Mudcat Grant
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| Mudcat Grant | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | ||
| Born: August 13, 1935 | ||
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | ||
| April 17, 1958 for the Cleveland Indians |
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| Final game | ||
| September 29, 1971 for the Oakland Athletics |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Pitching record | 145-119 | |
| Earned run average | 3.62 | |
| Strikeouts | 1267 | |
| Teams | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||
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James Timothy "Mudcat" Grant (born August 13, 1935 in Land O' Lakes, Florida) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians (1958-64), Minnesota Twins (1964-67), Los Angeles Dodgers (1968), Montreal Expos (1969), St. Louis Cardinals (1969), Oakland Athletics (1970 and 1971) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1970-71).
He helped the Twins win the 1965 American League Pennant, the Pirates win the 1970 National League Eastern Division and 1971 World Series and the Athletics win the 1971 American League Western Division.
He was named to the 1963 and 1965 American League All-Star Teams.
He finished 6th in voting for the 1965 American League MVP for leading the League in Wins (21), Won-Loss % (.750), Shutouts (6) and Home Runs Allowed (34). He also started 39 Games, had 14 Complete Games, 270 ⅓ Innings Pitched, 252 Hits Allowed, 107 Runs Allowed, 99 Earned Runs Allowed, 61 Walks, 142 Strikeouts, 8 Wild Pitches, 1,095 Batters Faced, 2 Intentional Walks and a 3.30 ERA. Grant's home run in the 6th game of the 1965 World Series was only the second by an American League pitcher during a World Series game.
He ranks 46th on the MLB Career Home Runs Allowed List (292).
In 14 years he had a 145-119 Win-Loss record, 571 Games, 293 Games Started, 89 Complete Games, 18 Shutouts, 160 Games Finished, 53 Saves, 2,441 ⅔ Innings Pitched, 2,292 Hits Allowed, 1,105 Runs Allowed, 985 Earned Runs Allowed, 292 Home Runs Allowed, 849 Walks, 1,267 Strikeouts, 33 Hit Batsmen, 60 Wild Pitches, 10,293 Batters Faced, 59 Intentional Walks, 3 Balks and a 3.63 ERA. Grant's home run during Game 6 of the 1965 World Series was only the second
After his playing career ended, Grant worked for the North American Softball League, one of three professional softball leagues active in the pro softball era. Grant later worked as a broadcaster and executive for the Indians, and also as a broadcaster for the Athletics.
In recent years, Grant has dedicated himself to studying and promoting the history of blacks in baseball. On his official website, Grant pays tribute to the thirteen black pitchers (including himself) who have won 20 games in a season. The "13 Black Aces" are: Vida Blue, Al Downing, Bob Gibson, Dwight Gooden, Grant, Ferguson Jenkins, Sad Sam Jones, Don Newcombe, Mike Norris, J.R. Richard, Dave Stewart, Dontrelle Willis, and Earl Wilson. In 2006, Grant released his long-awaited book, The Black Aces, Baseball's Only African-American Twenty-Game Winners, featuring chapters on each of the African-Americans to have at least one twenty win season, and also featuring Negro League players that Mudcat felt would have been 20 game winners if they were allowed to play. The book was featured in the Hall of Fame during Induction Weekend 2006, and in February 2007 President Bush honored Mudcat and fellow Aces, Ferguson Jenkins, Dontrelle Willis and Mike Norris, and the publication of the book at a ceremony at the White House. See [http://www.theblackaces.com} Mudcat's Black Aces Site
On April 14, 2008, he threw out the ceremonial opening pitch at Progressive Field to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his major league debut. Mudcat was also awarded the key to the city to honor the occasion.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- 12 Black Aces
- Cooperstown Confidential - 2004 interview
- BaseballLibrary.com - biography
| Preceded by Dean Chance & Gary Peters |
American League Wins Champion 1965 |
Succeeded by Jim Kaat |
