Unofficial fan projectYoung Pitching and a Pennant
Curtis Granderson
Outfielder · Mets 2014–2017
The part fans remember
What the numbers leave out.
Granderson brought power, patience, leadership, and class to a young team. He was the most consistent hitter throughout the 2015 pennant run.
Granderson signed a four-year deal before 2014 and had a difficult first season at Citi Field. The park suppressed his power, the team was still rebuilding, and the big free-agent addition hit only .227. Instead of becoming defensive, he kept working and became one of the adults helping a young clubhouse prepare to win.
Moved into the leadoff spot in 2015, Granderson led the Mets with 26 home runs and gave the lineup patient at-bats from Opening Day through October. He homered in the Division Series, drove in runs throughout the NLCS, and hit three more home runs in the World Series. Murphy had the hottest stretch, but Granderson was the hitter who stayed dependable from April to the final game.
He helped another injured Mets team reach the Wild Card Game in 2016 and was traded to the Dodgers during the 2017 selloff. Granderson’s numbers were good, but the affection came from more than production. He treated people well, handled New York honestly, and gave a young contender the kind of steady leadership that is easy to miss until it is gone.
The honest version
The best stretch
Granderson’s 2014–16 peak began with a difficult adjustment to Citi Field and ended with him becoming one of the most trusted players on a pennant winner. In 2015 he led the Mets in home runs, worked deep counts from the leadoff spot, and played every day while the lineup changed around him. His steady production kept the offense alive before the summer trades arrived.
The part that got messy
He remained excellent in October. Granderson reached base throughout the run, drove in key runs against Los Angeles and Chicago, and hit three home runs in the World Series. Kansas City’s comeback prevented those swings from becoming championship highlights, but he was the Mets hitter who most consistently looked ready for the stage.
Why fans still care
The respect followed him everywhere because the person matched the player. Granderson handled slumps, position changes, and team pressure without making himself the story. When the Mets later moved him to a contender, fans understood the business and still hated losing him. His time in Queens was only four seasons, but it provided leadership, production, and a model for how a veteran star could support a young clubhouse.
Granderson was exactly the veteran a young 2015 team needed. He played every day, worked deep counts, hit for power, and never made the pressure feel heavier than it was. While other bats caught fire for a week or two, he stayed steady through the entire run and homered three times in the World Series. He was also so easy to respect that even rival fans struggled to dislike him.
Signature Mets momentHit three home runs during the 2015 World Series.
The short list
The stuff worth remembering.
- 012015 National League champion
- 02Led Mets with 26 homers in 2015
- 03Respected clubhouse leader