Granderson grew up on Chicago's south side, a half hour from downtown and right next to Chicago Heights. He was a star basketball player before opportunities made him decide to stay in town and pursue a career on the diamond. He grew up a White Sox fan, but not fervently enough that he would root against the Cubs. But Curtis was also a big fan of the Atlanta Braves as a teenager.

When Curtis was growing up, his parents would tape his grades to the refrigerator and not permit him on a baseball field unless he maintained a B average. He later graduated as an honor student and all-conference outfielder from Thornton Fractional South High in Lansing, Ill. He chose to attend the University of Illinois-Chicago because, along with a baseball scholarship, the school offered him a spot on its basketball team, though he wasn't a standout in the sport.

Initially he wasn't all that promising on the diamond, either. "I'd be lying to you if I said I thought he was going to be a major league player," says Mike Dee, Granderson's coach at Illinois-Chicago. "But from Day One I knew he was going to exhaust all possibilities to succeed. He was an incredibly hard worker. And every year he just kept getting better and better." (Albert Chen-Sports Illustrated-9/20/07)

Curtis recalled the best Christmas present he ever received. "The best thing was probably a Walter Payton football jersey—the complete set. I was probably seven or eight when I got it and I was so happy to put the jersey and the pads on, and my friend got the Joe Montana complete set." (Jason Beck-MLB.com 12/24/05)

After Thornton Fractional South High School in Lynwood, Illinois, Curtis took advantage of a 60 percent baseball scholarship from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

"College just helped me grow as a person," he said. "It was the first time away from home without parents or guidance, so I had to do all the little things on my own—cook for myself, take care of my laundry, get to classes, be at practice on time. All of those things in college helped me adjust for life in the minor leagues.

"Honestly, basketball was my number one love," Granderson said. "Unfortunately, I didn't get that opportunity, but I did get a number of offers to play Division I baseball with a chance to walk on the basketball tam. It took me a while to realize I was a better baseball player."

In 2002, Granderson was in the running for the NCAA Division I batting title all season, ending up with a .483-9-44 season with 17 stolen bases. He helped lead the University of Illinois-Chicago to a school record for victories and its first-ever conference title.

Curtis is believed to be the first Illinois-Chicago product to play in the Major Leagues, and he can thank an old face from school for helping him get here so soon. He partly credits former Major Leaguer Scott Stahoviak, his hitting coach for a year with UIC, for helping him get back to his old swing after a slow start in 2004 with the Erie Seawolves (EL-Tigers).

And before 2006 spring training Stahoviak was still helping Granderson with his hitting. "We have similar hitting styles and approach," Curtis said, "and I'm kind of doing stuff that he already went through from Spring Training through the Minor Leagues to the Major Leagues. He's a good guy to talk to, easy to gain information, just ask questions and not have to worry about overanalyzing."

Curtis earned dual degrees in business management and marketing.

Curtis is a hard worker and an intelligent player. He has great makeup and has leadership skills. He is charismatic and articulate. He is polite and mild mannered. Childhood friend in Illinois, Joe Lacy says, "I've never seen him lose his temper."

Before 2004 spring training, Baseball America rated Granderson as the 8th-best prospect in the Tigers organization. But during the offseason before 2005 spring camp opened the magazine had Curtis as the #1 prospect in the Detroit system.

"There's a lot of talent there in everything—basketball, football, baseball, soccer, hockey," Granderson said. "It's just letting kids know that whatever you want to try to excel in, just go for it. And having somebody in that aspect just to try to influence and motivate the kids to continue to do that helps."

After the 2004 season, playing in the Arizona Fall League, Granderson hit .321.

Durtis doesn't have many superstitions. About the only ritual he has is chewing sugar-free Bazooka bubble gum.

Major League Baseball has seen the value in marketing to an international audience and in November 2006 called Granderson to tab him for a free trip to Europe, as part of the league's longstanding Ambassador Program.

He spent half the day conducting clinics, and the rest of his time as a tourist. His first stop was London. Then he visited national academies in Holland and Italy, where young players, ages 15 to 18, train.

Clive Russell, the director of MLB's London office said that Granderson was chosen because he's "one of the dynamic, young stars in the game." Russell said Granderson would conduct interviews with media in each country. In other words: Detroit's humble centerfielder became an international idol.

Granderson is single, with no children to care for in the offseason, which gave him the chance pursue the overseas opportunity. In fact, the 25-year-old still lives with his folks during the offseason—something he openly admits. (2006)

During the offseason before 2008 spring training, Curtis again toured the world for MLB International. Granderson toured Europe with one of his close friends, Joe Lacy. They also toured South Africa together, but Granderson also brought his father along to enjoy the experience. He didn't need much convincing when MLBI approached him with the idea.

"Without hesitation," Granderson said. "I said, 'Of course, let's find the dates and get it going.'"

They visited Robben Island Museum, where freedom fighters turned what once was a prison into a symbol of the struggle for equality. Future leaders held there include Nelson Mandela.

