DETROIT — Curtis Granderson’s playing career in Detroit was spent making highlight-reel-worthy robberies in the outfield and spraying triples all over Comerica Park.
His first post-retirement trip to the city involved wondering how many more homers he’d have if he’d had the opportunity to play here after the fences were moved in.
Granderson — a three-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner who led the AL with 23 triples in 2007 — saw plenty of home runs during the Tigers’ first two games against the Padres this weekend. But the visit to his old stomping grounds wasn’t just a social call. He was presented with the Willie Horton Legacy Award during a pregame ceremony on Sunday.
“Willie’s the best,” said Granderson, who began his career as a third-round pick of the Tigers in the 2002 MLB Draft and played for Detroit from 2004-09. “The things that he would just always talk about were just so cool, whether it was on the field or off the field, playing the game, the mental side, his stories from the Civil Rights Movement and stuff.
“You’re just always hearing something exciting whenever you’re in his presence.”
Awarded each season during Negro Leagues Weekend, the Willie Horton Legacy Award was created in 2009 to honor African Americans who have strengthened the legacy of baseball in the African-American community and have contributed to the rich history of the Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers took the field on Saturday wearing their throwback Detroit Stars jerseys in honor of the Negro Leagues team that existed from 1919-30. The 21st annual weekend featured a “Walk of Stars” exhibit on the main concourse, a Negro Leagues Legacy Luncheon and a “Passing of the Bat” ceremony on Friday, Q&A session with former Negro Leagues players on the concourse on Saturday and a recognition ceremony of the 100th anniversary of Norman “Turkey” Stearnes’ debut with the Stars.
Saturday’s festivities also included a Stearnes replica Stars jersey giveaway to the first 15,000 fans.
Granderson, 42, has remained active in MLB in his retirement, most recently as a host for MLB on TBS. His real passion projects, though, are his Grand Kids Foundation –which he established in 2007 to help provide educational and athletic opportunities to children in need across the country — and his work with the Players Alliance, a non-profit comprised of Black MLB players united to create increased opportunities for the Black community in the game of professional baseball.
On Saturday, The Grand Kids Foundation treated 100 members of the Flint Jackson Park Youth League and Men of Tomorrow Youth Mentoring Organization to the Tigers-Padres game on Saturday. Before the game, Granderson — the current president of the Players Alliance — spoke passionately about the Alliance, which was founded in 2020, and its new program called Equip the Future, which involves mentoring and motivating the next generation of players to aid them in their journey.
Granderson was recognized on Sunday for all of his work on each of those fronts, as well as his various other charitable endeavors. The four-time Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award and Roberto Clemente Award recipient — both nods to Granderson’s community-minded inspiration efforts — was given a standing ovation and warm applause by the crowd on hand. The ceremony also included a highlight reel of Granderson’s time with the Tigers and a slide show of his work with the Grand Kids Foundation and other outreach activities over the years.
Former Tigers legend Jake Wood presented Granderson with a framed Tigers jersey, while the Detroit Tigers Foundation also presented him with a $5,000 check for the Grand Kids Foundation.
“It’s been really cool, just kind of doing a lot of community stuff and [coming] back to where it all started here,” he said.