Democracy Dies in Darkness

Jim ‘Mudcat’ Grant, first Black pitcher to win 20 games in American League, dies at 85

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June 12, 2021 at 9:47 p.m. EDT
Minnesota Twins pitcher Jim “Mudcat” Grant in 1964. (Gene Herrick/AP)

Jim “Mudcat” Grant, the first Black 20-game winner in the American League and a key part of Minnesota’s first World Series team in 1965, died June 11 in Los Angeles. He was 85.

His death was announced by the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians, another of his former teams. The cause was not disclosed.