Granderson and his group spent two more days on a safari before visiting Pretoria for the USSASA Summer Games, conducting clinics and talking to players. Following another day off and a media session in Johannesburg, Granderson appeared at the African Championships to meet with South Africa's national team as well as players for the MLB academy. he was back in the USA just before Christmas.

Granderson is not all about the bling. In 2007, he was still buying his suits at those warehouse stores, for $250 or less. He doesn't have a lot of "self-importance," not thinking too highly of himself, and maintaining humility.

"I don't care who's at the table," Curtis said before the Tigers' 2007 welcome-home banquet. "If you're the most important person, or just bought a ticket outside like everyone else, I'm no more important than you. I'm going to try to make everybody feel comfortable." (John Morosi-Detroit Free Press-4/02/07)

Curtis is one of the intellectuals in the clubhouse. Asked about that, Granderson said, "There's book knowledge and street knowledge, and sometimes my book knowledge outranks my street knowledge."

Granderson was 10 years old when his grandmother passed away from breast cancer. He still remembers well, from their visits in Mississippi to her interest in baseball to the caramel cake she would send up to Chicago for him each birthday. His mother has become involved with breast cancer awareness over the years. (Jason Beck, MLB.com, 5/8/07)

In 2007, Curtis became just the sixth player since 1900 with at least 20 homers, 20 triples, and 20 doubles in one season. George Brett, in 1979 for Kansas City, was the last player to pull off the feat; and Willie Mays also did it.

During the 2006 World Series in St. Louis, Curtis fell on slick turf and an out turned into a double.

And he still tells that story . . . about a dozen times a year, actually. Granderson shares his message with students in Detroit and Chicago, talking about his successes and one embarrassing moment.

“I tell kids that story, letting them know that whatever happens, you have to walk it off because tomorrow is a new day,” Granderson said. “My slip and fall happened with 180 countries witnessing it.”

Granderson might end up going to many of those countries as a baseball ambassador.

“Curtis is a first-class ambassador and one of the warmest people you could meet,” said Clive Russell, who accompanied Granderson to Italy, Holland and South Africa. “It is amazing how he instantly connects with people of all ages and background.

“People just gravitate to him.”

And, Granderson doesn’t seem to push anybody back.

He has a hard time saying no when fans approach him, asking for a picture when he’s at a restaurant with family and friends or his signature during spring training.

“He signs autographs out there every single day when he leaves until he signs everybody’s autograph and you just don’t find that,” Leyland said. “He probably overtaxes himself trying to please everybody and probably does a little too much.

“He can’t dance. That’s how he is human,” said Joe Lacy, who has been close with Granderson since the fourth grade and was his guest in Europe and Africa. “He has no rhythm, so if we’re at a club, I tell him to sit down.

“But the girls still love him and his personality, just like they did long before he had a $30 million contract.”

Granderson's favorite sport to watch is college basketball. Each March, he follows the NCAA tournament with a passion each spring. He hosted a bracket contest on his blog one month in 2008, inviting readers to try to out-pick him, with an autographed bat awarded to the winner. In January, he raised money for his Grand Kids Foundation with a charity basketball game.

During the 2007 season, Granderson lived in a modest one-bedroom rental in the Royal Oaks neighborhood of Detroit. During the offseason, he stays at his parents' home in Lynwood, Illinois.

During long drives in his car, Granderson says, "If I'm not on the phone, I'll listen to XM Radio, the stations with soul, top 40, hip-hop, and oldies. If I turn past all them, I'm into the jazz station, and I'll stick around for that for a little bit."

"I'd put my grandkids in his hands," said Willie Horton, the former Tiger. "That's the trust I have in him. He sets not only a good example for the game. He sets it for people in general."

When Granderson signed a $30 million contract extension with the Tigers, he also changed future endorsement contracts with Nike, Rawlings and Louisville Slugger. He no longer gets a retainer from the companies. Instead, he asks that they donate equipment to inner-city youth baseball teams across the state.

In October 2009, Granderson won an award for his community work. Members of the MLB Players Association voted Detroit center fielder Curtis Granderson as the 2009 winner of the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award for on-field and off-field performance.

The award, as voted on by Major League players in September, goes annually to the player whose passion to give back to the community inspires others. It includes a donation of $50,000 to the charity of the player's choice. Granderson gave the funds for work that furthers the educational experience of kids in Michigan's inner cities.

He was presented with the award on April 17, 2010.

Granderson showed up with contact lenses for 2010 spring training. A routine eye exam the previous December showed 20/30 vision, which wouldn't affect most people, but for a baseball player, having 20/20 vision could allow for marginal improvement.

"You almost think this guy is too good to be true, but he's as genuine as the day is long," says Sean Casey, the MLB Network analyst who played with Granderson in Detroit. "He is for real—he's humble pie."

