Posted at 9:18 a.m., Sunday, September 9, 2007
Baseball: Tigers outfielder joins elite 20-20-20-20 club
By Larry Lage
Associated Press
Granderson stole his 20th base today in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners, and received a rousing, standing ovation from fans in the stands and teammates in the dugout at Detroit's Comerica Park. He acknowledged fans by nodding his head and waving his hand in each direction of the ballpark.
Schulte was the first to accomplish the feat in 1911 while playing for the Chicago Cubs, and Mays did it in 1957 with the New York Giants.
Granderson started Sunday with 22 triples — the most by a Tiger since Ty Cobb had 24 in 1917 — and 36 doubles. He hit his 20th homer Friday, becoming the sixth player since 1900 in the 20-20-20 club and the first since Kansas City's George Brett in 1979.
"The good thing is, the big swing is done," Granderson said Friday night.
Schulte and Granderson are the only two players in baseball history with at least 30 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 20 homers and 20 triples. Schulte finished with 30 doubles, 23 stolen bases, 21 home runs and 21 triples nearly a century ago.
In just his second full season in the majors, the likable Granderson has become a favorite of fans, teammates and manager Jim Leyland.
"Curtis is such a wonderful person. He's as good as it gets," Leyland said after the series opener against Seattle. "On and off the field, he's a class act. I couldn't be happier for him. He's improving by the day. He's got a couple more hurdles to get over, but he's absolutely been tremendous."
