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Curtis Granderson

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Curtis Granderson
Granderson during a game in 2011
New York Yankees – No. 14
Center fielder
Born: (1981-03-16) March 16, 1981 (age 43)
Blue Island, Illinois
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
debut
September 13, 2004, for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics
(through 2011 season)
Batting average.267
Home runs167
Runs batted in485
Runs647
Hits970
Stolen bases104
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Curtis Granderson (born March 16, 1981) is an American Major League Baseball (MLB) player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played for the Detroit Tigers (2004–2009). Granderson is a left-handed batter who throws right-handed. A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player. He is a two-time MLB All-Star (2009 and 2011) and won the Silver Slugger Award in 2011.

Off the field, Granderson is recognized for his commitment to the community through outreach and charity work.[1] 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 city south of Chicago.[2] His father, Curtis Sr., was a dean and physical education teacher at Nathan Hale Elementary and Middle School in Chicago. 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.[3]

Granderson attended Thornton Fractional South High School (T.F. South) in Lansing, Illinois,[4] where he played baseball and basketball.[3] During his high school baseball career, Granderson batted .369 with 11 home runs and 88 runs batted in (RBI), and was named an All-State selection his senior year.[4] Granderson wore #14 at T.F. South, choosing the number because his father wore it while playing softball.[5] T.F. South honored Granderson by retiring his jersey in a December 2011 ceremony.[4]

College career

Granderson was recruited by a number of college baseball programs, and he chose the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), in part because they allowed him to play basketball in addition to baseball.[3] However, Granderson quit basketball two weeks into his freshman year in order to concentrate on baseball.[3]

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.[6]

During his junior season at UIC, Granderson batted .483, second in the nation to Rickie Weeks.[3] 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.[2][7]

Professional career

Minor leagues (2002–2005)

The Detroit Tigers selected Granderson in the third round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. He started his minor league career with the Class-A Oneonta Tigers that year, hitting .344 in 52 games. Determined to complete his college education, Granderson made arrangements to begin his senior year via internet courses, as the fall semester began before the minor league season ended.[3]

In 2003, he played for the Class-A Advanced Lakeland Tigers. With the Class-AA Erie Seawolves in 2004, Granderson hit .303 with 21 home runs and 93 RBI.[8] He was named the Tigers' minor league player of the year and top prospect by Baseball America in 2004.[7]

Prior to the 2005 season, Baseball America rated Granderson as the 57th best prospect in baseball.[9] 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.[10] With Toledo, he hit .290 with 15 home runs, 65 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.[11]

Detroit Tigers (2004–2009)

The Tigers promoted Granderson to the majors for the first time in September 2004.[12] He made his major league debut on September 13 against the Minnesota Twins.[13]

The Tigers again promoted Granderson to the majors in July 2005, and he appeared in six games. He was promoted again in August.[11] He 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.[14]

Granderson became the Tigers starting center fielder for the 2006 season after beating out Nook Logan for the position during spring training.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17]

Granderson during his tenure with the Detroit Tigers in 2007

Through June, Granderson ranked first among American League (AL) outfielders in triples (14), third in doubles (22), tied for fourth in runs (58) and tied for 10th in homers (11) with a .289 batting average in the 2007 season.[18] 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.[18] Granderson was named the AL Player of the Week on July 16, the first time he had won the award, as he hit .500 (8 for 16) with two doubles, a triple, and a home run during that week.[19] 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.[20]

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.[21] He became the sixth member all-time of baseball's 20–20–20 club on September 7, joining the Kansas City Royals' George Brett (1979), Willie Mays of the New York Giants (1957), Cleveland's Jeff Heath (1941), St. Louis' Jim Bottomley (1928), and Frank Schulte of the Chicago Cubs (1911). 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.[22][23]

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.[24][25] 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.[24][25]

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.[26] 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'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, $30.25 million contract with a club option for 2013.[27] 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 (versus 141 in 2007 and 174 in 2006) and drawing a career-high 71 walks.[24] During August, he hit six triples,[28] including two in consecutive innings during a game against the Texas Rangers.[29]

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.[30][31]

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.[32]

New York Yankees (2010–present)

Granderson hit 41 home runs in 2011.