April 15, 2013: Granderson came to Abraham Lincoln High School to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, the 66th anniversary of the day the iconic hero of sports and civil rights made his Major League debut. And in this place, named after the president known as the Great Emancipator, he saw all the strands of society come together. His charity, the Grand Kids Foundation, is dedicated to helping inner-city students, and now he got to do it in the very borough where Robinson got his start.

Granderson's foundation—together with New Balance, the Department of Education and the film production company that developed "42"—helped refurbish the high school's athletic fields in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and Curtis was there to witness the work they had done.

"It's great to get a chance to see that, 'Hey, for a split second, things were gone, but they're not lost.'" said Granderson. "Sure enough, we were able to do that, and I'm glad the Grand Kids Foundation was able to help out with this today. I'm excited to see the kids' faces out there. I'd love to get a chance to see them play, go out there and represent them."

Yankees' general manager, Brian Cashman, spoke glowingly of Granderson and said that he truly embodied the spirit and the message of Jackie Robinson Day in trying to give back to the local community.

"When we traded for Curtis Granderson from Detroit, his reputation was one of perfection," Cashman said. "He's one of the best players that takes the field, but he's one of the best people in the game. We're not surprised whatsoever when he came over here at the positive impact he's had in the New York area off the field."

In May 2013, Granderson donated $5 million to his former school, the University of Illinois at Chicago to build a new baseball stadium.

August 5, 2013: Granderson, who grew up in Lynwood, Illinois, hosted a pregame meet-and-greet [in Chicago] for 36 Little Leaguers from Lynwood and nearby Lansing, where he played Little League, at U.S. Cellular Field. He calls his events like this, "Grand's Kids."

Granderson said he wants to teach the youngsters "hard work, leadership, failure, picking yourself right back up, goal-setting, teamwork, hand-eye coordination, physical fitness, being outside and being active, all those different things, and just to run around and have fun."

Granderson wrote a children's book, All You Can Be: Dream It, Draw It, Become It! It was published in 2009. The book is illustrated by students of the New York City public school system.

May 9, 2014: In addition to being a baseball player, Curtis is a community leader, an activist. He is as committed to his charitable foundation as anyone in the game. He has served as an ambassador for Major League Baseball both at home and abroad. He is a leading voice in the MLB Players Association.

Granderson's desire to contribute to such things, he knows now, grew at least partially out of his mother Mary's influence. A longtime teacher in the Chicago Public School district, Mary Granderson was always active in her church and education communities, all while raising Curtis and attending as many of her son's events as possible

"I've noticed now looking back, there were a lot of things she was heavily involved in whether it was at work, different groups, the church," Granderson said. "There were things she was involved in where I'm sure she provided input. So even those little things could have helped shape me into the person I am today."

Granderson is as thankful as ever for a mom that took an unwavering interest in his life. Mary made a point of attending his games as often as possible, shuttling him to other fields when necessary. When Curtis began playing at the nearby University of Illinois-Chicago—a choice fueled in part by his desire to remain close to his family—Mary continued to attend as many games as she could.

That has not changed  since Granderson first cracked the big leagues. Mary and Granderson's father, Curtis Sr., typically fly to Spring Training once per year. They always attend when Granderson plays at Wrigley Field or U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, taking other road trips throughout the summer when possible

Recently, Granderson was reflecting with his mother on those days, talking about how frequently she attended his games despite working full-time as a teacher.

"I didn't really realize it a lot when I was younger," Granderson said. "But if she wasn't there or chose not to be there, how different things would have been for me." (Anthony DiComo, MLB.com 5/09/2014)

Curtis gets it. He knows, when you're in the public spotlight, everybody is watching, and he knows, even if folks are looking elsewhere, you still have a responsibility to do the right thing. He knows there are those less fortunate than himself, so he tries to do something about it, not only financially, but physically and mentally. He knows education is the key to success, which is why he follows the mindset of his parents back in his native northern Illinois by operating on and off the diamond as the consummate teacher.

"I can be at a camp, a clinic, a meet-and-greet or wherever, and if I get an opportunity to speak, I always try to relate everything I talk about back to education," said Granderson, who matriculated toward a business degree during his last two years at the University of Illinois-Chicago while in the Tigers' Minor League system.

Added Granderson, "Everybody wants to talk to me about baseball at these events, and I get that. I understand that's why I'm there, but I always mention that I wouldn't have gotten this opportunity if I didn't do certain things in the classroom. I relate having success to, say, getting a sacrifice bunt down through practice. Just like you will get an 'A' on your test by working at it or by getting somebody who is good in that subject to help you. I want to instill the importance of an education into people."

Sounds like a role model. The same goes for this: Granderson rarely talks about the subject to his teammates. When he does, they listen . . . a lot.

"If someone is doing something negative or going about it the wrong way, I might say, 'Be a little more conscious of that, because people are watching," Granderson said. "I'm not going to tell them to change, because everybody is an individual, and they choose whatever they wish to do. It's more by example in my case. I don't talk too much about [being a role model], but I do notice that a teammate might say to me, 'Man, do you know somebody in every city? I saw you waving to three people today." And I'll say, 'No, that was just a fan or somebody,' and then they'll come back to say, 'Wow. I thought you knew them.'

