News
Granderson gets second Clemente nod
Tigers laud outfielder's many community efforts
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
09/02/09 12:00 PM ET
DETROIT -- For the second time in three years, Curtis Granderson has been recognized for his work in the community as the Tigers' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. The award recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team. It is named in honor of the former Pirates outfielder, whose spirit and goodwill will always be remembered. Clemente died in a plane crash while attempting to transport relief supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua on Dec. 31, 1972. Fans can participate in the selection process of the overall winner of the award now through Oct. 4. The fan ballot winner will be tallied as one vote among those cast by a special selection panel of baseball dignitaries and media members. The panel includes MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and Vera Clemente, widow of the Pirates' Hall of Fame right fielder. Voting fans also will be automatically registered for a chance to win a trip to the 2009 World Series, when the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy will be announced. For Granderson, the team award recognizes the community work that has long been a natural extension for him. He has been one of the most active members of the team in terms of community appearances around the city and region, whether it's for school visits, fundraising efforts or work with the Detroit Tigers Foundation. "It kind of just happened over time," Granderson said recently. "I was always in different groups and organizations [as a kid], and in turn, those always had some kind of relationship with the neighborhood or the community, whether it was the Ambassador Program -- which is our Big Brother/Big Sister program in high school -- or Pep Club games. That's just kind of how it started. Then the idea came about 2 1/2 years ago: 'Hey, you know, you really should look into doing foundation-type work.'" Granderson's own work through his Grand Kids Foundation helps students and schools in Michigan's inner cities by purchasing school supplies and books, establishing baseball programs, providing equipment and helping improve facilities. His fundraising efforts have included a charity basketball game last winter featuring local athletes and celebrities such as Kid Rock, and a wine-tasting event last month that included a bachelor auction with Granderson, Edwin Jackson and Ryan Perry. Granderson's next big goal of the foundation is to establish a college scholarship for local students. So much of Granderson's work focuses on education in part because of his background, having grown up in a family of teachers and educators in Chicago. "Learning the importance just from being around it, education was actually something I liked," Granderson said. "It wasn't something that I dreaded. I never disliked going to school. My friends were there. I had fun there. School wasn't very hard for me. So I enjoyed it. And I saw a lot of kids that I grew up with, that I speak to today, that say, 'Man, I wish I would've done this or that differently, five, 10, 15 years ago.' Not necessarily get straight A's, but just the discipline aspect of it, not to get in trouble, do the right thing when it came to school to allow them opportunities to do those things that they wish they could do right now."Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
