2025 SCHEDULE
Ya Gotta Believe
Opening Day
Pre Season Game
The Mixed Nutts Play with Purpose
The Tug McGraw Foundation Mixed Nutts Softball Program, is one of three wellness programs designed by the Tug McGraw Foundation for the veteran residents and spouses at the Veterans Home of California, Yountville. Through the game of softball, The Mixed Nutts program aims to help players to improve their physical, cognitive, social and spiritual components of their health. Quality of life enhancement is our goal for as many residents as possible. Creating sustainable programs around exercise, healthy eating, and socialization in turn creates a community support system to help better achieve one’s wellness goals.
Why Purpose Matters for the Brain and Body
Purpose in Life (PIL) is a research area that focuses on the interactions between mind and body and the powerful ways in which emotional, mental, social, and spiritual factors can directly affect health. It links the belief that your life has meaning and purpose to a robust and persistently improved physiological health outcome. Kaplin, A., Anzaldi L., 2015. New Movement in Neuroscience: A Purpose Driven Life.
Photo: "Uncle" Hank McGraw, Tug's brother was a regular fixture at the Mixed Nuts games. Uncle Hank giving a hug to U.S. Army Veteran, Corpsman, Coach Tom Parkinson after delivering the first pitch. #RIPUNCLEHANK
Empowering
Quality of Life Together
Behind The Scenes & Who We Play
• Mixed Nutts play on Cleve Borman Field, a hidden “Field of Dreams” dating back to the late 1800s, located on the Veterans Home of California, Yountville
• K&P Weaver Vintage Uniform designers together with the Tug McGraw Foundation reproduced the Mixed Nutts uniforms from the Veteran’s Home original 1914 uniforms, a semi pro team that play on Borman Field.
• Mixed Nutts’ Team is comprised of veterans, veteran spouses from the Yountville Veterans Home. They range in ages from 54-93 years old.
• Mixed Nutts play members from the First Responders, Law Enforcement, community, and local businesses
** In 2021, Meristem School for young adults on the autism spectrum designed a program for their students to have an opportunity to play ball. Because of the Mixed Nutts and Jack Brusstar, it was a first for many of the students to ever be on a field and field a team. In 2025, the Meristem students will be back and we welcome all individuals that day who would like to come out and join them!
Media Room
Get Caught Up on the Nutts
The Event that Rolled Back Time #BrainBliss
For Our Nation's Veterans, First Responders, and Healthcare Workers
By Janel Andronico, ABC 7 Eyewitness News
Monday, November 7, 2022 1:25PM
YOUNTVILLE, Calif. -- Play ball! Superstars Guy Fieri and Tim McGraw recently joined forces to fundraise for Wine Country Weekend, consisting of food, softball and music! The event raised over one million dollars to benefit brain health and wellness for veterans, first responders, and healthcare professionals.
"Both Tim and I have the same appreciation and admiration for our vets and for active military. And when we started talking about this, it just kept escalating like, 'okay, well, let's have a food wine event. Okay, well, let's have a concert. Okay, well, let's feed the vets,'" explained Fieri.
The event transformed into all of the above plus a softball game happening at Veterans Home of California Yountville.
"I've been here 12 years, and this is the most incredible event this home has ever had in the 12 years I've been here. This is beyond belief," said Gary Sloan Allied Council Chair of the Veterans Home.
"It made me tear up a few times. You see these, these guys come through and you realize what they've sacrificed," said McGraw. "It makes me feel awesome that we're able to do this and they're able to get out and come enjoy a day like this and get to spend some time...seeing something that's appreciating them."
Ya Gotta Believe
A Place Where Tug Played and the Home of the Foundation
The Tug McGraw Foundation is located on the grounds of the Veterans Home of California in Yountville. This incredible place is home to nearly 1000 veteran residents. It's also home to one of our nation's most beautiful baseball fields. A field of dreams that Tug loved to play on while growing up in the Napa Valley region. And since Tug McGraw was also a marine, it seemed the perfect choice to make our foundation's headquarters rooted right here at the Yountville Veterans Home.