedepotfoundation

@dukebraintumorcenter Breaking news from the @dukebraintumorcenter: A new experimental therapy is offering HOPE in the fight against glioblastoma. 🧠

Researchers at Duke are preparing to launch a clinical trial testing MVR-C5252, a genetically modified herpes simplex virus 1 (oHSV1), designed to selectively target and kill tumor cells while stimulating an immune response — all while sparing healthy tissue.

“This study is one of the few that give me hope for a real change in how we treat glioblastoma,” said Mustafa Khasraw, MD, MBChB, principal investigator of the trial.

In early testing, the treatment showed potent anti-tumor activity and extended survival in animal models. Now, it’s moving to human trials — bringing a renewed sense of urgency and optimism to a disease that hasn’t seen major treatment advances in years.

Enrollment begins soon. Stay tuned!

📖 Read the full story via Healio: https://www.healio.com/news/hematology-oncology/20250402/experimental-therapy-for-brain-cancer-gives-hope-will-be-investigated-in-upcoming-trial  

#DukeBrainTumorCenter #Glioblastoma #BrainCancerResearch

Wishing a joyful 98th Birthday to our dear friend, Waldo! A retired Pan Am engineer and a World War II veteran, Waldo holds a special place in our hearts. One of our cherished photos captures Waldo and fellow WWII veteran Bob Bischoff enjoying a conversation after flying in the open-cockpit 1940 Stearman plane. Back in the day, the Army acquired these planes for around $11,000. Waldo, you are truly a representative of the Greatest Generation. Happy Birthday!

#Happybirthday #WW2Vet #Stearman #Yountville #NapaValley #TugMcGrawFoundation #Army #WW2 #GreatestGeneration #Fly #PanAm #Goodpeeps #ArmyAirborne #QualityofLife

What a honor to have Terri Tanielian who is a senior behavioral scientist and a nationally recognized expert on veteran
mental health come visit us this past week. A heartfelt moment listening to Terri and a resident veteran exchange working experiences. Thank you Terri for all that you have done and continue to do for our veterans and their families. You are an inspiration and an incredible gift to many. #mentalhealth #veterans #tbi #pts #yountville #tugmcgraw #yagottabelieve #yountvilleveteranshome

Over the years, the Tug McGraw Foundation has had the honor to meet many of these incredible strong Gold Star Spouses . A group no one should ever have to be apart of. We will never forget while at a show with @thetimmcgraw a gold star spouse asked if Tim could sing "If you are reading this. " A powerful song. April 5th is Gold Star Spouses Day, a day to honor the spouses of those who died while serving in the military. Sharing this beautiful song on a Saturday. #neverforget #goldstarspouses #ultimatesacrifice

Ya Gotta Believe the Nutts are back for the 2025 Season! @leadershipnv we are ready to take you on for Opening Day on Sunday, May 18th 💪 Team we learned today, Amanda from their team has some catching skills 😳 Bring on the beards and torpedo bats. #tugmcgrawfoundation #yagottabelieve #veterans #napavalley #yountville #brainhealthmatters #mixednutts

#neverforget National Vietnam War Veterans Day. On this day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil. Today and everyday We Honor all the men, women and the military working dogs who gave the ultimate sacrifice and served in the Vietnam war. #vietnamwar #neverforget #tugmcgraw #marines #army #navy #airforce #coastguard #nationalguard #militaryworkingdogs #vietnamwarveteransday

#SocialworkersAwarnessMonth = #BrainHealth. Social workers are essential in turning empathy into effective strategies, ensuring equitable healthcare access, and positively impacting society for over a century. However, they face challenges that can lead to stress and fatigue. Just as they support others, social workers must prioritize self-care. It's crucial to empower them year-round, not just during Social Work Month, by providing the necessary resources to maintain a work-life balance and continue their vital work in transforming compassion into action. Tug McGraw Foundation together with the Parata family were proud to help recognize the efforts of the Yountville Veterans Home Behavioral Health Team and the important work they do.

#socialworkers #empathy #resources #compassion #empower #Brainhealth #Behaviorhealth

Opening Day is Here🙌 Let the games begin🙌 Who is your pick to take it all in 2025 ? #tugmcgraw #openingday #baseball #mlb #yagottabelieve #mets #phillies #lefty #screwball

Always a healthier day in the Tug McGraw Brain Food Garden when @virginiahighperformance is in for a visit #brainhealth #veterans ⚓️🐸🔱🧠💪.

