Curtis “Mr. Triple” Granderson Retires
Today, Curtis Granderson released a statement announcing his retirement. Granderson played for seven different teams during his sixteen-season career – from 2004 to 2019. But he got his start in Detroit.
Indeed, from 2004-2009, Curtis Granderson wore the Old English D. Tigers fans everywhere congratulate Granderson on his retirement. A Silver Slugger winner and three-time All-Star, Granderson played the game well. As talented a ballplayer as he is, Granderson’s remarkable charity work and human decency leave a legacy in Major League Baseball comparable to few.
As resident Tigers writer, allow me to highlight some of his achievements during his time in Detroit.
Granderson amassed 21.2 Wins Above Replacement (per Baseball Reference) as a Tiger. This included nifty work with his glove in Centerfield as well as an array of skills as a hitter.
Granderson is perhaps best remembered in Detroit as Mr. Triple. From 2004-2009, Granderson hit 57 triples – good for fourth-most in MLB over that timeframe.
This stretch was highlighted by Granderson’s standout 2007 season. That year, he had a slash line of .302/.361/.552. He stole 26 bases and only caught stealing once. He scored 122 runs. And, yes, he hit a lot of triples: 23, to be exact, which was the same number of home runs he hit that year.
Granderson’s mark of 23 triples in 2007 is tied for the second-highest single-season total in the Live-Ball Era. What’s more, his 23 triples are the most hit in a season since 1949.
Of course, Curtis Granderson provided more than just triples to Detroit’s offense. During his time with the Tigers, he helped the team advance from mediocrity to its first World Series appearance since 1984 (2006 World Series). Granderson provided a spark in Centerfield and also as Detroit’s primary leadoff hitter.
From 2004-2009, Granderson had the twelfth-most Plate Appearances in the majors from the leadoff spot: 2,534, to be exact. Among those leadoff hitters with at least 500 Plate Appearances, these are Granderson’s ranks:
3rd in Triples (51)
4th in Home Runs (88)
6th in Slugging % (.485)
6th in OPS (.831)
8th in Total Bases (1,095)
8th in Walks (244)
9th in Runs Scored (396)
10th in RBI’s (261)
You get the point: Curtis Granderson set the table for the Detroit Tigers as they emerged into perennial playoff contenders.
And this was only the beginning for Granderson. He finishes his MLB career with 1,800 hits, 344 home runs, and an OPS of .803. Thanks for the memories, Grandy. MLB fans everywhere look forward to seeing what’s next for you.
