In the early 2000s, Danny Graves was one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball. As the Cincinnati Reds’ closer, he made three All-Star teams and set franchise records for saves in a single season and a career. His intimidating presence on the mound and fiery competitiveness made him a fan favorite. However, Graves’ once-promising career took an abrupt downturn in 2005 following an on-field altercation with a fan.
His performance plummeted, leading to his departure from Cincinnati. Though he caught on with other teams, Graves was never able to regain the dominance he displayed during his peak years with the Reds. His dramatic fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale of how quickly things can change in professional sports, especially when off-field issues come into play.
Danny Graves emerged as one of the top relief pitchers in baseball during his time with the Cincinnati Reds in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The hard-throwing right-hander made three All-Star teams and set the Reds’ franchise record for saves during his eight seasons with the team.
However, Graves’ playing career and public image took a major hit in 2005 after a controversial on-field incident. This event seemed to mark the beginning of the end of Graves’ time in the major leagues.
Who Is Danny Graves? Everything To Know
Born in Vietnam in 1973, Danny Graves was adopted by an American couple and raised in New York. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1993 and made his MLB debut in 1996. After an unremarkable beginning to his career in Cleveland, Graves was traded to the Reds in 1997. It turned out to be a wise move for Cincinnati.
Graves flourished after joining the Reds, securing the closer’s role for the team. From 1999-2004, he was remarkably consistent, averaging 32 saves a year with an excellent 2.97 ERA over that span. Graves set the Reds’ franchise mark with 182 saves and was selected to three All-Star teams. During his peak years, Graves was considered one of the National League’s top shutdown relievers.
Danny Graves Controversy?
In May 2005, Danny Graves was struggling on the mound when he faced the Cleveland Indians, his former team. After giving up back-to-back home runs, Graves apparently thought he heard an ethnic slur from a fan in the stands. In a fit of anger, Graves turned and made an obscene gesture toward the fan, resulting in his immediate ejection from the game.
This incident caused an uproar, as Graves was condemned for his actions. He was fined and suspended by MLB. The Reds were extremely disappointed with their All-Star pitcher’s behavior. Graves quickly apologized, saying he regretted reacting in the heat of the moment. However, the damage was done to his reputation.
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The obscene gesture toward a fan was a major turning point for Danny Graves. He began hearing boos from the home crowd in Cincinnati. Graves’ performance also suffered, as he struggled with consistency and couldn’t regain his All-Star form.
The Reds finally parted ways with Graves in 2005, designating him for assignment and eventually releasing him. No other team picked Graves up for the remainder of that season. In 2006, he got a chance with the New York Mets but continued to struggle, posting a 5.04 ERA in 40 games. The Mets released him mid-season.
Graves pitched sparingly after that. He had short, unsuccessful stints with the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros in 2007 but never appeared in the majors again after that year. He finished his playing career with a 32-39 record, 4.05 ERA, and 182 saves over 12 seasons.
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Though Graves had some decent years left in his arm, many felt the fan incident and subsequent fallout ended his MLB career prematurely. It was an unfortunate downward spiral set off by one highly controversial reaction.
Following the end of his MLB career, Danny Graves moved to Vietnam in 2008 to explore his cultural roots. He had never returned to the country after being adopted as a child. Graves learned to speak Vietnamese fluently during this time abroad.
In recent years, Graves has worked as a sports commentator and analyst. He co-hosted a radio show in Cincinnati and also started a baseball podcast called “The Danny Graves Full Count Baseball Show.” Graves uses these platforms to provide his unique perspective on today’s game.
The former All-Star pitcher has expressed some regrets over how his playing career ended. In interviews, he has acknowledged letting his anger get the best of him in the 2005 fan incident. However, Graves still feels he was provoked by the spectator’s remark. While admitting he could have handled the situation better, he maintains he is not the only one at fault.
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Graves has worked to move on from the controversy and remain involved in baseball. He seems to have come to terms with how things played out on and off the field toward the end of his MLB career. Graves prefers looking ahead rather than dwelling on the past.
Danny Graves emerged as one of the top closers in Red’s history during his peak years with the team. However, his playing career is largely defined by how it ended following an on-field outburst. Though Graves achieved great success in Cincinnati, the incident against a fan tarnished his reputation.
While Graves appeared to be on his way to a borderline Hall of Fame career, he flamed out quickly after the controversial 2005 season. By 2007, he was out of Major League Baseball entirely at just 34 years old.
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The Danny Graves legacy is complicated. Statistics and accolades mark an impressive career cut short. But the way it ended, along with Graves’ role in the final downward spiral, leaves him a polarizing figure in Reds history.