What you don't always know. As the Mixed Nutts gear up for our pre-season opener against the Students of Meristem, we thought it would be enjoyable to engage our minds and share some insights about the remarkable field we play on—Cleve Borman Field, established in the late 1800s. Before the game, we give students the chance to raise and fold the flag, yet we often overlook the history of the 30-foot flagpole that proudly displays Old Glory at center field during each match. After some research in newspaper archives, we discovered that the flagpole was a generous gift from the California State Chapter of the American War Mothers. It was dedicated on Sunday, May 2, 1954, with 78 members from 18 chapters in attendance, including their President, Gertrude Sullivan, before a baseball game at Cleve Borman Field. Along with the flagpole, they also presented a new American flag, a Bear flag, and a bronze plaque embedded in the concrete base that reads, "Dedicated to All Veterans by the American War Mothers."

Photos: Meristem students raising the flag in 2024. A photograph from 1950 captures Gertrude Sullivan in conversation with Nessin Dehmoiram, a paraplegic from Reseda. He shares his plans for a specially-designed home in the Valley that would accommodate his life in a wheelchair. The veteran, who served as the commander of Birmingham Chapter 23 of Disabled American Veterans, discusses the challenges he and his fellow veterans face with Mrs. Gertrude Sullivan of the American War Mothers. #Bormanfield #tugmcgrawfoundation #mixed Nutts #youtville #napavalley #brainhealth #flagpole #americanwarmothers

Friday Brain Bliss: There should be a Cooper's Town Hall of Fame Award for best baseball personality 🤣❤️ Tug McGraw you would have been a shoe in. #tugmcgraw #mlbhalloffame #yagottabelieve #tugmcgrawfoundation #kidsarepeopletoo #phillies #mets

@garysiniseofficial wishing you the happiest of Birthdays. We will never forget our incredible trip with you. There are not enough words to express our gratitude and the respect we have for you, your team and family. Our WW2 Vets Barbara, Bill and Bob are no longer with us but you gave us and their families a gift of a lifetime. #neverforget

" I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade." William Yeats 🍀 Thinking of you Tug McGraw and Uncle Hank on what would be your 80 plus St Patrick's Day.

🍀 The Day Tug McGraw Broke All Uniform Rules:
🍀McGraw Has'em Seeing 👀Green
🍀by Jayson Stark Read Jason's 1979 article in our bio link. 👆#tugmcgraw #yagottabelieve #mlbgreen #irish #stpatricksday🇮🇪 #phillies

Brain Bliss 🧠💕 Sunday feel good. 🌎🌍🌏No words needed. #teamwork #yagottabelieve #nasa #iss #spacestation #astronaunts #brainbliss

Saturday smiles. Hard to believe 22 years ago we started our journey with Tug McGraw at Duke. Today we continue to send civilians, veterans and active duty impacted by gllioblastoma tumors. #duke #tugmcgraw #glioblastoma #burnpits #cancersucks

National K9 Veterans Day, March 13, is a day set aside to honor commemorate the service and sacrifices of American military and working dogs throughout history. To all the force multipliers 👊🐾❤️ #mwds #militaryworkingdogs

#CommunityHero Leslie Flowers, visiting the Tug McGraw Foundation. Leslie and her father were instrumental in helping us tell the story of the Military Working Dogs with the Napa Valley Museum. This week, Leslie visited the Yountville Veterans Home artists, who played a part in helping bring the Warrior Dogs to life in 2024. The 2024 exhibit will be the platform to keep these heroic stories of the Military Working Dogs to live on.

#militaryworkingdogs #heroes #yagottabelieve #museums #dogs #history #seals #army #airforce #navy #marines #spaceforce #coastguard #hero

@bettyanntrimble you are a gift to so many. Wishing you the Happiest of Birthdays. Looking back, It truly was a fun evening to surprise you with Your "GoGo Boot Cake💕❤️" Those boots were made for walking 🙌 #strong mama you are loved 🙌 Makes the best pickles 🥒 West of the Mississippi 🙌

