New York Yankees Center Fielder Curtis Granderson Named Players Choice AL Outstanding Player

New York Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson may not be heading into the winter break with a World Series championship ring, but that doesn't mean the two-time All-Star is going home empty handed.

That's because Granderson was named Players Choice Award winner for "American League Outstanding Player" of the 2011 season, during which the Yankees finished atop the AL East (97-65) before getting bounced from the ALDS by the Detroit Tigers.

From the Players Association:

New York Yankee Curtis Granderson was honored as the American League Outstanding Player. With his 2011 offensive power surge, Granderson led all American League hitters with 119 RBIs and a Major League-best 136 runs scored, as well as placing second in home runs (41), third in triples (10) and fourth in extra-base hits (77).

Granderson is just the seventh Yankees slugger in history to score 130 runs and hit 40 home runs in a season, joining pinstriped legends Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, as well as teammate Alex Rodriguez. The speedy All-Star was also solid in center field, posting a .992 fielding percentage and 11 outfield assists to lead the Yankees to the AL East crown.

Granderson had a breakout year, winning Major League Baseball's "Player of the Month Award" for August as well as the "Silver Slugger Award" for 2011.

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