Who is the Grandyman?
What started as a nickname in the minor leagues followed Curtis Granderson all the way through his 16-year career in the majors. The 3-time MLB All-Star and Chicago native made a name for himself at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers. His time in the Big Leagues afforded him the opportunity to travel the world, achieve baseball records and receive honors and awards—all while making an impact in the communities in which he lived. And while he called a number of cities like Detroit, New York, Toronto and Miami home for a while, he never forgot where he came from—sweet home, Chicago.
Curtis “Grandyman” Granderson is quick to point out that without Jackie Robinson and other black players who paved the way for him, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play baseball in the Major Leagues. And while he accumulated a long list of impressive stats, honors and awards throughout his career, being highly regarded as a great teammate, a leader in the clubhouse and one of the “nicest players in baseball” is what he strived to be.
On the Field
Off the Field
With baseball as the backdrop, Curtis was able to launch several non-profit initiatives to provide thousands of kids with opportunities and access to athletics, education and nutritional programs.
Since retiring from the game, Curtis has enjoyed success as an analyst for TBS baseball, he serves as the Board Chair for The Player’s Alliance and has developed partnerships and invested in local Chicago businesses—and he’s just getting started.
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Food insecurity awareness initiatives and fundraising for Chicago families in need
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High-quality baseball & softball education and mentoring for kids in Chicago
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Working to build equity to change the trajectory of diversity throughout baseball