Former Major League Baseball reliever Wayne Granger has died at the age of 81, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday evening.
A 6-foot-4 right-hander from Springfield, Massachusetts, Granger began his professional career after signing with the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent. He made his MLB debut in 1968 and impressed as a rookie, posting a 2.25 ERA over 44 innings. That season, he made a mop-up appearance in the World Series, throwing two scoreless innings in Game 6 against the Detroit Tigers, who ultimately rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to win the championship.
Granger’s first stint with St. Louis ended shortly thereafter when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds along with 23-year-old outfielder Bobby Tolan in exchange for veteran center fielder Vada Pinson. The deal proved beneficial for Cincinnati. While Pinson spent just one season in St. Louis before being dealt again, Tolan enjoyed several strong years, and Granger became a vital piece of the Reds’ bullpen as the “Big Red Machine” began to take shape.
During his three seasons in Cincinnati, Granger emerged as one of baseball’s most durable and dependable relievers. In 1969, he led the majors with 90 appearances and 55 games finished, logging an impressive 144 2/3 innings out of the bullpen while recording a 2.80 ERA. That year marked the first season MLB officially recognized the save statistic, and Granger’s 27 saves ranked tied for third in the league.
He followed that performance with another standout campaign in 1970, once again posting a sub-3.00 ERA while throwing 84 2/3 innings. Granger led the majors with 35 saves, which at the time set a single-season record (including retroactive totals from earlier eras). Pitching for a 102-win Reds team provided ample opportunities, though his postseason results were less favorable. He surrendered five runs in two innings across two appearances during the 1970 World Series, as Cincinnati fell to the Baltimore Orioles in five games.
Granger played one more year with the Reds, again leading the National League in appearances in 1971, before being traded to the Minnesota Twins. He spent a season in Minnesota and later had stints with the New York Yankees, returned briefly to the Cardinals, and also pitched for the Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, and Montreal Expos.
He retired following the 1976 season and was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame six years later. Over his nine-year career, Granger compiled a 3.14 ERA across 638 2/3 innings, recording 108 saves and 303 strikeouts.
