curtis born march american professional baseball outfielder new_york_mets major_league_baseball mlb played mlb detroit_tigers new_york_yankees throws right handed bats left handed primarily center fielder career transitioned right field played college baseball selected tigers mlb draft mlb debut tigers signed contract extension detroit season traded yankees contract expired following season signed contract time mlb star won silver award field recognized commitment community outreach charity work charitable endeavors support inner city children served ambassador mlb abroad won man year award field performance contributions community early years grew illinois south suburb chicago father curtis dean physical education teacher chicago mother mary taught chemistry chicago half sister english professor child grew fan atlanta braves choosing root hometown chicago cubs rushed home school watch saved bell disappointed cubs game instead attended south played baseball basketball high school baseball career batted home runs runs batted rbi named state selection senior year wore choosing number father wore playing south honored retiring jersey december ceremony college career recruited number college baseball programs chose allowed play basketball addition baseball quit basketball weeks freshman year order concentrate baseball freshman led flames baseball team seven home runs walks followed hitting sophomore leading team runs home runs walks sophomore year played summer collegiate league known batted games doubles triples home run rbi runs scored stolen bases junior season batted second nation named usa today team louisville ncaa division american graduated double major business administration business marketing february number retired professional career minor leagues detroit_tigers selected round major_league_baseball draft tigers assigned minor league baseball affiliate batted games determined complete college education fall semester began minor league season ended arrangements begin senior year internet courses tigers assigned class advanced tigers hit home runs rbi named tigers minor league player year prospect season prior season rated 57th best prospect baseball competed role tigers starting center fielder spring training organization decided needed assigned class aaa mud hit home runs rbis stolen bases major leagues detroit_tigers tigers promoted majors time september major league debut september received second promotion majors july appeared games promotion majors august remained majors permanently career inside park home run september hit game september walk home run september chicago_white_sox tigers starting center fielder season beating position spring training start major league career began game streak longest position player start career went games hit home runs american league championship series struggled world series batting cardinals defeated tigers june ranked american_league triples doubles tied fourth runs tied 10th batting average season listed star game ballot tigers decision outfielder ballot received write votes write votes player named player week july time won award hit doubles triple home run week drove runs scored seven runs total bases detroit game series august second player franchise history doubles triples home runs stolen bases single season hit double game tiger accomplish feat sixth member baseball club september joining new_york_giants cleveland chicago_cubs stole 20th base season september joining players major league history reach doubles triples home runs stolen bases season feat accomplished days later hit home runs season stolen base attempts improved plate discipline finished seventh strikeouts batters home runs stolen bases teammate season accumulated triples led baseball american_league detroit_tigers record triples feat achieved time triples king player manage single season triples home despite fact seen triples opened baseball joined club having triples home runs doubles stolen bases player accomplish feat triples entire teams managed chicago_white_sox cincinnati_reds anaheim team triples prior start season tigers signed year million contract club option continued hitting regular season finishing batting average triples home runs continued improve plate discipline striking times versus drawing career high walks august hit triples including consecutive innings game texas_rangers tigers failing playoffs employed commentator alongside coverage chosen appear mlb star game star appearance game hit triple 8th inning scored winning run new_york_yankees season tigers began shopping franchises effort reduce payroll yankees acquired team trade december deal yankees received sending detroit received yankees pitcher tigers pitcher return young pitchers joined tigers hit home run yankee bat april twelfth player missed games strained groin finished season games played batting average home runs struggled left handed pitching career numbers right handed pitchers causing swing help hitting coach august work long credited reason strong campaign received million votes mlb star game august yankees teammates hit home runs games august hit home runs anaheim tally career high home runs hit grand game august time team grand game named month august batted base percentage hit home runs recorded rbi scored runs player record home runs triples stolen bases season finished fourth curtis achieved hit august hit career home run cleveland_indians finished season batting average home runs rbi set new yankees season record striking times october yankees exercised club option originally worth million million option placed 4th mvp voting spring training debut february hit pitch fractured right placed day disabled list begin season returned yankees start right field broke left finger getting hit pitch 5th inning placed day disabled list underwent surgery pin inserted stabilize fracture august activated disabled list limited games batting home runs rbi free agent time career season new_york_mets agreed terms new_york_mets year contract worth million december salaries set million million million played right fielder started games right field team primary hitter went lead team games played runs scored hits stolen bases walks base percentage total bases route division title game picked rbi tied single game postseason record previously set national league championship series world series beating los_angeles_dodgers games went sweep chicago_cubs games advance world series productive hitters lineup postseason run world series murphy cooled world series continued consistent threat spot home runs rbis world series game tied game ninth inning home run closer excellent catch 11th inning bat fastest runner preventing lead triple likely saving game time win game 14th inning sacrifice fly series playing right field played consistent solid defense fielder hit walk home run los_angeles_dodgers batter 9th inning june hit lead joining franchise record personal life avid fan wwe attended detroit considers ultimate warrior undertaker man savage favorite wrestlers avid fan college basketball field served ambassador traveled england italy netherlands france south_africa china new_zealand south_korea japan promote baseball appreciation efforts commissioner penned thank letter read fine young men playing major_league baseball today think better suited represent national served unofficial baseball ambassador african american community participating initiating dialogue lack black players levels sport endorsed asked donate money foundation equipment inner city baseball programs pay foundation raised money benefit inner city children country wrote children book dream draw published august book illustrated students new_york_city public school system february represented mlb white_house function announcing let childhood anti effort sponsored lady united_states paid million help build new baseball stadium involved taken negotiations labor contract chosen man year field work voted players according poll conducted sports_illustrated players wears high honor players negro leagues publications dream draw isbn retrieved december
Curtis Granderson