Jim "Mudcat" Grant sings "What a Wonderful World" at Harmon Killebrew Memorial

Accompanied on guitar by Ric Oliva (Tony Oliva's son), 75yo Mudcat beautifully sang Harm's favorite song. The Memorial took place in Minneapolis, at Target Field, May 26, 2011.

[@alexismorgan1681]

My uncle is indeed a class act! He's my grandmothers brother. He's loved by us all! Never a dull moment with uncle mudcat!!

[@49erniner]

What a great version of that song. Didn't know Mudcat could sing so well.

[@niv06290]

I had the pleasure of playing in a Major League Baseball Players Alumni golf tournament on a team with your uncle and my dad about 15 years ago. 'Uncle' Mudcat kept us in stitches the entire day, telling hilarious, mostly unprintable, stories about life and his time in baseball. ;-) We were all so distracted by him that we forgot about our poor golf games, and as a result played brilliantly, and won the tournament! I lost my dad last year, but the memory of that day always brings a smile to my face. Thank your uncle for me!

[@terrydonovan8714]

I was 10 and living in Moorhead Minn.he was my hero the way he double tapped the rubber in his windup. My coach called timeout came out to the mound and said,who do you think you are? I said Mud Cat. He said just pitch the ball. I look back on those days when i was ten and a twins fan and think, it never was better than that time of my life. No iPads, just Mud Cat.i loved that name. Terry Donovan

[@johnbrown4752]

I am sorry for your loss. Your uncle was a wonderful man.

[@retiredusvet4396]

A lovely memory of your uncle. Thanks so much for sharing. May God bless and comfort you and yours in your loss. 🙏✝️

[@edwardhaske]

What a wonderful MAN! I remember him as i was a young boy (4yrs old) And a devoted Twins Fan

[@lesgobrandon9444]

As proud as I am to say I saw Mudcat Grant play I sure feel old

[@luishumbertovega3900]

A very deserved standing ovation for a 1-derful singer and excellent pitcher, the recently deceased Jim 'Mudcat' Grant, who is now singing as part of an angelical chorus and a starting pitcher for an All Star Heavenly Team. No doubt, a Hall Of Fame Human Being !!! Blessings from a part time singer and lifetime Baseball fan in San Juan PR !!!

[@ARIZJOE]

Mudcat was our broadcaster with the Indians for many years. But I did not know until he passed that he actually made more money as an entertainer. The first African American pitcher to win 20 games in a season. Quite a man out of Lacoochee, Florida with many talents and a big heart.

[@ACD1994]

RIP Jim ''Mudcat'' Grant

[@luishumbertovega3900]

That's Tony Oliva's son, playing the soulful guitar !!!

[@evets21920]

RIP "Mudcat" What a wonderful Man!

[@scottlewis8681]

You are so missed by the baseball world. Thank you again for signing your book Back Aces. I will treasure it for all time.

[@prestonfoster463]

The beauty of the human spirit outlasts the darkness.

[@obbor4]

The song is for Jim, today. RIP, Mudcat.

[@johnharden144]

We would play with Mudcat every year at the Mickey Mantle Celebrity Golf Tournaments in the early 90s. He would always crash the house band and take over at vocals at the end of tournament parties. He would turn the band on its head and blow the room away. One time, we took him to a Holiday Inn. There was a band playing silly pop tunes to a bored audience. Mudcat took the stage and they jammed R&B and 60s classics for the rest of the night. Again, he blew the room away with his singing and showmanship.

[@312Jg]

Maan! KZbin! I'm Joi Grant Mudcats Daughter and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! Thank You repad!! Much Love, Much Love!! I LOVE YOU DAD!!!!!!!

[@timallen609]

What a voice . Just perfect !

[@rogerbow4564]

This was so heartfelt and wonderfully performed by your Dad. Please thank him for me. He was a great ball player and man.

[@hkobel3358]

I remember his days with the Oakland A's. As a spot starter and reliever, before the days of Rollie Fingers. He and Darold Knowles got the A's to the AL Championship game, the first of many to come. Unfortunately , they fell short of the World Series, he deserved to be part of as he was part of Oakland's small market mystique. Talented, eloquent and professional are words I knew him by. If there is a baseball team in Heaven, he is one of the Aces on the staff.

[@brianrajala7671]

Great remberance!🌷

[@livefromcali4ornia]

I met Mudcat today on a flight to LAX. What a class act! An hour and a half I won't ever forget.

[@raymondstern9046]

Just found out that mudcat has passed away 😢 solid 3rd starter in the mid 60's twins rotation ( jim kaat / jim perry) also I believe Dave Boswell

[@samuelbarrett5648]

I thought Grant was the ace. But regardless it was definitely between him and Katt

[@stephenrocco3208]

