Former UIC Great Curtis Granderson Wins Silver Slugger Award

CHICAGO, Ill. - Former UIC student-athlete and current New York Yankee centerfielder Curtis Granderson was presented the 2011 American League Silver Slugger award on Wednesday, the first of his career. The honor is presented annually by Louisville Slugger to the best player at each position in both the American and National Leagues.

“I think over the last few years Curtis (Granderson) has become the type of player where this award doesn’t shocked me,” said UIC head baseball coach Mike Dee. “He continues to work hard and he’s earned it. We are very happy for him.”

Granderson is now just the fifth Yankee outfielder to win the award, joining Dave Winfield (1981-85), Rickey Henderson (1985), Bernie Williams (2002) and Gary Sheffield (2004-05).

The 30-year old led the majors with 136 runs scored, ranked second in homers with 41 and third in RBIs with 119, setting career highs in all three categories. Granderson also stole 25 bases to become the first player in Major League Baseball history to record at least 40 home runs, 10 triples and 25 steals in one season.

Granderson joins legends Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio as the only NYY centerfielders to hit 41 home runs or more in a single season. Sixteen of those bombs came off of left-handed pitchers, which ranks first in the majors.

“He’s a rock-solid player; someone who you can bank on and I’m sure the Yankees feel that way about him,” said Dee.

Granderson played three seasons for Flames, earning Second-Team All-American honors his junior year. The Lynwood, Ill., native, was then drafted in the third round of the 2002 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers.

(Release courtesy of UIC Athletics)