Jim Grant (#545)

I see that the Twins are in last place on this blog with only 6 posts, and since Mudcat Grant is the only unposted Twin already scanned to my computer...

Jim "Mudcat" Grant was a star pitcher for the Indians and Twins, before finishing his career with several other teams.

Mudcat was signed by the Indians in 1954. After 4 seasons in the minors, he made his debut with the Indians in April 1958. Grant was a swingman for 3 seasons, then joined the starting rotation fulltime in 1961. He collected a then-career-high 15 wins that season.

In June 1964, Mudcat was traded to Minnesota for pitcher Lee Stange and 3B-OF George Banks. His finest season was 1965, when he led the AL with 21 wins and 6 shutouts, and propelled the Twins to their first World Series.

After the 1967 season (when he was one of six "Jims" on the pitching staff), Grant and shortstop Zoilo Versailes were traded to the Dodgers for catcher John Roseboro and relievers Ron Perranoski and Bob Miller. Grant spent his final 4 seasons bouncing from Los Angeles to Montreal to St Louis to Oakland to Pittsburgh and back to Oakland.

Jim was released by the Athletics after the 1971 season, and pitched for their AAA Iowa Oaks team in 1972, before retiring.  


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