I have the fondest memory of Jim "Mudcat" Grant! When I was 6 years old my dad and grandfather took me to my first MLB game. Living in Brooklyn, our family were Mets fans due to the Dodgers moving to the west coast. It was 1970 and we arrived at Shea Sadium to watch the Mets host the visiting Pirates. We were sitting between 1st base and RF about 20 rows up. As batting practice concluded, Roberto Clemente came over to the rail, with a baseball in hand. As he engaged the crowd, he point to someone in the stands and reared back to throw the ball to him/her. Just before he released it, he would wave no (like he changed his mind) and would point to someone else in the crowd, shaking that person off, repeating over and over again, continuing this playful banter for awhile. He was having so much fun with the crowd, finally he grabbed a few balls and arbitrarily tossed them into the stands. At one point I was certain Roberto pointed directly towards me on one of those phantom tosses, I was jumping up and down. Everyone was overjoyed with his playful demeanor and the whole crowd was roaring in excitement ! A few minutes later my dad pointed out a player along the rail who was signing autographs, he kept encouraging me to move closer, I was a little timid because there were so many bigger kids in front of me, I thought I could never get close enough to even ask!!!!........As I was standing there frozen in awe, A voiced hollered out "LET THE LITTLE GUY THROUGH"!!!!.... it was the voice of Jim "Mudcat" Grant. Instantly, everyone made way for me to come down a good 12 steps, while “Mudcat” made sure no one jumped in front of me, he then signed my scorecard and gave me words of encouragement!!!! ( Don’t let the big boys push you around, he said) “Mudcat” made me feel so special and I cherish this man and that day! Only a few years later, Roberto made the ultimate sacrifice, boarding a small engine flight to bring food and rations to victims of a earthquake in Nicaragua. We all know the tragic ending, but Roberto spirit and the love from Mudcat touched many and they both live in my heart and so many forever. As I grew older and played ball I was compelled to wear the #21 in honor of Roberto, I couldn’t deny his selfless act and other stories on how he would leave his hotel room and walk into the streets to hand money to less fortunate inner city children! In attached video, as stated, Mudcat was asked to honor Harmon Killebrew, what a wonderful story as well, as these two connected as more than athletes, but bridging the gap towards civil rights and equality! THANK YOU JAMES “MUDCAT” GRANT AND ROBERTO CLEMENTE, FOR ALL YOU GAVE TO HUMANITY, ON AND OFF THE FIELD!

[@52barney]

RIP Mudcat , the Master of Chin Music !

[@TheSkapaw66]

When I was about ten or eleven, I remember Mudcat as a Pirate singing If I Had A Hammer on the Bob Prince Show. Prince was the Pirate announcer and had a show before the televised game. That stuck with me 50 years later.

[@7beers]

What A Wonderful Voice

[@randybright3214]

Catman-Only You and Louie Armstrong, could do this song just. Great tribute to Harmon. Just the greatest...Thank You!!!

[@bruceschultz8674]

Man, this is great. As a Minnesota kid of the 60’s, I practiced my Mudcat pitching and Harmon hitting impressions. Two wonderful gentlemen.

[@HoshizakiYoshimasa]

Mudcat Grant and Harmon Killebrew are known as Baseball legends in even outside of the USA! Mudcat and Harmon will live on forever in baseball lore!

[@Razorbacks1]

Mudcat was a great player but more importantly a great person. RIP Mudcat and thank you for the memories.

[@toolmantooltime]

Your dad was one of my favorite players for my beloved twins. Great Voice

[@lambertslovelee]

Yes, there IS crying in baseball. R.I.P. Harmon.

[@buddmannable]

What a beautiful tribute. Thank you Mudcat

[@bsavage98053]

Awesome childhood heroes. Saw them play twice in the '65 World Series in LA. RIP Mr. Killebrew and Mr Grant.❤ Thanks for the beautiful song and memories, Mudcat.

[@brucemoeller]

The end of an Era...what a beautiful moment. They're together again. Blessings to all who can share in this fine tribute, and the friendship, kindness and love between them.

[@tonyredunzo6324]

Hooray for Harmon and Mudcat!

[@1luiszepol]

Love Harmon and Mudcat!! When you sing with your heart full of love you are a pretty song!

[@Havencheese]

Ohh man Mudcat is just a beautiful soul. What a man!

[@mookie449]

He has a beautiful voice.

[@jenniepaul3760]

Mudcat was the best...love you and Happy Birthday...Damn dad..did you trade him, too???Beautiful voice and tribute to Harmon.

[@SuperAram111]

very nice................and very sad. jim grant obviously a very special guy

[@deanouellette1868]

What a dynamite performance by Mudcat and Ric.

[@steely_Bob]

RIP Mr. Grant

[@floydtillis9095]

One of the all time greatest baseball players. I meet him a the little league field in Dade city Florida in 1969

[@repad]

@312Jg Joi, I'm so happy you found this, and enjoyed. Your Dad has a beautiful voice, and obviously Harm loved it. I've always loved this song, and worry when someone, other than Louis Armstrong sings it. But I love your Dad's version!

[@thecardpyle]

Damn... Respect to Mudcat..

[@valeriekoch9128]

RIP Jim "Mudcat" Grant

[@coldisle]

I had the rare and unforgettable pleasure of listening to Mudcat speak to us at a national sales meeting. I have NEVER been more mesmerized by another human being. I’m so glad I got to see him afterwards to say “Thank you Mr Grant. I loved every single word you said, and I’ll never forget this. Years later…I still haven’t. What a great man.

[@essentialeugene]

Wayne Walker and Harmon Killebrew were childhood friends in Idaho. They called A's games in the late 1970s.

[@stanleytipsword9560]

Just beautiful.

[@erikk.5202]

Very nice. All class.

[@dpol123]

greatest moment in baseball history!

[@bobd1082]

Beautiful

[@sambi59]

RIP "Mudcat"

[@roncoghlan4361]

Heartfelt!

[@MikeJohnson-sm3pz]

RIP Mudcat

[@MikeM275]

RIP Mudcat :(

[@TheMuudcat]

got my nick name form that that guy, thanks Mudcat

[@SanFranciscoFatboy]

Standing o 4 mudcat:)

[@wadeboyful]

Nice 👍

[@colinbeckles2811]

Someone is cutting up a bunch onions around me

[@frederickrapp5396]

Why was Jim Grant ever traded to the Dodgers of all teams?

[@bartowirby]

wonderful talent, if you get a chance,,, google how did Mudcat get his nickname?

[@pizzulo81]

Let's just show everyone except the guy playing guitar.

[@scspera]

RIP Mudcat