Former MLB player helps raise money for Cape Girardeau Parks & Rec, PORCH Initiative
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Swing into Spring, a fundraiser for Cape Parks and Recreation Department and the PORCH Initiative, turned out to be a big success.
It featured former MLB Outfielder Curtis Granderson. In an exclusive interview, he shared why he’s passionate about paying it forward and how he came to fall in love with the game of baseball.
“The biggest moment I remember was when I started playing t-ball,” said Granderson. “I was six years old and I get out here and it’s the first coach I ever had a female. Her son was on the team by the name of Jeremy.”
Granderson explained that first coach led by example to teach valuable what became a valuable life lesson in how to treat others.
“We’ve heard those stories, ‘Oh I stopped playing baseball because I didn’t like the coach or that coach,” he said. “This was the complete opposite. It’s really detailed because if I were treated a certain way, or not favored like the son or different than the son I may have stopped playing baseball but she treated me and everyone else on the team just like her son – and it made it fun and it made it exciting. So once the season finished I wanted to continue to play baseball and the rest was history.”
Granderson is a 2025 Hall of Fame candidate and a guy familiar to baseball fans. He’s played for teams like the Detroit Tigers, the New York Yankees and also the Mets. He shared stories and answered questions Saturday night during a meet and greet and discussion at the Cape SportsPlex. Kids of all ages bravely took the microphone to ask him questions about his life and career.
“The biggest thing I want them to hear is ‘have fun,’” said Granderson. “No matter what I was doing throughout my major league career, if you look at any picture you see underneath my baseball hat it says ‘don’t think have fun,’” he said.
He was well aware he was speaking to a room filled with Cardinal Baseball Fans. He discussed what it was like to play against the birds: “
“The big thing about Cardinal fans is they are very knowledgeable passionate and dedicated,” he said. “When you come over here you’re going to see a sea of red which is really cool because you know this is an area that’s really dialed in.”
He said it was incredible to play in front of fans that would cheer for a great performance from either team. He also discussed being on the 2006 Detroit Tigers team that lost to the Cardinals in the World Series.
“But I got a chance to play in it and got a chance to see some of the best fans in the world,” he said.
He says he wants every kid hearing his message to know that they too have a chance at being a member of a hall of fame.
“They can be a hall of fame candidate in the career that they choose,” he said. “My mom always said we weren’t trying to raise major league baseball players, we were just trying to raise a good child. As you go through that in your career path I just want to make sure when you do go out there those doors remain open.”
We are still waiting to find out how much the event raised.
The proceeds will be split 50/50 between the PORCH Initiative and Cape Parks and Rec.
As for the PORCH Initiative, an organization with a mission to revitalize and make vibrant South Cape, the next big event is the Sneaker Ball coming up on June 15.
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PORCH Initiative aims to breath new life into south Cape Girardeau
“Don’t think, have fun” Fitness sports clinic gives youth unique opportunity with former MLB player
MLB All-Star Granderson looks forward to fitness sports clinic in Cape Girardeau