#NourishYourBrain Resource. 🧠❤️Sharing what we learned at the Center for BrainHealth this past week. A Cookbook Must! The Brain Health Kitchen teaches readers how choosing the right foods, as well as how we prepare and consume them, can help maintain a younger, sharper, and more vibrant brain while significantly reducing the risk of dementia. Scientific research has identified ten foods known for their powerful neuroprotective benefits. Are you aware of what they are? A special thanks to Dr. Annie Fenn and the Center for BrainHealth. This year, the Tug McGraw Brain Food Garden is excited to cultivate some of these neurofoods and incorporate new recipes for our Harvest Parties with the residents at the Yountville Veterans Home. @mycalveteran @tugmcgrawbrainfoodgarden_

#neuro #superfoods #brainhealth #growfood #brainfood #alzheimers #dementia #prevention #cookbooks #tugmcgrawfoundation #centerforbrainhealth #anniefenn #yountville #tugmcgrawfoundation #Yountvilleveteranshome #jacksonholefoodie

#TakeABrainBreak #Firedup
TMF is concluding an amazing week at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas, alongside our partners from Virginia High Performance. Stay tuned for more updates next week! In honor of BrainHealth Week, take some time this weekend to do something wonderful for your brain and explore the fantastic resources available at https://centerforbrainhealth.org/. Can't wait to implement and share strategies into our programs. Thank you Dr. Sandra Chapman for this extraordinary vision you've created and your talented staff. #yagottabelieve and we do 🧠🙌❤️

#CenterforBrainHealth #VirginiaHighPerformance #BrainHealthWeek #TugMcGrawFoundation #Neuroplasticity #BrainBody #Nutrition #Sleep #MindDiet #TakeABrainBreak #Brain

Save The Dates❗️Ya Gotta Believe 🌟the Nutts 🥜🥜 are Back. #mixednutts #softball #bormanfield #yountvilleveteranshome #veterans #tugmcgrawfoundation #mycalvet #napavalley

🥜 Save The Dates 🤣 The Mixed Nutts are BACK. Bring it on 🙌 @meristem_ca @leadershipnv @napasheriff @calfirelnu #station12 @chpnapa @jshs.softball @napavalleybaseballclub #themixednutts #tugmcgrawfoundation #brainhealth #veterans #community #firstresponders #lawenforcement #yagottabelieve #softball #yountville

💕 Put A Little Love in Your Heart ❤️ 🍪 Tug McGraw announced his retirement from MLB on Valentine's Day, and for the past 4 years, decorating cookies with the veterans from The Yountville Veterans Home has been a cherished tradition. They handle the decoration, while we take care of shipping or delivering the cookies to their friends and family. This year, they truly showcased their decorating talents. When asked about the addition of a wrapped piece of candy on the cookie, one veteran replied, "It's interactive, pull and eat!" Decorating cookies not only enhances fine motor skills but also fosters imaginative thinking, transforming a simple cookie into a delightful work of edible art.
#valetinecookie #tugmcgraw #tugmcgrawfoundation #brainhealth #yountvillevsteranshome #sprinkles #frosting #justfun #cookies #bakingparty #dollyparton #yagottabelieve #yountville #buttercreambakery #napavalley

Oh Tugger...An unforgettable moment from baseball history. During a game at Veterans Stadium in August 1980, Los Angeles Dodgers player Bill Russell is seen rolling on top of Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Pete Rose who is seen trying to protect Tug McGraw on the mound. Then, Philadelphia catcher Bob Boone rushed to separate the two, as Dodgers players Derrel Thomas and manager Danny Ozark joined the fray.

The incident was ignited when McGraw attempted an intentional walk of pinch hitter Joe Ferguson, aiming to load the bases and set up a potential double play-prompting both benches to clear, resulting in a near riot on the field. The umpires subsequently ejected Russell, which led to Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda storming onto the field in protest, resulting in his own ejection. McGraw received a warning, while Dodgers player Davey Lopes expressed his discontent regarding McGraw's lack of ejection, stating, "He's got his day coming. I don't care if it's eight years from now."

When asked if he had intentionally thrown at the batter, McGraw noted that it was the first intentional walk pitch he had thrown that was swung at. And now you know the rest of the story.