There might be somebody in sports who is more of a role model than Granderson, but probably not. 

"I could have picked up a lot of the way that I am now through peers, extended family members and various friends, but if both of my parents weren't there as I was growing up, and if they weren't educators, things could have been a little different for me," said Granderson, referring to his father, Curtis Sr., who was an administrator at an elementary school near Chicago, while his mother, Mary, taught chemistry at a nearby high school.  (Moore - mlb.com - 7/1/14)

Back in 2008, Granderson established his Grand Kids Foundation to help inner-city youth across the country regarding baseball in general and education in particular. Instead of taking endorsement money from corporations, he told them to contribute funds to his foundation to boost those kids.

Speaking of kids, Curtis wrote a children's book a few years ago called All You Can Be to encourage youth to chase their dreams. He donated copies of the book to the public elementary school libraries throughout Michigan and New York City, and they gladly accepted.

There's more, always more for Granderson, who has a slew of philanthropy awards from everywhere. In addition, he was selected by Commissioner Bud Selig in December 2012 to represent MLB as a baseball ambassador to countries such as Korea, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

He also was invited by the White House to join first lady Michelle Obama as baseball's spokesperson in her anti-obesity campaign for youth. If those things aren't enough, Granderson serves as a highly visible promoter of past and present Negro League players whenever he takes the field. He wears his socks high in their honor. More striking, he said this particular tribute is his personal reminder to sign every autograph, to shake every hand, and to exchange every smile whenever possible.

"In high school, during African-American month, we used to do book reports and projects, and I remember seeing Jackie Robinson and videos of the Negro Leagues in general, and I would say as a baseball player back then, 'Wow. Their uniforms are awesome,' and they certainly looked better than mine," Granderson said, laughing.

"As I got older, I realized that those Negro League players gave me an opportunity to play in this game, and it also told me about the respect that they deserved in return. So I started to wear my socks high like this, because I wanted to be like them. Then it all made me realize that kids are doing the same types of things now when they watch us play as Major Leaguers.

"They're watching the way we wear are uniforms. They even start chewing gum a certain way, because they see us doing it that way. So you have to be conscious of what you're doing." (Moore - mlb.com - 7/1/14)

Granderson is also 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.

Growing up, Granderson was a Braves fan. Living in Chicago, he would get aggravated when coming home from school, wanting to watch his favorite show which was "Saved by the Bell" and found the Cubs ballgame on. This turned him away from liking the Cubs.  He still, as an adult, will watch rerun episodes of the TV show. (Intentional Talk / 2015)

February 4, 2016: Black History Month is a time to remember the important contributions and achievements of African-Americans throughout our nation's history. Personally, the observation of black history is a time for me to reflect on all those who have come before me in the African-American community and their countless sacrifices and struggles, shaping the way for future generations -- including my own.

In addition to Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Robinson, George Washington Carver and other leaders in the African-American community, I also celebrate my grandparents and parents, who accomplished so much in an effort to provide opportunity for my family. Learning from my elders about how things were and how things have changed has helped me understand the importance of hard work -- encouraging me to "play hard" every day and pay it forward for generations to come.

In recent years, there's been a tremendous decline in African-American baseball engagement. Less than 8 percent of Major League Baseball athletes are African-American, accented by a growing decline in inner-city youth baseball. Through my Grand Kids Foundation, we've focused a tremendous amount of energy and resources toward providing inner-city youth baseball opportunities -- including most recently, the development of Curtis Granderson Stadium at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in which more than 10,000 kids from Chicago's inner city can safely "play ball" all year long.

Black History Month is a great time to reflect, but it's an equally important time to engage the community and continue to make societal changes. I look forward to doing my part to instill change and will continue to follow in the late Jackie Robinson's footsteps -- on Jackie Robinson Day, when I wear a custom New Balance cleat in his honor, and all year long. (C Granderson - Special to MLB.com - February 4, 2016)

2015 Q&A with reporter Steve Serby: Q: You’re one of the most polished, politically correct athletes I’ve ever dealt with. Now say something controversial. A: Let’s see … I can probably go with … I had this conversation with people — if we landed on the moon, how come we’ve never been back? I think there might be some conspiracy stuff to that.

Q: You do? A: We haven’t been back, it’s been [43] years, technology’s all gotten better, and I’ve actually looked that one up a little bit and saw something on the NASA website and it said something that that space shuttle that was made back then is no longer made any more. They’re making one now, but it costs $30 billion to be able to go there. And we’re constantly coming back, you always hear of spaceships landing: oh, so-and-so just got back from its mission … where’d they go, you know? No one else in the world has ever been, so …

April 15, 2016: As he has done every year since joining the Mets, Curtis Granderson showed up in the clubhouse on  -- Jackie Robinson Day -- with a fresh box of spikes in his locker. The outside of the left shoe featured the number 42 in large, gray letters. Emblazoned on the right shoe were the words "Jackie Robinson Day."

