Oct. 30, 2009

NEW YORK- UIC Athletics Hall of Famer and current Detroit Tigers centerfielder Curtis Granderson was named the 2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year by his fellow Major League Baseball players, the Major League Baseball Players Association announced on Friday, Oct. 30 during ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning show.

The Marvin Miller Man of the Year award, named for the founding executive director of the MLBPA, is one of baseball's highest honors. It is awarded to the player whose on-field and off-field performance most inspires others to higher levels of achievement.

Granderson, a standout at the plate and in the outfield for the UIC baseball team from 2000-2002, was named the Marvin Miller Man of the Year by his peers for displaying as much passion to give back to others as he shows playing the game of baseball.

He established the Grand Kids Foundation, a non-profit that focus on improving opportunities for inner-city youth in the areas of education and youth baseball.

Granderson also wrote a recently-released children's book entitled All You Can Be, which was illustrated by fourth-graders from across the state of Michigan, that encourages children to chase their dreams.

He is an active member of the Action Team national youth volunteer program administered by the Major League Baseball Players Trust and Volunteers of America, which is inspiring and training the next generation of volunteers in more than 150 high schools across the U.S.

On the field, the 28-year old Granderson finished his fourth full season in the majors in 2009 and set a career high in home runs (30) to go with 23 doubles, 8 triples, 20 stolen bases and 71 RBI during his All-Star campaign for the Tigers.

The Major League Baseball Players Trust will honor Granderson with a donation of $50,000 to the charity of his choice.

To listen to the podcast of the Players Choice Awards announcement regarding Curtis Granderson earning the Marvin Miller Man of the Year award, along with player interviews, on Mike & Mike in the Morning, click here.

Special thanks to the Major League Baseball Players Association for information provided above.

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