#tugmcgraw #philadelphia #veteransstadium #phillies #dodgers #daveylopes #joeferguson #tommylasorda #Billrussell #bobboone #baseball #benchriot #yagottabelieve #tugmcgrawfoundation #dogpile

Fly Eagles Fly 💚🦅 Thank you for an incredible season. We are feeling proud for Philadelphia, their team and their fans!!!. #eagles #philadelphia #yagottabelieve #eaglenation #yagottabelieve

Tube socks and all! @markmcgraw rocking it for the Rose Tree Colts🐴. Tubes socks were popular during thr rise of our fitness in the 80s. #Super Bowl #throwbackpicday #eagles #chiefs #weatherdelay #80s #tubesocks #dolphinshorts #superbowlcommercials

Eagles 🦅 or Chiefs 🪶? The football 🏈 doesn't fall far from the goal post ⚾️🤠Fun photo of Tug McGraw and Tim McGraw in their 60's 80's football unis. Here's to a great game and commercials! #superbowl #eagles #chiefs #neworleans #eagles #chiefs #tugmcgraw #timmcgraw #footballuniforms #60s #80s #90s #superbowlcommercials

"Naturally as humans, we are taught to look for things, not see things."

Fred, we were so heart broken to hear of your passing. Thank you for your incredible wisdom and the sharing of your talents you gave us over the years. From leading photo walks to Fleet Week exhibits and golf. A tremendous talent and friend. RIP Fred

ABOUT FRED HUTTON
US ARMY VETERAN | Fred's work has appeared in, and has been recognized by, design magazines, professional societies and art directors clubs including: American Institute of Graphic Arts, Art Direction Magazine, Art Directors of New York, Art Directors Club of Los Angeles, Industrial Design Magazine, Journal of Commercial Art/Communication Arts, Packing Design Magazine, Print Magazine, Type Directors Club of New York, and various national, trade and consumer magazines.
Fred was awarded an Honorary Master of Science degree from Brooks Institute. He studied at Art Center College of Design, majoring in Advertising and Graphic Design. Fred also attended UCLA, majoring in Education, and El Camino College, earning an Associate Arts degree in Education.

#army #veteran #artist #photographer #fredhutton #tugmcgraw #tugmcgrawfoundation #yountville #golf #ucle #brooksphotography

Thank you to all the fire fighters, first responders, and everyone who supports them behind the scenes; including those at home ❤️and those who feed and care for them while they are working in the most extreme conditions at times. @markpara45 we are thinking of you and your team. We appreciate all of you. #firefighter #philadelphia #firstresponders #thankyou

Extending heartfelt prayers to all the crew and passengers aboard American Airlines and the Blackhawk. Our thoughts and love go out to all the passengers, crew members, first responders, and their families. Love, hope, compassion and strength to all.

#americanairlines #DC #prayers #blackhawk #tugmcgrawfoundation #psa #army

Champions to the Rescue 🦮🐕‍🦺🦮🐕‍🦺🐾 Ya Gotta Believe in the Tony La Russa Family @larussarescue and their team 🙌 American Heroes, musicians, comedians, non-profits and members of the A's dynasty team came together to help further quality of life and find solutions for the animals that care for us. Thank you @mach1hotsauce for a memorable evening. Truly heartwarming to see this pool of talent reminiscing over their love for veterans, canines, and baseball. High 🐾 Paws to all who care, protect and place animals. Billie Bob @theboxmasters and @sarahtiana for Baseball Comissioners 😉!!! job well done 👊🙌

#tonylarussarescue #serviceanimals #nonprofits #bayarea #pets #animalrescue #tonylarussa #sarahtiana #penfedfiundation #andreamccarren #jimdimatteo #beckycalder #scotthasting #billybobthorton #adamduritz #josecanseco #davestewart #deniseeckersley #topgun #mlb #oakland #mach3hotsauce #support

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow us on Instagram

@thetugmcgraw

OUR MISSION
Connect. Collaborate. Achieve Together

The Tug McGraw Foundation (TMF) is a grassroots organization established by former MLB pitcher and United States Marine Veteran, Tug McGraw. The mission, to enhance the quality of life for individuals diagnosed with debilitating neurological brain conditions such as glioblastoma brain tumors, mild-traumatic brain injury from military exposures, and post-traumatic stress.

Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Poster_May Schedule.png

2025 SCHEDULE

Get Your Free Tickets

Schedule_2025 Mixed Nutts-Tug McGraw-Borman Field.png

Opening Day

Pre Season Game

How We Deliver

We aim to improve quality of life for those affected by brain-related trauma and tumors through education, resources and brain wellness programs. We do so through...

TMF Programs

Providing sustainable brain wellness and brain engaging programs that help improve cognitive functions, physical fitness, food choices, as well as spiritual and social connections