The Game Of Baseball Facilitated Curtis Granderson’s Impact Off The Field

The Game Of Baseball Facilitated Curtis Granderson’s Impact Off The Field

by | Jun 5, 2021 | THE THREE SPOT

The name Curtis Granderson is synonymous with players know for leaving it all on the field. He made sure to give his best effort out there and he made a name for himself during his time in MLB.

Granderson spent 16 seasons in the league and played for seven different teams. When he got that opportunity, he made the most of it and became a well-known player throughout the league.

 

 

The three-time All-Star could get the job done in the field and at the plate. Baseball had a positive impact on Granderson’s life and he’s able to make an impact on the community because of this sport.

This is one Black man who cares about the community and giving back, and he’s been doing that since he was playing in the league.

In 2007, he founded the Grand Kids Foundation. He had a vision to help aid youth development through education, physical fitness, and other positive initiatives. Not only has he impacted communities in his home state of Illinois, but he has also made an impact in other areas of the country as well.

 

 

“We started this in Detroit, here we are 10 years later getting a chance to celebrate a lot of different things we’ve done. Helping kids get introduced to the game of baseball, feeding kids, getting kids active and emphasizing the importance of education,” Granderson said in an article from nydailynews.com. “We’ve done it in a lot of different places: Chicago, Michigan, Florida and New York, so it’s been really cool to have that reach and ability because of baseball and because of this community.”

 

For Granderson, it was more than just playing the game. He used his platform to impact many people across the country and that just shows the kind of person he is.

Granderson last played in 2019, and he continues to be involved in the game even though he hasn’t touched the field in two years. 

He serves as the president of The Players Alliance, a group made up of more than 100 former and current baseball players who come together to use their voice and platform to make new opportunities for Black communities in areas regarding baseball and society.

Granderson is not afraid to speak out on different topics or issues or take action. In July of 2020, the MLB and teams gave players the option of wearing a social message on their jersey for opening day, in the midst of everything that was going on in the world at the time.

 

 

Granderson and current MLB player Andrew McCutcheon were the two people in coordination with the league regarding that matter. So, you can see that Granderson is passionate about the things he’s involved in and you just love to see it.

 

Curtis Granderson Was An All-Star MLBbro With Pop

 

The Detroit Tigers drafted Granderson out of the University of Illinois-Chicago in the 2002 draft. During his time in Detroit, he established himself as one of the team’s top players. During the 2007 season, he posted a .302 batting average, the first time he batted over .300 in his career.

In 2009, Granderson was selected to his first All-Star Game. He went on to finish the season with a .249 batting average and 30 home runs.

Batting in the leadoff spot, Granderson could change the game with one swing of a bat. He had power and speed, a deadly combination. 

After a successful career in Detroit, he went to the east coast to play with the New York Yankees and the Mets. 

 

 

Granderson had arguably his best season in 2011 with the Bronx Bombers. That season he was named an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger Award. He batted .262 and hit 41 home runs. 

He went on to make one more All-Star team in 2012 with the Yankees. Granderson finished his career playing for the LA Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Miami Marlins.

No matter what team he went to, he was always loved by fans. Baseball has had a positive impact on Granderson’s life and he continues to impact the lives of others daily.

A big shout out to our MLBbro Curtis Granderson.