Remembering Baseball Great Wayne Granger

Former Yankees pitcher and Hall of Famer passes away at 81

Apr. 12, 2026 at 10:14am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into overlapping planes of navy, forest green, and burnt sienna, conveying the conceptual essence of a legendary player's career.A cubist interpretation of a baseball pitcher's motion captures the complexity and artistry of the game's legends.Springfield Today

The New York Yankees community is mourning the passing of former pitcher Wayne Granger, an 81-year-old Hall of Famer who spent nine seasons in the MLB playing for several teams including the Yankees, Reds, and Expos. Granger was known for becoming the first pitcher to appear in 90 games in a single season while with the Reds in 1969, and his best year came in 1970 when he finished 59 games with 35 saves. However, he is also remembered for a controversial moment in the 1970 World Series when he gave up a grand slam, the only pitcher to ever do so.

Why it matters

Granger's passing has sparked a discussion about the importance of recognizing and honoring the contributions of all former players, not just the most famous ones. As the Yankees prepare to retire the jersey number of another standout great, CC Sabathia, fans are left to ponder whether the team should do more to honor the careers of all its former players.

The details

During his nine-year MLB career, Wayne Granger played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, and Montreal Expos. But it was his time with the Cincinnati Reds that earned him a spot in the team's Hall of Fame, as he became the first pitcher to appear in 90 games in a single season in 1969. His best campaign came in 1970 when he finished 59 games with 35 total saves. However, Granger is also remembered for a controversial moment in the 1970 World Series when he gave up a grand slam to the Baltimore Orioles' Dave McNally, the only pitcher to ever do so.

  • Granger spent nine seasons in the MLB, pitching from 1967 to 1976.
  • His best season came in 1970 when he finished 59 games with 35 saves.
  • Granger was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1982, six years after his retirement.

The players

Wayne Granger

An 81-year-old former MLB pitcher who spent nine seasons in the league, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, and Montreal Expos. He is best known for his time with the Cincinnati Reds, where he became the first pitcher to appear in 90 games in a single season in 1969 and had his best campaign in 1970 with 59 games finished and 35 saves.

Dave McNally

A former MLB pitcher who played for the Baltimore Orioles. He is remembered for hitting a grand slam off of Wayne Granger in the 1970 World Series, the only pitcher to ever do so.

CC Sabathia

A former MLB pitcher who spent the majority of his career with the New York Yankees. The Yankees are preparing to retire his jersey number, emphasizing the team's history of honoring its legendary players.

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The takeaway

Granger's passing has highlighted the need for the Yankees organization to do more to honor the careers of all its former players, not just the most famous ones. As the team prepares to retire the jersey of another standout great, CC Sabathia, fans are left to ponder whether the team should make a greater effort to recognize the contributions of all its past players, even those who may not have achieved the same level of fame and success as the true legends.