Curtis Granderson, who played with the Mets from 2014 to 2017 during his 16-year career, has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.
I've been blessed to play professional baseball for the greater part of two decades," Granderson wrote. "As I reflect on my career, I realize that not much has changed since those early days in Little League. My parents and family are still my greatest fans, and they impart the same message today that they did back then: give back, never forget to enjoy the ride, and don't think; have fun.
I'm eternally grateful to every team and every city I've had the opportunity to call "home": Detroit, New York (both the Bronx and Queens), Los Angeles, Toronto, Milwaukee, Miami, and of course, my hometown of Chicago. It is these communities that allowed me to take my Grand Kids Foundation to new heights and use my platform for positive change.
As I close out this wonderful chapter in my life and step away from the days on the field, I know that my role in this game is only just getting started. I look forward to continuing my work helping to diversify the sport, paving the way for young kids to learn and grow.
Thank you -- to the MLB, MLBPA, my teammates and coaches, front office staff, members of the media, partners, and the fans -- for the ride of a lifetime.
This journey would not be possible without those who came before me, breaking barriers to allow a young Curtis Granderson to live out his dream. It's been an honor to wear my socks high.
Granderson's signing by the Mets before the 2014 season signaled the beginning of the end of a half-decade long rebuild, and he was a key cog in 2015 and 2016 as the Mets reached the World Series the first year and the Wild Card game the next.
Among Granderson's highlights with the Mets were sparkling catches in the 2015 NLCS at Citi Field against the Cubs and 2016 Wild Card Game against the Giants and his go-ahead two-run homer in Game 3 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field against the Royals in the only game the Mets won in the series.
Granderson hit .239/.341/.444 with 95 homers in 573 games with the Mets. Overall, Granderson hit .249/.337/.465 with 344 homers in 16 season with the Tigers, Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Brewers, and Marlins.
