The New York Yankees community is in mourning following the passing of former pitcher Wayne Granger, who made history during his Hall of Fame career. The 81-year-old, a Springfield, Massachusetts native, spent nine seasons in the MLB, pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, and Montreal Expos. But it was his time with the Cincinnati Reds that earned him a spot in the team's Hall of Fame, as he became the first pitcher to appear in 90 games in a single season in 1969. His best campaign came in 1970 when he finished 59 games with 35 total saves. However, Granger is also remembered for a controversial moment in his career. In the 1970 World Series, he gave up a grand slam to the Baltimore Orioles' Dave McNally, the only pitcher to ever do so. After his retirement in 1976, Granger was inducted into the Reds' team Hall of Fame six years later. His career ERA was 3.14 across 638 2/3 innings, and he recorded 108 saves and struck out 303 opponents. The Yankees are preparing to retire the jersey number of another standout great, CC Sabathia, emphasizing once again just how many legendary players have passed through the organization. But the news of Granger's passing has sparked a discussion about the importance of recognizing and honoring the contributions of all former players, not just the most famous ones. As the Yankees prepare to celebrate Sabathia, fans are left to ponder: should the team do more to honor the careers of all its former players, or is it enough to celebrate the legends?