After the 2009 season, the Tigers began shopping Granderson to other franchises in an effort to reduce their payroll.[33] 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.[34]

Granderson became the twelfth player to hit a home run in his first Yankee at bat on April 4, 2010.[35] 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, struggling against right handed pitchers in addition to lefties.[36] Due to his struggles, Granderson revamped his swing with the help of hitting coach Kevin Long in August 2010.[37]

Granderson's work with Long was credited as a reason for his strong 2011 campaign.[38] Granderson received over 6,600,000 million votes for the 2011 MLB All-Star Game.[39] 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.[40] Granderson, Robinson Cano, 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.[41] 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.[42] He became the first player to hit 40 home runs, 10 triples and steal 25 bases in one season.[38] Granderson finished fourth in balloting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.[43]

Personal

Granderson with the Yankees

As a child, Granderson grew up a fan of the Atlanta Braves. He rushed home from school to watch Saved by the Bell and was disappointed when a Chicago Cubs game was on instead.[39] Granderson is also an avid fan of World Wrestling Entertainment, and attended Wrestlemania 23 in Detroit. He considers the Ultimate Warrior, The Undertaker, Junkyard Dog, Macho Man Randy Savage, and Hulk Hogan among his favorite wretlers.[44][45]

Off the field, Granderson has served as an ambassador for Major League Baseball International. He has traveled to Italy, China, South Africa and New Zealand to promote baseball.[46] 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."[3]

His foundation, Grand Kids Foundation, has raised money to benefit the educations of inner-city children around the country.[2][3] 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.[3] 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.[2] 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.[47]

Granderson has been involved in the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) since 2006. He has taken part in negotiations of the labor contract.[39] Granderson was chosen as the 2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year by the MLBPA for his off-field work.[1]

Granderson was also voted one of the friendliest players in the Major Leagues, according to a poll conducted by Sports Illustrated to 290 players.[39] Granderson is one of a few players in MLB who wears his socks high, which he does to honor players from the Negro leagues.[35]

