Granderson hit the first pitch he saw from Bryan Mitchell for a grand slam and was traded late the next night. We play this game, me and other black players, counting the black people in the stands who werent working at the game, Granderson says. More On Recent MLB Wives, Girlfriend, Partners & Wags, Top 20 Hottest Tennis Wives and Girlfriends, Top 20 Hottest Golf Wives and Girlfriends, Curtis Granderson is a professional outfield baseball player and currently plays for the popular Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (. All the money it raises goes to the programs. He continued to work toward his degree, and once persuaded a minor league manager to sit in a stadium office and proctor a final exam for him. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Do you have a blog? The other Tiger to accomplish this feat was Charlie Gehringer in 1930. Update Celebrity Biography, Entertainment Gossip & More. He rolls his eyes. The 34-year-old outfielder is currently a free agent and last played for the New York Mets. Ask about his run-in with the wall, and Granderson shrugs. vs. MIN 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, Last Game: 340.5K Followers. [77][78] As of 2022, Granderson is a host for MLB on TBS. By maintaining the lunch pail mentality even after the final out has been recorded. On a recent morning here in spring training, before the start of his 12th full major league season, he. While Murphy cooled off in the World Series against the Kansas City Royals, Granderson continued to be a consistent threat for the Mets out of the leadoff spot and also had three home runs and five RBIs in that World Series. He is known for stopping to give fist bumps to kids as he goes out to the on-deck circle. I said to myself, Ill probably play two to three years in the minor leagues, and Ill probably be released, and Ill go put my college degree to work, he says. The Mets were long out of the playoff race and shopping Granderson ahead of the trade deadline as they trailed the Yankees, 7-1, heading into the bottom of the ninth inning on Aug. 17, 2017. In past years, he acknowledges, a few querulous baseball sorts asked pointedly if he risked tiring himself out with his charities. Ah, Curtis? The Mets played Granderson as their right fielder. This man has Curtis Granderson scoring on Shaquille O'Neal. But asked about the possibility he might have just homered in his final at-bat against the Mets, Granderson smiled and finally put down the lunch box, so to speak. Age is an insistent visitor now. He wears his socks pulled high to the knee, a stylistic homage to Jackie Robinson, who broke Major League Baseballs race barrier, and to stars of the Negro leagues. [73][74], For the 2019 season he batted .183/.281/.356 in 317 at bats, with his on base percentage and slugging percentages both career lows. Curtis keeps his personal affairs unrevealed so he is not involved in any relation with anyone. Granderson, a good student, left college when he was drafted by Detroit after his junior year. It turns out Granderson did not think much of his chances, either. Who is Running Back in the National Football Leagues Former Football Player Ron Dayne Wife? What position did Curtis Granderson play? Listen. Yankees center fielder finds himself right in the middle of AL MVP debate", "Yankees' Granderson Has Rebels Jersey Retired", "As Granderson Arrives, Damon Is Probably Gone", "Making the bigs: Granderson first player from Mankato Northwoods franchise in Major League Baseball", "Granderson in demand by family, Tigers fans", "UIC Baseball to Retire Curtis Granderson's #28 Jersey - The Official Website of UIC Flames Athletics", "Granderson likes pinstripes, Erie memories", "O's rookie pitcher to start offseason early", "Tigers brushed off by Twins: Johnson allows four runs in seven innings", "Indians rock All-Star starter then hold off Tigers' big rally", "2006 World Series St. Louis Cardinals over Detroit Tigers (4-1)", "Granderson nets weekly AL honor: Center fielder opens second half with hot streak", "Detroit's Curtis Granderson named Bank of America Presents the American League Player of the Week", "Eighth-Inning Outburst Carries Tigers Over Tampa Bay", "Granderson's 20th steal puts Tigers center fielder in select company", "Granderson's two-strike approach better", "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Triples", "Sheffield, Granderson help Tigers rally for win", "Granderson to commentate for TBS: Center fielder will join studio crew during Division Series", "Tigers' Curtis Granderson triples, scores winning run for American League in eighth inning", "Yankees could trade for Tigers' Granderson", "Get to know Curtis Granderson: 13 fun facts about 'Grandy', "Curtis Granderson Statistics and History", "Grandy, Cano place behind MVP Verlander: With big production, Yankees stars earn respect on AL ballot", "Ain't life Grand? Join our linker program. The Baseball player, Granderson has been able to leave a deep imprint of his name on the history of sports. [4], His foundation, Grand Kids Foundation, has raised