Curtis Granderson, Jr. is an American professional baseball outfielder for the
New York Mets of Major League Baseball. He has also played in MLB for the
Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees. He throws right handed and bats left
handed. Granderson played college baseball at
the University of Illinois-Chicago, and was selected by the Tigers in the 2002
MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2004, and signed a
contract extension with Detroit in 2008. After the 2009 season, he was traded to
the Yankees. After his contract expired following the 2013 season, he signed a
contract with the Mets. Granderson is a three-time MLB All-Star.
He won the Silver Slugger Award in 2011. Off the field, Granderson is recognized
for his commitment to the community through outreach and charity work. Many
of his charitable endeavors support inner-city children. He has also served
as an ambassador for MLB abroad. Granderson won the Marvin Miller Man of
the Year Award in 2009 for his on-field performance and contributions in the
community. Early years
Granderson grew up in Lynwood, Illinois, a south suburb of Chicago. His father,
Curtis, Sr., was a dean and physical education teacher at Nathan Hale
Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois. His mother, Mary, taught chemistry at
Curie Metropolitan High School in Chicago. Granderson's half-sister,
Monica, is an English professor at Jackson State University.
As a child, Granderson grew up a fan of the Atlanta Braves, choosing not to root
for the hometown Chicago Cubs because he often rushed home from school to watch
Saved by the Bell and was disappointed when a Cubs game was on instead.
Granderson attended Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, where he
played baseball and basketball. During his high school baseball career,
Granderson batted .369 with 11 home runs and 88 runs batted in, and was named an
All-State selection his senior year. Granderson wore #14 at T.F. South,
choosing the number because his father wore it while playing softball. T.F.
South honored Granderson by retiring his jersey in a December 2011 ceremony.
College career Granderson was recruited by a number of
college baseball programs, and he chose the University of Illinois-Chicago, in
part because they allowed him to play basketball in addition to baseball.
However, Granderson quit basketball two weeks into his freshman year in order to
concentrate on baseball. As a freshman at UIC in 2000, Granderson
led the UIC Flames baseball team with seven home runs and 45 walks. He
followed that by hitting .304 as a sophomore, leading the team in runs,
home runs, and walks. After his sophomore year, Granderson played in a
summer collegiate league for the Mankato Mashers, now known as the MoonDogs, of
the Northwoods League, where he batted .328 in 44 games, with eight doubles,
two triples, one home run, 17 RBI, 28 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases.
During his junior season at UIC, Granderson batted .483, second in the
nation to Rickie Weeks. Granderson was named Second-Team All-American by
Baseball America and USA Today's Baseball Weekly and a Third-Team
Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I All-American. He graduated from UIC with
a double major in business administration and business marketing.
On February 6, 2013 Granderson had his number 28 retired by UIC.
Professional career = Minor leagues=
The Detroit Tigers selected Granderson in the third round of the 2002 Major
League Baseball Draft. The Tigers assigned Granderson to the Oneonta
Tigers, their minor league baseball affiliate in Class-A. With Oneonta,
Granderson batted .344 in 52 games. Determined to complete his college
education, though the fall semester began before the minor league season
ended, Granderson made arrangements to begin his senior year at UIC via
internet courses. The Tigers assigned Granderson to the
Class-A Advanced Lakeland Tigers in 2003 and the Class-AA Erie Seawolves in 2004.
With the Seawolves, Granderson hit .303 with 21 home runs and 93 RBI. Baseball
America named Granderson the Tigers' minor league player of the year and top
prospect after the 2004 season. Prior to the 2005 season, Baseball
America rated Granderson as the 57th best prospect in baseball. Granderson
competed for the role as the Tigers' starting center fielder in 2005 spring
training, but the organization decided he needed more seasoning, and assigned
him to the Class-AAA Toledo Mud Hens. With Toledo, he hit .290 with 15 home
runs, 65 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. = Detroit Tigers=
The Tigers promoted Granderson to the majors for the first time in September
2004. He made his major league debut on September 13 against the Minnesota
Twins. He received his second promotion to the majors in July 2005, and he
appeared in six games. After his third promotion to the majors, in August, he
remained in the majors permanently. Granderson had his first career
inside-the-park home run on September 15, a five-hit game September 18 and a
walk-off home run on September 26 against the Chicago White Sox.
