1971 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Granger #379 Cincinnati Reds

Description

1971 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Granger #379 Cincinnati Reds Add a standout reliever from Cincinnati’s 1970 pennant club with the 1971 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Granger #379 Cincinnati Reds. Granger is captured in a low pitching follow-through on a sunny field, a pose that brings energy to the black bordered design. Oversized orange REDS lettering, his green name, the white pitcher label and a printed facsimile signature complete the unmistakable 1971 presentation. The signature is part of the manufactured card image and is not a hand signed autograph. This example is the scarcer Canadian O-Pee-Chee issue, identified by the yellow and black back, the Printed in Canada line and biography text in both English and French. It is a Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back, not a puzzle back. Canadian distribution was more limited than the comparable Topps release, and the deep black borders were exceptionally prone to visible chipping, so every surviving card carries its own pattern of vintage wear. Wayne Granger became one of baseball’s busiest and most effective relief pitchers around the turn of the 1970s. Using a distinctive underhand delivery, the right hander led the National League with 90 appearances in 1969 and again paced the league in games pitched in 1970. He recorded 35 saves in 1970, a major total for an era before the modern specialized closer role had fully developed, and helped the Reds win the National League pennant. Granger appeared in the 1970 World Series against Baltimore, placing this card directly within the early Big Red Machine story. His durability and workload made him a notable figure in bullpen history, while his later stops with Minnesota, the White Sox, Yankees, Astros, Expos and other clubs broaden his appeal to team collectors. The reverse preserves his major league pitching record through 1970, with a bilingual career summary, personal data and black and white portrait. The front has small white chips along the top black edge, scattered rubbing on the left and right borders and additional flecking near the lower edge, with the upper left and lower right corners showing modest softening and the other corners retaining fair shape. The field image remains colourful and the printed signature is clear. Centering appears strong overall, with a minor horizontal imbalance but no severe miscut. Several tiny pale spots are visible on the sky, uniform and border; because the card is shown through a nine pocket plastic sleeve, some may be loose dust or page scuffs rather than fixed card defects. The yellow reverse shows typical age toning, light edge wear and mild corner rub, with no visible writing, paper loss or major staining. No definite crease or deep wrinkle can be identified in the photographs. An EX 5 estimate is deliberately conservative, giving credit for the balanced presentation and sound-looking body while accounting for black border chipping, light corner wear and limited surface visibility. This Canadian single offers strong display appeal and a meaningful connection to the evolution of the modern relief pitcher. Grade Estimate: EX 5