1976 Topps #516 - Wayne Granger

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• Wayne Granger pitched for seven teams from 1968-1976. Wayne was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965. He was a starting pitcher in 1965 but after that Wayne was a reliever and spot starter. In 1968 Wayne got his chance with the Cardinals and went 4-2 with four saves and a 2.25 ERA in 34 games. Granger pitched two scoreless innings in game 6 of the 1968 World Series. After the 1968 season Granger and  Bobby Tolan were traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Vada Pinson.
• Wayne had three good seasons with the Reds. In 1969 he led the NL with 90 appearances and was 9-6 with 27 saves and a 2.80 ERA. Granger got a few votes in NL Cy Young Award balloting in 1970. He went 6-5 with a league-leading 35 saves and a 2.66 ERA in 67 games. Wayne made one appearance in the NLCS (2/3 of an inning with no runs allowed) and made two appearances in the World Series. Granger pitched 1.1 innings and allowed five runs (33.75 ERA). Wayne gave up a grand slam  to Dave McNally in game 3. It was the only time a pitcher has ever hit a grand slam in a World Series game.
• In 1971 Wayne again led the NL in appearances again with 70. Granger was 7-6 and had 11 saves and a 3.33 ERA. After the 1971 season the Reds decided to go with Clay Carroll as their closer and traded Granger to the Minnesota Twins for Tom Hall.
• Wayne went 4-6 with 19 saves and a 3.01 ERA in 63 games for the Twins in 1972. After the 1972 season Granger was traded to the Cardinals for John Cumberland and Larry Hisle.
• Granger started the 1973 season with the Cardinals (2-4, 5 saves, 4.24 ERA) and was  traded to the New York Yankees on August 7 for Ken Crosby and cash. Wayne was 0-1 with a 1.76 ERA in seven appearances with the Yankees.
• Wayne didn't make the Yankees club in 1974 and was released during spring training. Granger signed with the Chicago White Sox in April  and was up and down between the White Sox and AAA Iowa. Wayne made five appearances with the White Sox in 1974 and had no record and an 8.22 ERA. Granger was released by the White Sox after the season and signed with the Houston Astros.
• Granger pitched in 55 games in 1975 and was 2-5 with five saves and a 3.65 ERA. He was released after the season and signed with the Montreal Expos. Wayne started the 1976 season with the Expos and was 1-0 with two saves and a 3.66 ERA in 27 games. Granger was sent to the minors in late June and didn't come back up. 
• After the 1976 season Wayne was  released again and signed with the Atlanta Braves. His arm injuries caught up to him and he didn't make the Braves squad. Wayne retired after he was released by the Braves.
• Granger now lives in Huntington, MA. Here is his TTM information. Wayne will be inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame in November 2010.
• Liked to face: Dave Cash (.000 in 15 AB); Bill Russell/Enzo Hernandez (.083 in 12 AB)
• Hated to face: Dennis Menke/Rusty Staub/Deron Johnson (.500 in 10 AB)