Former Minnesota Twins pitcher Jim “Mudcat” Grant died on Saturday at the age of 85.
Grant spent four years with the Twins where the right-hander posted a record of 50-35 with a 3.35 ERA. His best season came in 1965 where he went 21-7 with a 3.30 ERA to help lead the Twins to the American League pennant.
During the 1965 regular season, Grant went 21-7 with a 3.30 ERA (270.1 IP, 99 ER), 61 walks and 142 strikeouts in 41 games (39 starts), leading the American League in victories while becoming the 2nd African American pitcher in major league history to win 20 games. #MNTwins https://t.co/zo4L7g9F9Q
— Dustin Morse (@morsecode) June 12, 2021
While Grant’s career on the field included 145 major league victories, he made an impact off of it upon his retirement. After serving as the Publicity Director for the North American Softball League, Grant became a broadcaster and executive for the Cleveland Indians as well as a broadcaster for the Oakland Athletics.
Grant also spent time studying and promoting the history of Black players in baseball. As the second Black pitcher to win 20 games in a season, his success paved the way for players such as Vida Blue, Dwight Gooden, David Price and others.
Grant also became an accomplished blues musician that played on The Johnny Carson Show and played with Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
Grant’s career spanned 16 seasons with seven different teams but Twins fans will have fond memories of the pitcher they called “Mudcat.”
