R.I.P. Jim "Mudcat" Grant

Jim “Mudcat” Grant, who was the starting pitcher in the first game in Montreal Expos history, passed away on Saturday at the age of 85.

June 12, 2021

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Jim (Mudcat) Grant, the Expos Opening Day pitcher in their inaugural season of 1969, died June 12 at the age of 85.

Grant, who was at the tail end of his illustrious career, appeared in 11 games for the Expos in 1969 after being claimed in the 1968 expansion draft from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Grant didn't have much success with the Expos and was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals after only two months in exchange for pitcher Gary Waslewski.

In the season opener, Grant lasted 1 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and three runs but the Expos won the game 11-10. His log with the Expos overall in 50 2/3 innings was a 1-6 record and 4.80 ERA.

Grant gained notoriety with the Minnesota Twins in 1965 when he won 21 games and pitched marvellously with a 2-1 record in the World Series when they lost to the Dodgers. His three-run homer in Game 6 of the World Series forced a seventh and deciding game.

Later in life, Grant was a broadcaster and an activist/advocate for Black participation in baseball.

Grant's nickname stemmed from a comment made by his Cleveland teammate Larry Doby, who jokingly said Grant was "ugly as a Mississippi mudcat.'' In reality, Mudcat was a pretty good looking man.