Every year, the spikes are a bit different, but their symbolism remains very much the same: a way for Granderson to honor Robinson even beyond Major League Baseball's league-wide celebration.

"You always talk about the history of the game," Granderson said. "I think this is one of the big pieces of the history of the game to make it look like it does now, with just the number of different countries represented. Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier when he did, that opened up opportunities for the game to be as diverse as it is today. So this is to thank him and get a chance to represent him." (A DiComo - MLB.com - April 15, 2016)

As part of the Mets' Reading Rally program, Curtis arrived at P.S. 92 in Corona, N.Y., to read Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham" and other stories to third, fourth and fifth graders.

  "Its very important getting a chance to go back to the school system and showing kids similar things you went through at their age," said Granderson. "It's important to show them opportunities will arise for them if they do the right things and stay on the straight and narrow path."

Giving back is nothing new for Granderson, a son of teachers who encourages kids to be educated and active through his Grand Kids Foundation. Granderson started the organization in 2007 in Detroit, as a member of the Tigers, and expanded it to Chicago, New York and Florida throughout his Major League career.  (Trezza - MLB.com - 5/3/16)

In 2016, Granderson won MLB's Roberto Clemente Award.

November 9, 2016: About a week after winning the  Roberto Clemente Award, Granderson took home a similar accolade: the MLB Players Association's Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award.

Nov 25, 2016: Curtis shot up the Van Wyck Expressway, heading north to another destination. Granderson and Jose Reyes just finished distributing Thanksgiving turkeys to needy families in Jamaica, Queens. Next up was a stop in Harlem as part of the same initiative. Later that night, Granderson headed to Midtown for a Grand Kids Foundation fundraiser.

Granderson's traffic-defying schedule was hardly unique. Since the Mets bowed out of postseason play seven weeks ago, the Mets outfielder has crisscrossed the Eastern United States, running charity events in both New York City and his native Chicago. In late October, he paused at Wrigley Field to collect the Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball's highest off-field honor. Then, he continued the process of demonstrating why he earned that recognition, using Thanksgiving as a springboard for his charitable giving.

"What Roberto Clemente stood for, his family is living proof of what it was to not only be a professional athlete, but a professional human being," Granderson said at his award acceptance ceremony. "The importance of knowing that his community is what made him who he was, and the reason why he was able to be where he was … those are the things I strive to do."

"I've always felt like being involved in the community has been something I've enjoyed doing," Granderson said. "That's the type of way I like to stay busy … just trying to find different ways to help out because the fan base helps to get us to be where we are, and to be able to play this great game. So to give back -- whether it be 30 minutes here, two hours there, a couple of camps or events there -- I'm always going to try my best to do so, even when I'm finished playing." (A DiComo - MLB.com - Nov 25, 2016)

July 21, 2017: With the New York Public Library in midtown Manhattan serving as the backdrop, Curtis shrugged off trade rumors and expressed a willingness to remain in New York beyond the 2017 season. Granderson arrived at the library by riding a Citi Bike from one block away to promote his Grand Kids Foundation charity dinner. The Foundation will celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a dinner at the library on Aug. 7, 2017.

Granderson's long commitment to giving back culminated with him receiving the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award, which is MLB's most prestigious individual award for his contributions in the community. Between four years with the Yankees and 3 1/2 seasons with the Mets, his impact has been felt throughout the greater New York area, as well as in his hometown of Chicago and in Michigan, where he began his career with Detroit.

The library, Granderson said, is an ideal place to hold an event for his charity, considering the pillars of his foundation rely on education, diversity and keeping kids active. And while baseball may not be a part of Granderson's life for much longer, his foundation definitely will.

"If baseball happens to come to an end, the Grand Kids Foundation is going to continue to keep moving," Granderson said. "We're at 10 years, and I want to see us get to 20 years, I want to see us get to 30 years and beyond." (C Bumbaca - MLB.com - July 22, 2017)

Curtis was still getting settled in with the Dodgers, having joined the team in August 2017. But he didn't want to miss a chance to extend his Grand Kids Foundation to the West Coast with the 2017 season winding down.

With the help of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and 99 Cents Only Stores, he got his opportunity. Granderson made a trip to 112th Street Elementary School in Watts, where 99 kids were hosted for a playground clinic on the school's blacktop.

"My time here is going to be brief, as of now, but any time you get a chance to work with a great group of kids and a great organization, like the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, it makes it easy to take the Grand Kids Foundation and spread it nationwide," Granderson said. "That's been the goal since we started the foundation 10 years ago."

Granderson got to check another major United States market off the foundation's list after spending six years in Detroit with the Tigers and eight years in New York split between time with the Mets and Yankees.

It was clear Granderson had an abundance of experience running clinics. Curtis exhibited as much enthusiasm as the elementary schoolers participating, leading groups through a Wiffle ball game, throwing accuracy drills and a speed circuit.