money to benefit the educations of inner-city children around the country. Jan 31, 2020 4:45 PM EST In honor of Curtis Granderson announcing his retirement on Friday, let's take a look back at the trade that brought him to the Bronx -- a three-team, seven-player mega. [24], 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. South, choosing it because his father wore it while playing softball. [21], 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. Most in attendance for a four-game series against the Marlins last September realized they were probably seeing the 38-year-old Granderson who was a reserve for the first time in his career and hit .183 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs in 317 at-bats as a veteran mentor for the rebuilding team for the last time. Definitely wasnt trying to do that, he said. While stretching, or in the locker room, Granderson tosses out what he calls the daily race question: Food, spice, music, clothes, cars what are your favorite kinds? With his impressive stats since the early years, he got selected by the Tigers in the 2002 MLB draft. Curtis, I ask, how much did you contribute, besides many hours of your time? var cid='5736136745';var pid='ca-pub-3621518944223410';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-wikinetworth_com-medrectangle-3-0';var ffid=3;var alS=3021%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);container.style.width='100%';var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;if(ffid==2){ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive='true';} Thatd be a really, really cool way to go out. Curtis Granderson was born on March 16, 1981 in Blue Island. He became three times MBL All-Star and won the Silver Slugger Award in 2011. He didnt cement his Hall of Fame candidacy like Tom Glavine or spend as much time in the blue and orange as Steve Trachsel, but unlike them, Granderson didnt torpedo his Mets legacy at the very worst possible time. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. Leon Durham as the batting coach of the Toledo Mud Hens, the Tigers Class AAA team, in 2015. In a similar all-out effort in the postseason this year, Granderson, at 35, robbed the Giants Brandon Belt of an extra-base hit. Durham just received his first promotion to a major league coaching staff. Furthermore, Curtis Granderson was assigned by a tiger to the. [28] During August, he hit six triples,[32] including two in consecutive innings during a game against the Texas Rangers. Curtis appointed The Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 2002 MLB draft. In 2014, Curtis signed a $60 million contract with the Mets that provided a guaranteed income of $60 million and an average annual salary of $15 million. Getting balls close to the line but not able to keep them fair. The Mets loaded the bases with none out for Granderson, who was batting .227 for the season and was 0-for-2 with two walks in his first four plate appearances. Curtis Granderson was born on Monday, March 16, 1981, in Blue Island, Illinois. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and . Granderson and Daniel Murphy were the two most productive hitters in the Mets lineup during their 2015 postseason run to the World Series. [3][4] Granderson wrote a children's book, All You Can Be: Dream It, Draw It, Become It!, which was published in August 2009. Granderson is companionable, and by nature not a controversialist. [40] 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. Curtis Granderson began his carer as a baseball player at an early age. [65] He hit his first home run for the Dodgers on August 20 against Justin Verlander of the Tigers. Afterward, Granderson was initially as approachable and unflappable as ever. Who is Misty Copelands Husband? [50] He returned to the Yankees on May 14. In addition to his work through the Grand Kids Foundation and his youth academy, Granderson is a leaguewide spokesman for the White Houses initiatives to get children to lose weight and drink more water. South) in Lansing. [15], The Tigers promoted Granderson to the MLB for the first time in September 2004. All rights reserved. [20] 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. Were all fallen, although some quite a bit less so than others. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. But we keep the confidence high with (Jeurys) Familia. [59] After beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the NLDS, the Mets went on to sweep the Chicago Cubs in four games in the NLCS and advance to their first World Series since 2000. South) in Lansing,[6] where he played baseball and basketball. Luckily, I played with a group of white kids who treated me like everyone else, he said. MILWAUKEE Curtis Granderson rounded first base and kept going. Curtis Granderson at the University of Illinois at Chicago, his alma mater, where he works out in the off-season. He maintained a low profile while coming to the topic of private life. He became a free agent for the first time of his career after the season. The only other non-homegrown player to play