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Teammates said that 6'2" 165-lb Wayne Granger could "shower in a shotgun barrel." As a rookie Cardinals reliever in 1968, the sinkerballer recorded a 2.25 ERA. Swapped to the Reds with Bobby Tolan for Vada Pinson, in 1969 he went 9-6 (2.79) with 27 saves in a then-NL-record 90 appearances, winning his first of two straight Fireman of the Year awards. His 35 saves in 1970 set a since-broken NL mark. After yielding a grand slam to Orioles pitcher Dave McNally in Game Three of the '70 WS, Granger was never again as effective, though his 70 appearances in 1971 were again the NL high. He saved 19 games in 1972 for the Twins before arm trouble curtailed his effectiveness. He retired with 108 saves. (MC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » October 11, 1968: The Cards trade OF Bobby Tolan and P Wayne Granger to the Reds for OF Vada Pinson. » July 3, 1969: At Los Angeles, Lee May hits a 2-run homer in the 11th and the Reds beat the Dodgers, 4–3. For May, second in the National League to Willie McCovey (27) in dingers, it is his 23rd homer, matching his birth date and uniform number (his younger brother Carlos May will also have his birth date as his uniform number). Wayne Granger, the 3rd Red pitcher in the 11th, stops the Dodger rally. » September 28, 1969: Cincinnati reliever Wayne Granger sets a major-league record with his 89th appearance in a 4–1 win versus Houston. » May 1, 1970: At Cincinnati, the Reds lead the Pirates, 6–4, with two outs in the 9th and Willie Stargell comes to the plate. Sparky Anderson then moves pitcher Wayne Granger to LF, not wanting to remove him if Stargell reaches base, and brings in Don Gullett to face the Bucs slugger. Stargell, who accounted for all the Bucs runs with a grand slam, strikes out, and the Reds win, 6–4. » May 17, 1970: At Crosley Field, Hank Aaron collects his 3,000th hit, a first-inning infield single, and his 570th home run, off Wayne Granger, but the Reds beat Atlanta, 7–6 in 15 innings. Pete Rose's 9th inning homer knots the game at 3–3, and the Reds score another three in the 10th to tie the game at six apiece. The Reds score in the 10th on a double by Tony Perez and homers by Johnny Bench (who starts the game in CF) and Lee May. Don Gullett pitches the last two innings and drives in the winner with a single. Perez is 5-for-7 in the contest. Aaron is collared in game 1, a 5–1 Reds victory. The DH draws 33,217, the largest crowd at Crosley Field since 1947. » October 13, 1970: The Orioles win their 3rd straight over the Reds 9–3, with winning pitcher Dave McNally slugging a grand slam off Wayne Granger, the only one by a pitcher in World Series history. Frank Robinson and Don Buford also contribute homers, and 3B Brooks Robinson continues his excellence with the glove, as he makes two spectacular grabs in the field. » August 13, 1971: Reds pitchers Don Gullett and Wayne Granger combine on a one-hitter, beating the visiting Cubs, 8–2. The lone Cub safety is a 2-out double by Cleon Jones in the 8th inning. Granger pitches a hitless 9th. » December 3, 1971: You mean he's not the singer? The Reds get P Tom Hall from the Twins for P Wayne Granger.