"It's always important to remember we were in these kids' shoes at some point in our life," Granderson said. "They need to know they can be in the same situation as a person like me -- playing in the Major Leagues -- if they can live a healthy life and have the backing of the community."

"These programs believe -- like we do -- that being healthy and thinking about health is clearly important," Dodgers Foundation executive director Nichol Whiteman said while addressing the group of kids. "Clinics like these are a great way to take the steps to achieve those goals."  (Posner - mlb.com - 9/5/17)

John Paul Morosi reminisces:  The first Spring Training I covered from start to finish was in 2007. The Tigers were coming off their first American League pennant in more than two decades, my home state had fallen madly in love with baseball again, and I was a lucky 24-year-old sportswriter for the Detroit Free Press.

Curtis Granderson was the hub of that team, in ability and character. As a graceful center fielder, explosive leadoff hitter and thrilling baserunner, his on-field presence was unmistakable. He was the clubhouse's conscience, too, exuding purpose and positivity from the moment he arrived at Joker Marchant Stadium each day. 

Granderson smiled a lot then, after one full season the Major Leagues. He smiles a lot now, as a 37-year-old likely to platoon in left field for the Blue Jays, his fifth team.

Granderson has played more than 200 Grapefruit League games in a pro career that began nearly 16 years ago. Yet as we spoke before he led off against the Braves one day last week, he gave no indication that he was growing weary of the grind. Granderson talked about what he's observed in his new surroundings with the Blue Jays, about wanting to pursue a graduate degree in the near future, about the philanthropic work that defines his MLB career as much as the 319 home runs and three World Series appearances.

How much longer does Granderson want to play?  "I'm not sure," he said. "Even going into this year, mentally and physically, I was ready [to play], but it was all dependent on the 30 clubs and the interest there. This offseason, there was interest, so let's continue to do it. Next year will be a similar situation.

"There's no hard date that, 'Hey, I'm done.' At the same time, I'm not like, 'I've got to play as long as I can.' Who knows what's next for me? There are so many things I want to do, and am beginning to do, and will do whenever I finally step away from the game."

At that point in the interview, I was reminded why this time of year has me under its spell. Yes, I love opportunities to meet the game's top prospects and contemplate their futures. But in Spring Training, amid all that is new, we can't forget to appreciate those -- like Granderson -- whose brilliance and relevance endures. 

After I returned home from Florida last week, I searched for a copy of the feature story I'd written on Granderson in the Free Press, nine Spring Trainings ago.  "There are so many fine young men playing Major League Baseball today," the lead quotation said, "but I can think of no one who is better suited to represent our national pastime than you."

Bud Selig, then the MLB Commissioner, had written those words in a letter to Granderson, in recognition of his community work and trips around the world as an MLB ambassador.  Nearly a decade later, they're still true.  (Morosi - mlb.com - 3/19/18)

"Man, I can't say enough [about Curtis in Spring Training 2018]," Blue Jays' general manager, Ross Atkins said. "It's like the movie you hear so much about that it can't possibly be as good as everyone is saying it is -- and then it's even better. That typically doesn't happen.

"With Curtis Granderson, you couldn't possibly have heard anything more positive or powerful about him. It's all you've heard. Now we're finding out that the consistency of his character is even better. It doesn't seem possible -- to exceed expectations when they're so high -- but he's a remarkable human being.

"His humility and consistency, how he treats people, how that impacts people in subtle but very powerful ways -- I can only imagine, over the course of a season, what that's going to mean to our team. It's palpable, his influence and impact."

Through Granderson's journey from up-and-coming star to venerated veteran, his priorities have remained largely unchanged. He's fanatical about preparation, both mental and physical.

"He's got the same body he did as a rookie," observed Braves pitching coach Chuck Hernandez, who held the same job with the Tigers early in Granderson's career. "He looks the same. He probably weighs the same. And if your pitcher makes a mistake, he's going to hit it."  (Morosi - mlb.com - 3/19/18)

As the son of retired public school educators in the Chicago area, Curtis has maintained education as the centerpiece of his outreach. The Grand Kids Foundation -- focused on education, fitness and nutrition among young people -- is now more than 10 years old. Granderson's Chicago Baseball and Education Academy has attracted almost 20,000 boys and girls, ages 8 to 18, to athletic and academic programs. 

As part of the CBEA, every Chicago public high school plays at least one game at Illinois-Chicago's baseball field. The ballpark's name? Curtis Granderson Field, constructed thanks largely to a $5 million donation from its namesake.

Granderson is a UIC alumnus, having earned his bachelor's degree in business management and business marketing. He's a student there, too, in a graduate program for educational leadership -- a hint, perhaps, at Granderson's post-baseball endeavor.  Or more accurately, the first of many.  (Morosi - mlb.com - 3/19/18)

Baseball legend Willie Mays celebrated his 88th birthday May 6, 2019, and the day wasn’t lost on Curtis.  “My dad’s favorite player,” said Granderson. “It’s cool to see the things he did statistically. The first five-tool player.”