Granderson became the Tigers starting center fielder for the 2006 season after
beating out Nook Logan for the position during spring training. From the start
of his major league career in 2004, Granderson began a 151-game errorless
streak, the longest by a position player to start his career since Dave Roberts
went errorless in 205 games. Granderson hit two home runs during the 2006
American League Division Series and one in the 2006 American League Championship
Series, but struggled in the 2006 World Series, batting .095, as the Cardinals
defeated the Tigers. Through June, Granderson ranked first
among American League outfielders in triples, third in doubles, tied for
fourth in runs and tied for 10th in homers with a .289 batting average in
the 2007 season. Although Granderson was not listed on the 2007 All-Star Game
ballot, due to the Tigers' decision to put Gary Sheffield as an outfielder on
the ballot, he still received 376,033 write-in votes, the most write-in votes
for any player. Granderson was named the AL Player of the Week on July 16, the
first time he had won the award, as he hit .500 with two doubles, a triple, and
a home run during that week. Granderson slugged .938, drove in two runs, scored
seven runs, and had fifteen total bases during Detroit's four-game series
against the Seattle Mariners. On August 7, Granderson became the
second player in franchise history to have at least 30 doubles, 15 triples, 15
home runs, and ten stolen bases in a single season when he hit a double in a
game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The other Tiger to accomplish this feat
was Charlie Gehringer in 1930. He became the sixth member of baseball's 20–20–20
club on September 7, joining the Kansas City Royals' George Brett, Willie Mays
of the New York Giants, Cleveland's Jeff Heath, St. Louis' Jim Bottomley, and
Frank Schulte of the Chicago Cubs. Granderson stole his 20th base of the
season on September 9, joining Mays and Schulte as the only players in major
league history to reach 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen
bases in a season, a feat accomplished by the Philadelphia Phillies' Jimmy
Rollins 21 days later. Granderson hit .302 with 23 home runs
for the season, and was 26 for 27 in stolen base attempts. He also improved
his plate discipline, as he finished seventh in the AL in strikeouts with
141. He was one of only six batters in the AL to have at least 20 home runs and
20 stolen bases, along with teammate Gary Sheffield, Ian Kinsler, Alex
Rodriguez, Grady Sizemore and B. J. Upton. However, he was criticized for
his propensity to strikeout, as he led the AL with 174 strikeouts.
During the 2007 season, Granderson accumulated 23 triples, which led all of
baseball. The American League and Detroit Tigers record is 26 triples, a
feat achieved by the all-time triples king, Sam Crawford, in 1914. Granderson
is the first player since 1949 to manage at least 23 in a single season. Only ten
of his triples were at home despite the fact Comerica Park has seen more triples
since it opened in 2000 than any other ballpark in baseball. Granderson joined
the 20-20-30-20 club, having more than 20 triples, 20 home runs, 30 doubles,
and 20 stolen bases. The last player to accomplish the feat was Wildfire Schulte
in 1911. Granderson's 23 triples were as much or more than six entire teams
managed in 2007, the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals all had
no more than 23 team triples. Prior to the start of the 2008 season,
the Tigers signed Granderson to a five-year, US$30.25 million contract
with a club option for 2013. Granderson continued hitting well during the 2008
regular season, finishing with a .280 batting average, 13 triples and 22 home
runs. He continued to improve his plate discipline, striking out only 111 times
and drawing a career-high 71 walks. During August, he hit six triples,
including two in consecutive innings during a game against the Texas Rangers.
With the Tigers failing to make the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, TBS employed
Granderson as a commentator alongside Cal Ripken, Jr., Dennis Eckersley and
Frank Thomas for its coverage of the 2007 and 2008 postseasons.
Granderson was chosen to appear in the 2009 MLB All-Star Game. It was his first
All Star appearance. In the game, he hit a triple in the top of the 8th inning
and scored the winning run. = New York Yankees=
After the 2009 season, the Tigers began shopping Granderson to other franchises
in an effort to reduce their payroll. The Yankees acquired Granderson in a
three-team trade on December 9. In the deal, the Yankees received Granderson
while sending Phil Coke and centerfielder Austin Jackson to Detroit.
Also, the Arizona Diamondbacks received Yankees pitcher Ian Kennedy and Tigers
pitcher Edwin Jackson in return for young pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel
Schlereth, who joined the Tigers. Granderson hit a home run in his first
Yankee at bat on April 4, 2010, becoming the twelfth player to do so. Although he
missed some games due to a strained groin, Granderson finished the season
with 136 games played, a .247 batting average, and 24 home runs. Granderson,
who struggled against left-handed pitching throughout his career, also put
up subpar numbers against right-handed pitchers, causing Granderson to revamp
his swing with the help of hitting coach Kevin Long in August 2010.
