Yankees Former Pitcher, Who Made History In Hall Of Fame NL Career, Dies

The New York Yankees are preparing to retire the jersey number of another standout great, emphasizing once again just how many legendary players have passed through the organization.

When the team adds former starter CC Sabathia’s No. 52 to its Monument Park collection of honorary plaques, it will have a total of two dozen numbers that are retired in honor of former players and managers.

But shortly following the news that the team would be honoring Sabathia with its latest retirement ceremony, Yankees fans heard that former pitcher Wayne Granger had died at age 81.

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New York Yankees Former Reliever Wayne Granger Dies

Long-time Yankees fans might remember Granger from the 1973 campaign, when he appeared in seven games for the Bronx Bombers with a 1.76 ERA. But he’s probably best remembered for his time with the Cincinnati Reds, which earned him a spot in that team’s Hall of Fame following two different seasons of MVP Award votes as a reliever.

“Granger became the first pitcher to appear in 90 games in a single season when he did so for the Reds in 1969,” the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Dave Clark wrote following the former player’s death. “Granger spent most of his nine-season MLB career with the Reds. He also pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros and Montreal Expos.”

Granger, a native of Springfield, Mass., joined the Cape Cod Baseball League out of high school and was eventually elected to that league’s Hall of Fame as well. He was signed by the Cardinals as a free agent in 1965 and made his big-league debut with the team in 1968.

He joined the Reds last that season as part of a trade and went on to become one of the most productive relievers in all of baseball in the 1960s and 1970s. His best campaign came in 1970 when he finished 59 games with 35 total saves.

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New York Yankees’ Former Reliever Wayne Granger Made MLB History

In addition to making history as the first pitcher to appear in 90 games in one season, Granger is also the only pitcher to ever give up a World Series grand slam to another pitcher — the Baltimore Orioles’ Dave McNally took him yard with the bases loaded in the 1970 Fall Classic.

In 1973, after briefly returning to the Cardinals, Granger joined the Yankees to finish out the season and appeared in just over 15 innings. After that campaign, he joined the White Sox, then Astros, then Expos before hanging up his spikes for good.

“He retired after the 1976 season and was inducted into the Reds’ team Hall of Fame six years later,” Anthony Franco wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “Granger finished his career with a 3.14 ERA across 638 2/3 innings. He recorded 108 saves and struck out 303 opponents.”