Even cooler to Granderson is the fact that he shares a slice of MLB history along with Mays.  In 2007, while with the Tigers, Granderson joined a handful of players to ever reach 20-plus home runs (23), 20-plus triples (23) and 20-plus stolen bases (26) in the same season. That same season, Jimmy Rollins, while a member of the Phillies, finished with 20 triples, 30 homers and 41 steals.

No big league player has accomplished the feat since.  Just three players before 2007 share the distinction -- Mays in 1957, Buck Freeman in 1899 and Frank “Wildfire” Schulte in 1911.  It hasn’t really been talked about too much,” Granderson said.

But shortly after that 2007 season, Granderson was in San Diego for a Negro League-related event, hosted by Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. Mays was at the event, and Granderson met him briefly, and a group photo of current and former players and umpires was taken.  “I got a chance to meet him briefly in San Diego,” Granderson said. “But I’ve been trying to get in touch with [Mays] since then, because it was quick. We came in and did something and then had to go.”

The fact that only five players are in the 20-homers, 20-steals, 20-triples club is something that Granderson cherishes.

When Granderson was having his big 2007 season, the statistic he focused on mostly was triples. Carl Crawford had led the American League in the category the three previous seasons.

“I remember prior to that, Carl Crawford had the triple title in the American League,” Granderson said. “I was like, ‘Oh, I might be able to get that.’ That was my thought. It wasn’t stolen bases or anything.”  (Frisaro - mlb.com - 5/7/19)

Nickname: The nickname Grandy really caught on when Granderson was in the Minor Leagues, and during his days playing for the Yankees, announcer John Sterling dubbed the veteran outfielder "Grandyman” on his home run calls.

“Guys started calling me ‘Grandy’ in general. That’s where ‘Grandy’ came from," Granderson said. "And then a mixture between John Sterling with the Yankees who did the ‘Grandyman’ call to just players in general going ‘Grandy, man.’ It was just morphed into that over time.”

October 24, 2019:  Granderson was awarded the Marvin Miller Man of the Year for an unprecedented fourth time, also winning the award in 2009, '16 and '18.

Jan 31, 2020: Curtis Granderson called it a career after 16 Major League seasons. The longtime outfielder announced his retirement.

Off the field, Granderson was known for his contributions to his community. Granderson was the 2016 winner of MLB's Roberto Clemente Award -- given annually to a player who demonstrates Clemente's values of commitment to community and helping others -- and he was also named the Marvin Miller Man of the Year four times by the MLB Players Association, including in 2019.

"I'm eternally grateful to every team and every city I've had the opportunity to call 'home': Detroit, New York (both the Bronx and Queens), Los Angeles, Toronto, Milwaukee, Miami, and of course my hometown of Chicago," Granderson said in a tweet announcing his retirement. "It is these communities that allowed me to take my Grand Kids Foundation to new heights and use my platform for positive change." 

In addition to his Grand Kids Foundation, Granderson was charitable with his alma mater, donating $5 million to the University of Illinois at Chicago for the construction of their ballpark, Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium.

In his career, Granderson played 2,057 games and totaled 1,800 hits, 344 home runs, 153 stolen bases, 937 RBIs and 1,217 runs scored. He was MLB's active leader in triples, with 95. Granderson made it to the postseason eight times and played in two World Series, with the Tigers in 2006 and the Mets in '15.

His best seasons came in 2007 with the Tigers and 2011 with the Yankees. In '07, Granderson batted .302 with 23 homers, 26 steals and an MLB-best 23 triples. In '11, he hit 41 home runs, stole 25 bases, led the AL with 119 RBIs and the Majors with 136 runs scored while finishing fourth in American League MVP Award voting.

Granderson accumulated 47.3 Wins Above Replacement for his career, according to Baseball Reference, which ranked 10th among active position players.

“Thank you -- to the MLB, MLBPA, my teammates and coaches, front office staff, members of the media, partners, and the fans -- for the ride of a lifetime,” said Granderson. (D Adler - MLB.com - Jan 31, 2020)

TRANSACTIONS

June 2002: The Tigers chose Curtis in the third round, out of University of Illinois at Chicago. Jerome Cochran is the Tigers scout who signed Granderson for a bonus of $469,000.

February 4, 2008: Curtis and the Tigers agreed on a five-year, $30.25 million contract.

December 9, 2009: The Yankees acquired Granderson in a three-team blockbuster trade in which Curtis went to the Yankees; Tigers righthander Edwin Jackson and Yankees SP Ian Kennedy went to Arizona; and D-backs pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth—along with Yankees prospect Austin Jackson and lefty Phil Coke—went to Detroit.

October 29, 2012: The Yankees picked up the $15 million option on Curtis for 2013.

December 6, 2013: Granderson signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Mets.

Aug 18, 2017: The Mets traded Granderson to the Dodgers for a PTBNL.

Nov 2, 2017: Curtis chose free agency.

