3 former Yankees players who became NY Mets fan favorites

3. Curtis Granderson

Curtis Granderson was acquired by the Yankees after getting off to a great start to his career with the Detroit Tigers. And although he performed well, and even turned himself into more of a power hitter with the short right field fence at Yankee Stadium, it seemed like he was never fully appreciated by they Yankees or their fans. When he became a free agent, the Mets grabbed him.

Although Granderson was no longer the elite centerfielder he was early on with the Tigers, he became a productive power-hitting right fielder at the top of the lineup for his tenure with the Mets. Granderson always played the game hard and played the game smart.

Like Leiter before him had 95 wins on the mound, Granderson slammed 95 homers in his 3-plus seasons in a New York Mets uniform.

It’s a wonder that Yankee fans really never took to Granderson the way they embraced players like Paul O’Neill and Tino Martinez. He gave that same energy and was extremely productive in the middle of the lineup, clubbing 115 home runs in his four seasons in the Bronx. He found that appreciation in Queens.

His hard-nosed play day in and day out, his clutch performances, and affable demeanor made Granderson very easy to root for in his four years as a Met. Helping lead the Mets to their last World Series appearance in 2015 doesn’t hurt either.