Granderson gets taste of Milwaukee
Curtis Granderson is a Chicago guy, through and through.
The newest Milwaukee Brewers outfielder was born in Blue Island, Ill., lived in Calumet Park, Ill., for six years and then spent the rest of his young adult life in Lynwood, Ill., a southern suburb of Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois-Chicago. He is so connected to Chicago that to this day, in the offseason, he forgoes the famous and highend training facilities in Arizona and Florida to train right at UIC.
But Granderson has also been making regular, annual visits to Milwaukee for about a dozen years now – visits that had absolutely nothing to do with baseball.
“I had my first sip of alcohol in Milwaukee, actually,” said Granderson. Of course he did.
Thanks to Adam Lewis.
Lewis is in the Milwaukee School of Engineering Athletics Hall of Fame. The 6-foot-8 former basketball player is sixth all-time in scoring, fourth in rebounding and first in blocks for the Division III program.
Granderson and Lewis have been friends since the fourth grade, playing sports together in their neighborhood that included Little League baseball at Lynwood Fields at 198th and Lake Park.
"Ironically enough, we were on a team together and we were the Brewers," said Lewis.
As Lewis started settling in Milwaukee during and after his time at MSOE, Granderson made sure to keep the friendship going. Celebrating Lewis’ 21st birthday in October of 2002 was the start of that promise, with Granderson, Lewis and a couple of other friends from home all making the trek up here from Chicago.
“People are like, why are we going to Milwaukee?” recalled Granderson. “I came in with no expectations for Milwaukee. I was like, if we’re going to Vegas or Miami, I know what I’m getting . ...
“So I did a chocolate cake shot somewhere downtown,” said Granderson. It was probably around Water Street. “Probably. I don’t remember where we all went that night,” said Lewis. “I am pretty sure that was not the only drink we had.”
It was not the only visit, either. Granderson has made the guys' trip to Milwaukee about a dozen times – each time with the group of young friends wondering, with the world as their oyster, why they made Milwaukee their playground.
“And every time, Milwaukee exceeded our expectations,” said Granderson. “We leave saying, ‘That was awesome.’ ”
Now, after being traded to the Brewers on Aug. 31, this is the closest Granderson has ever played to his Chicago roots. His 15 years in the major leagues have taken him to Detroit, New York, Toronto and Los Angeles. Lewis has the Granderson jerseys and hats from all of those teams, too.
“I got my Blue Jays jersey two or three weeks after he was traded to the Brewers,” said Lewis, laughing.
And while life has been a blur in the last month and a half, Granderson and Lewis, along with their family and friends, are going to savor every day Granderson is in Milwaukee from here on out.
“I was pretty excited because I have kids now, and I don’t get to see as many games as I used to,” said Lewis.
But Lewis has been to nearly every Miller Park game since Granderson arrived. He lives about a mile from Miller Park and works nearby, too, as a senior project manager at VJS Construction Services in Milwaukee.
For Granderson, this has all been very sudden – the move, the new teammates – and yet also very familiar, being back in Milwaukee.
The city, he says, has aged well since that first visit in 2002.
“I like the Third Ward area. I ate at a place called Merriment Social; it’s like an afternoon dinner spot. Really good food and burger,” said Granderson. “I like the Milwaukee Public Market. Went to Sweet Diner for a breakfast spot.
“And I just noticed a lot more people around than before, that’s a good sign. A lot of residences, a lot of balconies.”
He takes the train between Milwaukee and Chicago to visit family and friends, and being so close means his parents don’t have to fly to see him play, which is a bonus, too. Chicago-area friends have also been able to visit on his off days.
But maybe the biggest plus is now he can have a bratwurst at the appropriate time – without worrying that the greasy, high-fat sausage will sabotage his performance on the field.
“Bratwurst are big for me,” said Granderson. “Every time I’d come here to play – as an opponent – brats were always in the visitor clubhouse, but they would be out before the game. And that’s not the time I want to have it!
“That’s been on my list every time I’ve come here. I think my first time coming to Milwaukee to play was in ’06, and every time since then I have yet to have a brat. I was not only missing them out here at Miller Park, but missing out on Fourth of July barbecues and Memorial Day barbecues and Labor Day barbecues. That was one thing I was really excited to have when I got here.
“So the last home stand, I went to the Milwaukee Brat House. I was like, yes! I had a pretzel bun, with just a plain brat with a little mustard and ketchup. Then I also ordered one of the crazy ones, too, with all the toppings – and ate both of them.”
Chocolate shots and a love of brats? Granderson may be Chicago through and through, but he’s a pretty good adopted son of Milwaukee now, too.