Publications

  • Granderson, Curtis (2009). All You Can Be: Dream It, Draw It, Become It!. Triumph Books. ISBN 1600782477. Retrieved December 13, 2011.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Pujols, Granderson earn top awards: Cardinal, Tiger honored with Players Choice Awards". MLB.com. Major League Baseball Players Association. October 30, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Dorfman, Sid (November 23, 2011). "Dorfman: Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson writes to help kids". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i McCarron, Anthony (December 12, 2009). "New York Yankees have quite a catch in Curtis Granderson, who's a leader on and off field". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c Strauss, Ben (December 10, 2011). "Yankees' Granderson Has Rebels Jersey Retired". The New York Times Baseball Blog. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  5. ^ Kepner, Tyler (December 17, 2009). "As Granderson Arrives, Damon Is Probably Gone". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  6. ^ Courrier, Chad (May 14, 2006). "Making the bigs: Granderson first player from Mankato Northwoods franchise in Major League Baseball". The Free Press. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  7. ^ a b Nightengale, Bob. "Granderson in demand by family, Tigers fans". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 16, 2011. {{cite news}}: Text "October 17, 2006" ignored (help)
  8. ^ Pora, Chuck (March 11, 2010). "Granderson likes pinstripes, Erie memories". Erie Times-News. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  9. ^ http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/040228top1002.html
  10. ^ "Granderson's hot hitting continues". The Detroit News. July 25, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2011. (subscription required)
  11. ^ a b "Detroit Calls Up OF Granderson". The Lakeland Ledger. August 16, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  12. ^ "O's rookie pitcher to start offseason early". St. Petersburg Times. September 13, 2004. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  13. ^ Beck, Jason (September 13, 2004). "Tigers brushed off by Twins: Johnson allows four runs in seven innings". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  14. ^ "Granderson hits walk-off home run". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. September 27, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  15. ^ "Logan, Colon head to Toledo". The Detroit News. March 30, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2011. (subscription required)
  16. ^ "Indians rock All-Star starter then hold off Tigers' big rally". St. Petersburg Times. July 26, 2006. p. 3.C. Retrieved December 13, 2011. (subscription required)
  17. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl/player_search.cgi?search=2006+world+series
  18. ^ a b Kirby, Tim (July 1, 2007). "Notes: Granderson lost in the crowd". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  19. ^ Davison, Drew (July 16, 2007). "Granderson nets weekly AL honor: Center fielder opens second half with hot streak". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  20. ^ "Detroit's Curtis Granderson named Bank of America Presents the American League Player of the Week" (Press release). MLB.com. July 16, 2007. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  21. ^ "Eighth-Inning Outburst Carries Tigers Over Tampa Bay". KETV. Hearst Properties Inc. August 7, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  22. ^ Sports Illustrated, September 24, 2007, p. 51
  23. ^ "Granderson's 20th steal puts Tigers center fielder in select company"". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. September 9, 2007. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
  24. ^ a b c Beck, Jason (August 19, 2008). "Granderson's two-strike approach better". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  25. ^ a b Beck, Jason (February 19, 2008). "Notes: Granderson learning from Sheff". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  26. ^ "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Triples". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  27. ^ Beck, Jason (February 4, 2008). "Tigers, Granderson agree to deal". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  28. ^ "Curtis Granderson – Game Log". ESPN.com. 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  29. ^ "Sheffield, Granderson help Tigers rally for win". International Herald Tribune. August 19, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  30. ^ Beck, Jason (October 5, 2007). "Granderson to join broadcast booth". MLB.com. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  31. ^ Beck, Jason (September 18, 2008). "Granderson to commentate for TBS: Center fielder will join studio crew during Division Series". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  32. ^ Kornacki, Steve (July 15, 2009). "Tigers' Curtis Granderson triples, scores winning run for American League in eighth inning". MLive.com. Michigan Live LLC. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  33. ^ Sherman, Joel (November 11, 2009). "Yankees could trade for Tigers' Granderson". New York Post. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  34. ^ Kepner, Tyler (December 8, 2009). "Yankees Get Granderson in 3-Team Trade". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  35. ^ a b Bonett, Bobby. "Get to know Curtis Granderson: 13 fun facts about 'Grandy'". Newsday. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  36. ^ "Curtis Granderson Statistics and History". Baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  37. ^ Matthews, Wallace (August 11, 2010). "Curtis Granderson reworking his swing". ESPNNewYork.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  38. ^ a b Hoch, Bryan (November 21, 2011). "Grandy, Cano place behind MVP Verlander: With big production, Yankees stars earn respect on AL ballot". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  39. ^ a b c d Crasnick, Jerry (September 9, 2011). "How valuable is Curtis Granderson? Yankees center fielder finds himself right in the middle of AL MVP debate". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  40. ^ Mazzeo, Mike (January 2, 2010). "Ain't life Grand? – Yankees Blog – ESPN New York". ESPNNewYork.com. ESPN. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  41. ^ Caldwell, Dave (August 25, 2011). "Yankees 22, Athletics 9: Three Grand Slams Erase a Poor Start in Record Fashion". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  42. ^ "Granderson, Uggla named Players of Month". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. September 6, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  43. ^ Beck, Jason (November 21, 2011). "Verlander turns double play, wins AL MVP: Cy Young winner first starting pitcher to couple awards since '86". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  44. ^ "WWE and several pro wrestling stars mentioned during the MLB All-Star Game". Prowrestling.net.
  45. ^ Bonett, Bobby (December 1, 2011). "Curtis Granderson talks WWE, Wrestlemania 23 and his 'finisher'". Newsday. Retrieved December 13, 2011. (subscription required)
  46. ^ McCarron, Anthony (January 19, 2011). "Yankees' Curtis Granderson promotes baseball in New Zealand as MLB International Ambassador". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  47. ^ Hoch, Bryan (February 9, 2010). "MLB, Granderson join anti-obesity effort". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
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