06/15/2021
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing on June 11th of Jim "Mudcat" Grant. Mudcat was an American baseball pitcher who played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1958 to 1971. He was a two-time All-Star.[1]
In 1965, Grant became the first black pitcher to win 20 games in a season in the American League and the first black pitcher to win a World Series game for the American League. He pitched two complete-game World Series victories in 1965, hitting a three-run home run in game 6, and was named The Sporting News American League Pitcher of the Year.[2]
His love for youth and giving back to so many will never be forgotten. He was kind and funny and could sing the blues like no one else. He loved his family and his wife Trudy so much. His smile was infectious and his smile changed the world for so many.
Mudcat, thank you for your may years of support of the Broome County Urban League and our youth and family programs. We will miss you and never forget all you have given to us and so many in our community.
