Only four players in baseball history have accumulated at least 20 doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases in the same season.
Frank Schulte was the first, Willie Mays the second, George Brett the third, and Curtis Granderson accomplished it in 2007.
Granderson, who celebrates his 35th birthday today, won the starting centre field job with the Detroit Tigers in 2006 and his timing proved to be perfect – the team won the pennant and advanced to the World Series.
That season “Grandy” hit 19 home runs as a leadoff man, and he improved on those power totals during his six seasons as a Tiger.
Now playing for the NY Mets, he is a three-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger Award in 2011. Off the field, he is recognised for his commitment to the community through charity work.
1969: Ottis Gibson, former Barbados fast bowler and 2007 PCA Player of the Year with Durham (47).
1983: Tramon Williams, cornerback for the Cleveland Browns having spent eight years with Green Bay (33).
1989: Blake Griffin, power forward for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and a five-time All-Star (27).
1989: Theo Walcott, winger for Arsenal and England’s youngest-ever senior footballer (27).
