Former major league reliever Wayne Granger died Wednesday at the age of 81, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced.
A 6-foot-4 right-hander from Springfield, Massachusetts, Granger signed with the Cardinals as an amateur free agent and broke into the majors with St. Louis in 1968. As a rookie, he delivered 44 innings with a 2.25 ERA. He also made a mop-up appearance in the World Series that fall, tossing two scoreless frames in Game 6 against the Tigers, though Detroit ultimately claimed the championship after rallying from a 3-1 series deficit.
That outing marked the end of Granger’s first stint in St. Louis. The Cardinals dealt him to Cincinnati along with young outfielder Bobby Tolan in exchange for veteran center fielder Vada Pinson. While Pinson spent just one season in St. Louis before being traded again, the move proved beneficial for the Reds, as Tolan enjoyed several productive seasons and Granger became a key bullpen piece during the rise of the Big Red Machine.
Granger emerged as one of baseball’s most durable relievers during his three years in Cincinnati. In 1969, he led the majors with 90 appearances and 55 games finished, logging an eye-popping 144 2/3 innings out of the bullpen while posting a 2.80 ERA. That season marked the first year saves were officially tracked, and Granger recorded 27, tying for third-most in the league.
He followed with another standout campaign in 1970, finishing with a sub-3.00 ERA over 84 2/3 innings and pacing the majors with a career-high 35 saves — at the time the most ever recorded in a single season, including retroactive totals. Pitching for a 102-win Reds club, Granger frequently closed out victories, though his postseason struggles continued. He allowed five runs in two innings during the 1970 World Series, as Cincinnati fell to Baltimore in five games.
Granger returned to lead the National League in appearances again in 1971 before being traded to the Twins. After a season in Minnesota, he went on to pitch for several other teams, including the Yankees, Cardinals (second stint), White Sox, Astros and Expos.
He retired following the 1976 season and was inducted into the Reds’ team Hall of Fame six years later. Over nine big league seasons, Granger compiled a 3.14 ERA across 638 2/3 innings, collecting 108 saves and striking out 303 batters.
MLBTR extends its condolences to Granger’s family, friends, former teammates and loved ones.
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