Wayne Granger
Encyclopedia
Wayne Allan Granger is a former Major League Baseball
right-handed relief pitcher
who played for the St. Louis Cardinals
(1968), Cincinnati Reds
(1969–1971), Minnesota Twins
(1972), St. Louis Cardinals
(1973), New York Yankees
(1973), Chicago White Sox
(1974), Houston Astros
(1975) and Montreal Expos
(1976). An alumnus of Springfield College
, the skinny 6-4 and 165-pound Granger was one of baseball's most effective and durable relief pitchers during the early years of Cincinnati's famed Big Red Machine
. He earned induction in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1982.
Originally signed by the St. Louis Cardinals
as an amateur free agent in 1965, Granger made his big-league debut on June 5, 1968. The rookie sinkerballer went 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA that season. However, on October 11, 1968, the Cardinals traded Bobby Tolan
and Granger to the Cincinnati Reds
for Vada Pinson
.
With the Reds in 1969 Granger posted a 9-6 record and 2.79 ERA with 27 saves in a then-NL-record 90 appearances, and he won the first of two straight NL Fireman of the Year awards. The following season, he set an NL record with 35 saves (since broken) while going 6-5 with a 2.66 ERA. That season, he ranked eighth in NL Cy Young Award
voting.
During Game 3 of the 1970 World Series
against the Baltimore Orioles
, Granger surrendered a grand slam to opposing pitcher Dave McNally
. It is the only time in World Series
history that a pitcher has hit a grand slam. The Reds lost the best-of-seven series in five games, and Granger never again pitched in the postseason.
After Cincinnati, Granger pitched for several other teams but never really again experienced the success he had with the Reds.
Arm injuries eventually cut short his career in 1976.
Before his professional career Wayne Granger played 2 seasons in the province of Quebec ( Saguenay senior league ) in 1963 and 1964. In 1963 for the Jonquiere Braves and for Port-Alfred in 1964. Two another MLB players also played in that league: Art Ditmar and Ruben Gomez.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right-handed relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
who played for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1968), Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1969–1971), Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1972), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1973), New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1973), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1974), Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1975) and Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(1976). An alumnus of Springfield College
Springfield College
Springfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented...
, the skinny 6-4 and 165-pound Granger was one of baseball's most effective and durable relief pitchers during the early years of Cincinnati's famed Big Red Machine
The Big Red Machine
The Big Red Machine is the nickname given to the Cincinnati Reds baseball team which dominated the National League from 1970 to 1976, recognized as among the best in baseball. Over that span, the team won five National League Western Division titles, four National League pennants, and two World...
. He earned induction in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1982.
Originally signed by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
as an amateur free agent in 1965, Granger made his big-league debut on June 5, 1968. The rookie sinkerballer went 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA that season. However, on October 11, 1968, the Cardinals traded Bobby Tolan
Bobby Tolan
Robert Tolan is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball. Tolan, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , San Diego Padres , Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates...
and Granger to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Vada Pinson
Vada Pinson
Vada Edward Pinson, Jr. was an American center fielder and coach in Major League Baseball. Pinson played in the major leagues for 18 years, from 1958 through 1975, and his greatest seasons were with the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds, for whom he played from 1958–68.Pinson combined power, speed and...
.
With the Reds in 1969 Granger posted a 9-6 record and 2.79 ERA with 27 saves in a then-NL-record 90 appearances, and he won the first of two straight NL Fireman of the Year awards. The following season, he set an NL record with 35 saves (since broken) while going 6-5 with a 2.66 ERA. That season, he ranked eighth in NL Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting.
During Game 3 of the 1970 World Series
1970 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 10, 1970 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe Jackson 5 performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the game, which almost became an embarrassment when the group realized shortly before their performance that they weren't familiar with the lyrics...
against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, Granger surrendered a grand slam to opposing pitcher Dave McNally
Dave McNally
David Arthur "Dave" McNally was a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher from until . He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and played with them every season except for his final season with the Montreal Expos.McNally has the unique distinction as the only pitcher in Major League...
. It is the only time in World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
history that a pitcher has hit a grand slam. The Reds lost the best-of-seven series in five games, and Granger never again pitched in the postseason.
After Cincinnati, Granger pitched for several other teams but never really again experienced the success he had with the Reds.
Arm injuries eventually cut short his career in 1976.
Before his professional career Wayne Granger played 2 seasons in the province of Quebec ( Saguenay senior league ) in 1963 and 1964. In 1963 for the Jonquiere Braves and for Port-Alfred in 1964. Two another MLB players also played in that league: Art Ditmar and Ruben Gomez.
Awards
- Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame inductee: 1982
- Fireman of the Year award: 1969 and 1970
League leader
- Games: 1969 (90) and 1971 (70)
- Saves: 1970 (35)
- Games Finished: 1969 (55) and 1970 (59)