Granderson's work with Long was credited as a reason for his strong 2011
campaign. Granderson received over 6.6 million votes for the 2011 MLB All-Star
Game. In August 2011, Granderson and Mark Teixeira became the first Yankees
teammates to hit 30 home runs in 115 games since Roger Maris and Mickey
Mantle in 1961. On August 10, Granderson hit two home runs against the Los
Angeles Angels of Anaheim to tally a career-high 31 home runs. Granderson,
Robinson Canó, and Russell Martin all hit grand slams in a game against the
Oakland Athletics on August 25, the first time a team had three grand slams
in one game. Granderson was named American League Player of the Month for
August 2011, in which he batted .286, with a .423 on-base percentage, slugged
.657, hit ten home runs, recorded 29 RBI, and scored 29 runs. He became the
first player to record 40 home runs, 10 triples and 25 stolen bases in one
season. Granderson finished fourth in balloting for the American League Most
Valuable Player Award. On May 6, 2012, Curtis achieved his
1,000th hit against the Kansas City Royals. On August 26, 2012, Granderson
hit his 200th career home run against the Cleveland Indians. He finished the
2012 season with a .232 batting average, 43 home runs, 106 RBI, and set a new
Yankees season record by striking out 195 times.
On October 19, the Yankees exercised Granderson's club option for 2013.
Originally worth $13 million, it became a $15 million option after he placed 4th
in the MVP voting in 2011. In his spring training debut against the Toronto Blue
Jays on February 24, 2013, Granderson was hit by a pitch from J. A. Happ that
fractured his right forearm. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list to
begin the 2013 season. He returned to the Yankees on May 14. On May 18, 2013,
Granderson made his first start at right field. May 24, 2013, Granderson broke
the knuckle of his left pinkie finger after getting hit by Tampa Bay's Cesar
Ramos' pitch in the 5th inning. He was again placed on the 15-day disabled
list. On May 29, 2013, Granderson underwent surgery in which a pin was
inserted to the knuckle to stabilize the fracture. On August 2, 2013, Granderson
was activated from the disabled list. Granderson was limited to only 61 games
in 2013 batting .229 with 7 home runs and 15 RBI. He became a free agent for
the first time of his career after the season.
= New York Mets= Granderson agreed to terms with the New
York Mets on a four-year contract worth $60 million on December 6, 2013.
Granderson's salaries were set at $13 million in 2014, $16 million in 2015 and
2016, and $15 million in 2017. The Mets played Granderson as their right
fielder. He started 148 games with 130 in right field.
Personal life Granderson is an avid fan of WWE, and
attended WrestleMania 23 in Detroit. He considers The Ultimate Warrior, The
Undertaker, Junkyard Dog, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and Hulk Hogan to be his
favorite wrestlers. He is also an avid fan of college basketball and of the
Kansas Jayhawks. Off the field, Granderson has served as
an ambassador for Major League Baseball International. He has traveled to
England, Italy, the Netherlands, France, South Africa, China, New Zealand, South
Korea and Japan to promote baseball. In appreciation for his efforts,
Commissioner Bud Selig penned a thank-you letter to Granderson which
read in part, "There are so many fine young men playing Major League baseball
today, but I can think of no one who is better suited to represent our national
pastime than you." He has also served as something of an unofficial baseball
ambassador to the African-American community, often participating in and
initiating dialogue about the lack of black players at all levels of the
sport. When he endorsed Nike, Inc., Louisville Slugger and Rawlings, he
asked them to donate money to his foundation or equipment to inner-city
baseball programs rather than pay him. His foundation, Grand Kids Foundation,
has raised money to benefit the educations of inner-city children around
the country. Granderson wrote a children's book, All You Can Be: Dream
It, Draw It, Become It!, which was published in August 2009. The book is
illustrated by students of the New York City public school system. In February
2010, Granderson represented MLB at a White House function announcing Let's
Move!, a childhood anti-obesity effort sponsored by First Lady of the United
States Michelle Obama. Granderson paid $5 million to help UIC build a new
baseball stadium in 2013. Granderson has been involved in the
Major League Baseball Players Association since 2006. He has taken
part in negotiations of the labor contract. Granderson was chosen as the
2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year by the MLBPA for his off-field work.
Granderson was also voted one of the friendliest players in the Major
Leagues, according to a poll conducted by Sports Illustrated to 290 players.
Granderson wears his socks high to honor players from the Negro leagues.
Publications Granderson, Curtis. All You Can Be:
Dream It, Draw It, Become It!. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-60078-247-7. Retrieved
December 13, 2011. See also
List of Major League Baseball triples champions
List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
References External links
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or
Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference
Curtis Granderson's Grand Kids Foundation
Curtis Granderson on Twitter Curtis Granderson on Facebook
Official MySpace