more games for the Mets over the last 30 years is Mike Piazza. [43] Granderson, Robinson Can, 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. He has not revealed his annual salary to the public yet. Curtis Granderson is spending what could be his last year in the majors with the rebuilding Marlins, serving as the veteran voice he's been for so much of his excellent career. He attended Thornton Fractional South High School. He interrupted Clayton Kershaws perfect game bid with a leadoff single in the seventh inning on July 23, 2015, when Granderson topped a lineup so anemic (John Mayberry Jr. and Eric Campbell batted fourth and fifth) that a no-hitter or perfect game was actually anticipated beforehand. He played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, and Miami Marlins . His mother taught high school chemistry and raised money for the Girl Scouts, the P.T.A., the church. In real time, trying to work with such quotes could be frustrating (we understand this amounts to a sportswriters version of a #FirstWorldProblem). Can I invite him over? . His height is 6 feet and 1 inch and his weight are 194 pounds (200 lbs). We present them here for purely educational purposes. The award-winning player, Granderson, with his entire career as a baseball player, is believed to be having a decent salary. He has calls to make and public service spiels to record. [18], Granderson became the Tigers starting center fielder for the 2006 season after beating out Nook Logan for the position during spring training. [67] The following day, he stole his 150th career base, becoming the 36th player in MLB history with over 300 home runs and 150 or more steals. Im sure a million fans try that.. He offers a final story: As a young player, he worked with a wizard of a batting coach, Leon Durham, a former major leaguer coaching for Detroits Class AAA franchise in Toledo, Ohio. Granderson sprinted to retrieve his glove and cleats. With the game nail-bitingly scoreless, Granderson kept it that way when he turned, raced back, ran farther still and made an outstretched grab and then crashed into the center-field wall to rob . Curtis Granderson was born on March 16, 1981. Prior to the start of the 2008 season, the Tigers signed Granderson to a five-year, US$30.25million contract with a club option for 2013. 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. [4] However, Granderson quit basketball two weeks into his freshman year in order to concentrate on baseball. Curtis Granderson is on Instagram at cgrand. Once he swings the bat, the ball goes out of the bar. On August 31, 2018, the Blue Jays traded Granderson to the Milwaukee Brewers for Demi Orimoloye. On August 26, 2012, Granderson hit his 200th career home run against the Cleveland Indians. No, hes Latino. Youre panning, panning, and sometimes it would take us seven innings to count 10.. Granderson's salaries were set at $13 million in 2014, $16 million in 2015 and 2016, and $15 million in 2017. Granderson seems to be focusing on his career rather than spending his valuable time being in a relationship or making a partner. Talk to my teammates who wake to care for little babies and then have to play.. He expresses frustration with himself that he has not taken more Little Leaguers from Harlem and the South Bronx to games at Citi Field. It was his first All Star appearance. [61][62] Never think anythings over until the final hit, especially with the offense like the Dodgers have, doing it the way they did it against our closer like that. [63] He batted .228 with the Mets in 2017, and for the season had the highest number of pitches per plate appearance in the major leagues (4.52). We wisely stop short of decreeing any man or woman noble. [10] Prior to the 2005 season, Baseball America rated Granderson as the 57th best prospect in baseball. He is the son of the father Curtis Granderson Sr and the mother Mary. Though, he can understand love. David and I are in the same type of position on the team, Granderson says. By continuing with us, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. In the sixth inning of the NL wild card game a year later, Granderson, no longer possessing the range nor the arm for centerfield but still the Mets best option out there, ran down a seemingly sure-fire run-scoring sixth-inning extra-base hit by Joe Panik and made the catch while crashing into the wall to keep the game scoreless. Curtis Granderson was born in Blue Island, IL. His mother is a chemistry teacher at Curie Metropolitan High School in Chicago. In Game 1, after the Royals tied the game in the ninth inning with a home run off Mets closer Jeurys Familia, Granderson made an excellent leaping catch with nobody out in the bottom of the 11th inning, off the bat of the Royals fastest runner Jarrod Dyson, preventing what would have at least been a lead off triple and likely saving the game at the time, though the Royals would go on to win the game anyway in the bottom of the 14th inning on a sacrifice fly by Eric Hosmer. In a time in which it seemed as if the Mets were being operated at the