Edgardo Alfonzo The Catch (1997 NLDS)

Lore & Background

Granderson grew up a fan of the Atlanta Braves, choosing not to root for the hometown Chicago Cubs because he often rushed home from school to watch Saved by the Bell and was disappointed when a Cubs game was on instead. He attended Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, Illinois, where he wore uniform number 14 because his father wore it while playing softball. T.F. South honored Granderson by retiring his jersey in a December 2011 ceremony.

Reader's Guide

Granderson played college baseball at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he graduated with a double major in business administration and business marketing. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 2002 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2004. Granderson is a three-time MLB All-Star and won a Silver Slugger Award in 2011. He retired after the 2019 season.

Did You Know?

• Granderson won the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award four times and the Roberto Clemente Award in 2016.
• He hit 23 triples in 2007, leading all of baseball and becoming the first player since 1949 with at least 23 in a season.
• Granderson wore number 28 in college, which UIC retired on February 6, 2013.
• He was named the Tigers' minor league player of the year and top prospect after the 2004 season.