Former MLB reliever Wayne Granger passed away on Wednesday at 81. The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced the news this evening.
Granger, a 6’4″ right-handed pitcher, was a native of Springfield, Massachusetts. He signed with the Cardinals as an amateur free agent and debuted with St. Louis during the 1968 season. Granger tossed 44 innings of 2.25 ERA ball as a rookie. He made one mop-up appearance in that year’s World Series, getting through two scoreless innings in a blowout loss in Game 6 against the Tigers. Detroit would win the decider the next night, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit.
That wound up being Granger’s final appearance of his first stint in a St. Louis uniform. The Cardinals traded him to Cincinnati alongside 23-year-old outfielder Bobby Tolan for Vada Pinson, a star center fielder who was by that point in the decline phase of his career.
It turned out to be a win for the Reds. Pinson played one season with the Cardinals, hitting .255 with 10 homers, and was traded to Cleveland a year later. Tolan had a brief peak but had three excellent seasons as a table-setter in front of the bigger bats as the Big Red Machine dynasty developed.
Granger was a bullpen workhorse over his three seasons in Cincinnati. He led the majors in appearances (90) and games finished (55) during his first year with the Reds. Granger threw 144 2/3 innings — a huge amount out of the bullpen even at a time when most relievers went multiple innings — and worked to a 2.80 ERA. The ’69 season was the first in which MLB officially recognized the save statistic. Granger picked up 27, tying him for third-most in the majors.
He had a similar showing the following year. Granger again posted a sub-3.00 ERA while logging 84 2/3 innings during the regular season. He led the majors with a career-high 35 saves, which was at the time the most in a season in MLB history (including retroactive tallies from before it was officially recognized as a stat).
That was mostly a reflection of the changing way in which teams used their relievers. It certainly didn’t hurt that a 102-win Cincinnati team gave Granger plenty of opportunities to shut the door. He pitched quite well in his own right, however, although that unfortunately didn’t extend to the postseason. Granger gave up five runs in two innings over a pair of 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 appearances in 1971. The Reds traded him to the Twins after that season. Granger pitched one year in Minnesota before kicking around to a handful of clubs (Yankees, a second stint in St. Louis, White Sox, Astros and Expos).
He retired after the 1976 season and was inducted into the Reds’ team Hall of Fame six years later. Granger finished his career with a 3.14 ERA across 638 2/3 innings. He recorded 108 saves and struck out 303 opponents. MLBTR sends condolences to his family, friends, former teammates and loved ones.
Sad to hear of Wayne Granger’s passing, probably the first closer of the save era on the Reds I remember hearing about.
RIP, good sir. Condolences to his family and friends.
90 appearances and 144 innings pitched in 1969. An average of 1.66 innings per appearance. Just incredible numbers for a reliever pitching to contact. Simply amazing.
Manager Sparky Anderson wasn’t called “Captain Hook” for nothing. Explains the 90 appearances!
Never heard of this guy, but wow, a really good reliever. Really neat that in 1970 he held the season record for saves. Not too many players can claim they held a season record for any stat in MLB at one time.
RIP
RIP
Bobby Tolan is why I knew about Achilles tendons when I was eleven years old
I remember Tolan for his unique batting stance. He held the bat higher than anybody else I have seen. And he could hit. Those Reds teams were loaded. RIP Wayne Granger. Another of my baseball cards gone.
His batting stance was one the neighborhood kids liked to mimic, along with Pete Rose’s crouch and Joe Morgan’s chicken flap.
Rest in Paradise Mr. Granger 🌹
How do we live in a world where Harold Baines is in the HOF but Vada Pinson isnt?
Or Tommy John?
A man passes away and you post about other players HOF qualifications. Have you no shame?
And how do we live in a world with MORONS like you in it.
RIP MR GRANGER
Too much coffee this morning? Relax, dude.
If a comment about a teammate of Granger’s HOF worthiness gets you all bent out of shape I hope you never hear about our government.
Roobtheboob…as a matter of fact everytime I see a absolutely moronic post from an absolute moron, I spit my coffee out. As for the absolute moron in the orange sitting on his gold commode, I despise him and his fascist regime
And I despise his whole cult of followers
I remember Wayne from the Big Red Machine teams. Solid reliever. RIP
Technically the Reds were The Big Red Machine after winning the 1975 WS and then 1976. Granger left in 1971
First used in 1969, but became more widely used during their 1970 run to the N.L. pennant.
RIP
Springfield MA has become my adopted hometown. Interesting to read about the career of a pretty good pitcher I’d never heard of from a place I’ve taken an interest in.
RIP.
Granger broke Ted Abernathy’s record for appearances. He held the record until Mike Marshall ‘s 106 in 1974. Nobody else has ever pitched in one hundred games in a season.
I have a sweet PSA 9 card of Wayne’s 1971 Topps card. This set losing players weekly.
RIP Wayne Granger.
RIP Wayne Granger! Met him one off-season while was with Reds, as he was the guest speaker at a Hartford World Series Club dinner. Nice career. One note on the write up, the Tigers did not come back the next night, they came back the following afternoon. At this point you were still three years from first WS night game, and over a decasde away from all the games being at night.
RIP Wayne…..
There are nine seasons where a pitcher had 90+ appearances: Mike Marshall (3x), Kent Tekulve (3x), Salomon Torres, Pedro Feliciano, and Wayne Granger.
In 1969, he pitched seven straight days once and six straight days twice. I can’t argue that’s a good idea; still, it’s impressive.
RIP Mr Granger, my sincere condolences to your family and close friends
Vada Pinson should be in the HOF
Talk about a solid guy out of the pen. He’d have made a small fortune in today’s game. RIP, Mr. Granger.
His career ERA speaks for itself, and he only had a few bad years. Who he was traded for is also a testament to his talent.
A Reds legend. One of the better relievers you’ll find out there. Rest in peace, legend.
He was also the only pitcher in baseball history to give up a world series grand slam to another pitcher (Dave McNally).
Nice info. Thanks.
Growing up in Massachusetts I remember Wayne Granger nicknamed”The Springfield Rifle”.He was a durable reliever who had a season where he had more saves than walks.You were a legend in Springfield and everywhere else in Massachusetts.Rip Wayne!
Loved his underhanded -sidearm delivery.