whims of a voodoo doctor or victimized by some gypsys curse, Granderson showed up, day after day after day, and offered reliability in a lineup otherwise lacking that quality. Check out his Personal Life with Professional Career! Granderson grew up in Lynwood, a racially mixed suburb. Curtis Granderson has never won a World Series. He has served as an ambassador for Major League Baseball both at home and abroad. Sometimes we get Terry Collins in on it, Granderson says of the Mets manager. Originally worth $13 million, it became a $15 million option after he placed 4th in the MVP voting in 2011. [5] Granderson was chosen as the 2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year by the MLBPA for his off-field work, an award he won again in 2016, 2018 and 2019. He points out the baseball stadium with a. The Mets traded him to the Dodgers after the final season. Granderson (3) and the Mets after a victory on Sept. 27 during their improbable run to the postseason. His sexual orientation is straight and he is not gay. [16] He made his MLB debut on September 13 against the Minnesota Twins. He donated money for the construction of the stadium, which is also used by youth teams. 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. You want tough? The book is illustrated by students of the New York City public school system. But Grandersons retirement Friday and a look back at all those gaudy numbers on his Baseball-Reference page serve as reminders for why he wasnt much for self-analysis after a game. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. His father was a dean and physical education teacher at Nathan Hale Elementary School in Illinois. He started 148 games with 130 in right field. Nowhere was Grandersons no-frills, everyday approach more valuable, or evident, than in his three-plus seasons with the Mets, for whom he became the teams best free agent signing ever. On the Mets, Granderson and David Wright the team captain and a white Virginian are the veteran leaders in a clubhouse of whites and Latinos from four nations, and a couple of African-Americans. He is a 39 years old African-American. Granderson played for seven teams, starring for the Tigers, Yankees and Mets before finishing his career with brief stints with the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Brewers and Marlins. Married to Medicine's Dr. Jackie Walters and her husband, Curtis Berry, have endured their fair share of marital difficulty, most of which played out in front of the Bravo cameras on the hit reality show on which they both star. [citation needed] On June 25, while playing the Houston Astros, Granderson hit his eighth and ninth home runs of the season off of former teammate Justin Verlander to lead the Jays to victory.[71]. Who is the Current Spouse of Betty White? On March 16, 1981, Curtis Granderson was born in Blue Island, Illinois, United States of America. [22] 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. And the Grandersons raise money each year to endow scholarships so that children from Tchula the fifth-poorest town in our nation can attend Mississippi Valley State. On October 19, the Yankees exercised Granderson's club option for 2013. Curtis Granderson has put together an impressive resume in his 16 seasons in Major League Baseball. By nationality, He is American, and currently, his food habit is mix vegetarian & non-vegetarian. [36], After the 2009 season, the Tigers began shopping Granderson to other franchises in an effort to reduce their payroll. [31] Granderson continued hitting well during the 2008 regular season, finishing with a .280 batting average, 13 triples and 22 home runs. As per some sources, he has an estimated net worth of approx $58 Million as of 2022. [42] Granderson finished fourth in balloting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. The talk that follows is lighthearted and yet gives players an understated way to gauge difference and similarity, and perhaps to push open lifes many doors. University of Illinois at Chicago (Chicago, IL), Thornton Fractional South HS (Lansing, IL). In the summertime, dozens of black Little Leaguers from those often chaotic neighborhoods jam the fields here from sunup to sundown. And Granderson wasnt putting on an act in the few minutes after a game ended. vs. PHI 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, Rookie Status: In self-defense, I will point out that others have underestimated him. Granderson played college baseball at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He appears not to hear and continues to talk of these children and their lives. Hey, T. C., what do you think about this? . After all, how do you end up playing in more than 2,000 games and collecting more than 7,000 at-bats and registering nearly 50 wins above replacement? But on deadline, it was usually difficult to wring something juicy out of him as it was on May 27, 2016, when, after closer Jeurys Familia blew a four-run lead in the top of the ninth against the Dodgers, Granderson delivered a walk-off homer to lift the Mets to a 6-5 win.