Former MLB reliever Wayne Granger passed away on Wednesday at the age of 81. The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced the news this evening.
Granger, a 6’4″ right-handed pitcher, is a native of Springfield, Massachusetts. He signed with the Cardinals as an amateur free agent and traveled to St. Louis during the 1968 season. Granger threw 44 innings of 2.25 ERA ball as a rookie. He pitched one mop-up in that year’s World Series, going two scoreless innings in a Game 6 loss against the Tigers. Detroit would win the decision the next night, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit.
That ended up being Granger’s last appearance in a St. Louis uniform. Louis. The Cardinals traded him to Cincinnati along with a 23-year-old outfielder Bobby Tolan for Vada Pinsona center fielder at the time who was in the declining phase of his career.
It was a win for Mabomvu. Pinson played one season with the Cardinals, hitting .255 with 10 homers, and was traded to Cleveland the following year. Tolan had a short peak but had three excellent seasons to set the table in front of the big bats as the Big Red Machine’s dynasty developed.
Granger has been a bullpen in his three seasons in Cincinnati. He led the majors in appearances (90) and shutouts (55) in his first year with the Reds. Granger threw 144 2/3 innings — a large number out of the bullpen even in an era when most relievers pitched multiple innings — and worked to a 2.80 ERA. The ’69 season was the first in which MLB officially recognized save statistics. Granger hit 27, tying him for third most in the majors.
He had a similar show the following year. Granger also posted an ERA under 3.00 while logging 84 2/3 innings during the regular season. He led the majors with a career-high 35 saves, which was then the most in a season in MLB history (including the pre-repetition statistics that were officially accepted as statistics).
That was indicative of the changing way teams use relievers. It didn’t hurt that a 102-win Cincinnati team gave Granger plenty of opportunities to shut the door. He pitched well himself, though, though that unfortunately didn’t carry over into the postseason. Granger gave up five runs in two innings over two appearances in the 1970 World Series. The Reds dropped a five-game set to the Orioles.
Granger played one more season in Cincinnati, again leading the National League in hits in 1971. The Reds traded him to the Twins after that season. Granger stopped for one year in Minnesota before kicking a few clubs (Yankees, second base in St. Louis, White Sox, Astros and Expos).
He retired after the 1976 season and was inducted into the Reds’ Hall of Fame six years later. Granger finished his career with a 3.14 ERA in 638 2/3 innings. She recorded 108 saves and killed 303 opponents. MLBTR sends its condolences to his family, friends, teammates and loved ones.
