Phillies’ 6 biggest MLB Winter Meetings moves

No. 2: Phillies acquire Tug McGraw from Mets on Dec. 3, 1974

In another Winter Meetings move that saw the Phillies claim a division rival's player, Philadelphia traded for Tug McGraw from the New York Mets on Dec. 3, 1974.

The left-handed reliever had spent nine seasons in New York before being acquired by the Phillies, along with Don Hahn and Dave Schneck. The Phillies sent Del Unser, John Stearns, and Mac Scarce back in what turned out to be a winning deal for general manager Paul Owens.

Known for his larger-than-life personality, McGraw and his screwball spent 10 seasons in Philadelphia, where he threw 722 innings of 3.10 ERA relief, finishing with a 49-37 record and 94 of his 180 career saves.

The "Ya Gotta Believe" mantra-toting southpaw made a big first impression with his new team, being named to his second-career All-Star game in his 1975 Phillies debut season. He threw a whopping 102 2/3 innings over 56 appearances, converted 14 saves, and kept a tidy 2.98 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

Already a World Series champion with the 1969 Mets, McGraw made playoff appearances in 1976, 1977, and 1978 with the Phillies before finally helping to secure the franchise's first World Series in 1980. He also pitched in the 1981 postseason.

That 1980 championship season was McGraw's best with the Phillies. He pitched 92 1/3 innings over 57 games, recorded 20 saves, and ran a 1.46 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. He finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting and even earned MVP votes. In the World Series, he made four appearances with a 1.17 ERA and struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings, registering two saves.

How big was this Winter Meetings trade? McGraw got the final out of the Fall Classic that year.

NEXT: A Winter Meetings free agent signing that brought the all-time hits leader and a World Series to Philadelphia.