Curtis Granderson Retires
Curtis Granderson has retired after 16 seasons in the big leagues. The “Grandy Man” released a statement announcing his retirement that was dripping with class and respect. Whether it was on the field or off the field Major League Baseball was a better place with Granderson in the game.
It’s been an incredible journey! Thanks for the ride of a lifetime, @MLB @MLB_PLAYERS pic.twitter.com/0AgOgSjWSC
— Curtis Granderson (@cgrand3) January 31, 2020
Granderson’s Career
Curtis Granderson played for six major league teams. His career batting average was .249 with an OBP of .337, almost 100 points higher. Granderson slugged 344 HR and drove in 937 runs while scoring 1,217 times. Granderson also hit 346 doubles and nine triples with 153 stolen bases. If there was one part of his game that was troubling was his strikeout total. Granderson struck out 1,916 times in 7,236 at-bats.
Curtis Granderson’s career began with the Detroit Tigers in 2004 where he spent six seasons. In 2009 the Tigers traded him to the New York Yankees where he spent four seasons as a Bronx Bomber. After the 2012 season, Granderson became a free agent and signed with the crosstown New York Mets. In a testament to the kind of player and person Granderson is he was beloved by both New York fan bases. That is indeed a rare occurrence.
The Mets traded Granderson during the 2017 season to the Los Angeles Dodgers. After the season Granderson signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers midseason. Granderson’s final season was in 2019 as a member of the Miami Marlins.
Off The Field
On the field, Curtis Granderson was an all-star but off the field, he was much more. Granderson has won the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award four times. In 2016 Granderson won the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.
Granderson’s Grand Kids Foundation has raised money for inner-city children around the country. In 2009 Granderson wrote a children’s book titled “All You Can Be: Dream It, Draw It, Become It. Granderson has also served as an ambassador for MLB International. In 2013 Granderson donated five million dollars to the UIC when they needed to build a new stadium.
Curtis Granderson’s baseball career won’t get him into the Hall of Fame. But more importantly Curtis Granderson the person is already in the Hall of Fame.
