Blue Jays on the Ballot: Curtis Granderson

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Dan McPeake
December 1, 2024 (6:47 PM)

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The 2025 Hall of Fame ballot was released earlier this month, and three former Blue Jays - Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin, and Troy Tulowitzki - are appearing for the first time. While none of them are expected to get more than that the 5% that is necessary to remain in consideration, let's look back and remember their time with the Jays.  

Today's player is: Curtis Granderson.

You will be forgiven if you forgot Granderson was a Blue Jay. After all, he only spent three-quarters of a season with them in 2018, after a long and established career with the Tigers, Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers. Nevertheless, the three-time All Star did have a few career highlights and moments during his time with the boys in blue. 

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Granderson arrived in January 2018, signing a 1 year $5 million deal heading into his age 37 season. The Blue Jays had a few remnants from their 2015-2016 winning teams, but they were slowly selling off and trading away the last remaining players, though it would be 2019 - with the arrival of a new manager and two rookie phenoms named Vlad and Bo - before they began a true rebuild.  

During the first month of the season, on April 16, he hit his ninth career grand slam. For a player who was not necessarily known for his power - although he did win a Silver Slugger award in 2011, he had some big hits in big moments. He would later hit his 10th grand slam - and 2nd of the season - at the end of the year in August; both of these came against the Kansas City Royals, a team he hit well throughout the course of his career.

Just eight days after his first four-bagger against the Royals, Granderson hit a walk-off home run in the 10th against the Red Sox. Not a lot went right for the Jays in 2018, so a walk-off win against a long-standing division rival was something to remember.   

Later on in June, Grandy, as he was affectionately known as, tied a career high in RBIs as he had six hitting in the leadoff spot in a game against the Baltimore Orioles and ended that game a triple short of the cycle. His final line that day was 4-5 with two doubles, a home run, single, six RBIs, a walk, and two runs scored as the Jays routed the orange birds 13-3 behind ace and cult hero Marco Estrada.

While the team was on a downward spiral, just two weeks after his showing against the O's, he hit two home runs off former teammate and future Hall Of Fame Justin Verlander. Two months later, at the trading deadline, he was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers for Demi Orimoloye, a Nigerian-born Canadian outfielder and career minor leaguer. 

There was something else that stood out about Granderson though: his personality. Grandy was as well-known for his play as he was for his legendary smile and nice-guy personality.

Even before his career ended he was an ambassador to the game. During his lone season with the Jays he won the team's Heart and Hustle Award, which is «presented annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.»

That same year, 2018, he was also chosen as the Marvin Miller Man of the year by the players union. The award is named after the Hall of Fame executive and labour leader and best exemplifies "outstanding on-field performance and off-field contributions to his community». It was Granderson's third time winning the award, he also received it in 2009 and 2016; it was bestowed upon him again in 2019, his final year in the majors.  

Granderson also took efforts to promote the game globally. He travelled to such places as England, France, Italy, Netherlands, China, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan. He spent so much time promoting the game he loved that then-commissioner Bud Selig wrote him a personal letter of thanks.

Granderson's efforts seemed to have paid off too, as for the past couple of seasons MLB has had the London series, following years with official games in Japan and Mexico City. As well, MLB now has official «European ambassadors», both of whom hail from the U.K. He also deferred money from endorsements deals with Nike, Louisville Slugger, and Rawlings, and instead requested that the money be used to fund baseball in inner cities.  

The Hall of Fame results will be announced in January. While Granderson isn't expected to be on the list of inductees, he will most likely fall off the ballot after this year and be a «one-and-done» player, he still deserves to be remembered for a great career, both off the field, and on.

Curtis Granderson finished his Jays career with 104 Games played, 11 HRs, 35 RBIS, .245. avg, .342. OBP, .722. OPS, and a .112. OPS+. . He retired after the 2019 season.