Jan. 16, 2018: The Blue Jays signed Granderson to a $5 million contract.

August 31, 2018: The Brewers acquired Granderson from the Blue Jays in exchange for OF Demi Orimoloye.

Oct 29, 2018: Curtis chose free agency.

Feb 5, 2019: The Marlins organization signed free agent Curtis. Granderson will earn $1.75 million if he makes Miami's roster, with the chance to add another $250,000 in incentives. 

Oct 31, 2019: Curtis chose free agency.

Granderson's nice lefthanded swing reminds baseball people of Michael Tucker.

"You just don’t find that many lefthanded hitters with a short, nice swing like his," Tigers scouting director Greg Smith said before 2003 spring training. "He’s a dangerous hitter. He isn’t hitting with that much power yet, but the power will come. He is capable of turning on the ball and juicing it." 

Curtis keeps putting up higher power numbers every season, but has sacrificed some selectivity at the plate for that pop.

Granderson tries hard not to make hitting harder than it is. In 2007, he had the words: DON'T THINK, HAVE FUN written underneath the bill of his baseball cap during the season.

"When I'm being analytical at the plate, that's when I start getting into trouble," he says. "I've always been that way, breaking everything down. Now I need to trust my instincts, relax and just go with them," Curtis said.

During the offseason before 2010 spring training, Granderson worked with Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, working to learn how to hit lefthanded pitching. Before that, lefties would throw Grandy's timing off. Long watched video and identified two flaws.

First, Curtis was standing too far from the plate, which Granderson later said he found interesting because he always thought he stood too close. Second, his upper body tended to lean over the plate as he swung, affecting his balance and causing him to reach for outside pitches. According to the Inside Edge scouting service, Granderson swung and missed on 41 percent of breaking pitches thrown by left-handers in '09. The league average was 29 percent.

In August 2010, Granderson asked hitting coach Kevin Long to help rebuild his swing in the middle of the season. The goal was simple: to eliminate unnecessary movement. When Granderson swung, his hands were moving forward, then back and forward again in what Long described as “a big crazy loop.”

Because Granderson was so far on his back leg when he started his swing, he actually strode twice, Long said, opening his stance and lengthening his swing. Long moved Granderson’s hands back, then aligned the rest of his body so it was squared, in perfect position for hitting: his legs were flexed, and his feet, knees, hips and shoulders were properly aligned.

Now, with the fat trimmed from his swing, he is shorter and more direct to the ball. In 2011, hit hit 41 homers. And 43 more in 2012. 

And he is more effective against lefthanded pitching.

In 2012, when he hit 43 dingers, Granderson became the fifth Yankees' outfielder to hit at least 42 home runs in a season. He joined Misters Maris, Ruth, Mantle, and DiMaggio.

Granderson hit his seventh leadoff homer of the season, setting a Mets franchise record.

With the Tigers in 2007, Granderson became one of four players in Major League history to record 20 homers, 20 triples, 20 doubles and 20 steals in a single season.

The others are Frank Schulte (1911), Willie Mays (1957) and Jimmy Rollins, also in 2007.

The art of the leadoff homer is unrivaled. It's an ambush, so to speak, against the opposition, standing in the box and cracking an immediate dinger mere seconds into the contest.

It's precisely that span of time -- seconds -- that makes what Curtis did over consecutive nights in Los Angeles especially eerie. On June 21, 2017, he stepped up against Rich Hill and hit a homer to right-center field. It was 7:11:09 local time.  

Flash forward 24 hours later, with Granderson in the box against Hyun-Jin Ryu, leading off a 6-3 loss to the Dodgers. Guess what he did? Yep, he hit a homer to right-center, setting a Mets franchise record in the process. The time? 7:11:11. Talk about déjà vu. (Garro - mlb.com - 6/22/17)

June 10, 2018 : Granderson had a career-high 6 RBI.

August 15, 2018:  Curtis has a knack for delivering when the bases are loaded.  Granderson launched his 10th career grand slam in the fourth inning to cap a five-run Blue Jays rally against Royals right-hander Jorge Lopez.

"It's awesome," Granderson said. "You never envision a grand slam is going to happen because everything has to line up for it. I wound up getting a pitch I could handle and got just enough of it to get it out of here."

Granderson is now tied with Adrian Beltre for fifth place in grand slams among active players. Only Albert Pujols (14), Robinson Cano, Edwin Encarnacion and Brian McCann (all with 11) have more.  (Falkoff - mlb.com)

He has a strong, accurate arm. And he is an intelligent player, throwing to the right base.

Granderson was hit by a 2-2 pitch from J.A. Happ and left the game in obvious pain. Originally, the injury was announced as a bruised forearm but he was taken to a local hospital for X-rays, which revealed the fracture.

May 24-August 2, 2013: Granderson suffered a broken knuckle (or fractured left fifth metacarpal, which is the knuckle on his pinky finger) when he was hit by a pitch from Rays' lefthander Mick Kelleher.

Curtis had minor surgery on his fractured left hand.