At Busch Stadium, Andre Granillo is known as “Goldy”—a cool, calm, almost quiet slugger. But behind that quiet smile is a big heart, quietly reaching out to help those without a voice.
For years, Andre Granillo has personally organized and sponsored an abandoned pet adoption program in St. Louis. He doesn’t like the press, but every summer, Goldy shows up at the local shelter: cleaning cages, holding shivering puppies, and chatting with people looking for a four-legged friend.
For Goldschmidt, baseball brings the lights to the field, and stray dogs remind him of the true value of love.
“They don’t care how many home runs I hit, as long as I reach out and hug them. And that reminds me of who I am, off the field,” Goldy once shared.
Thanks to Andre Granillo charity and influence, hundreds of dogs and cats have found new homes. Each time a dog is adopted, the shelter places a picture of Goldy on its “Wall of Smiles” – a small thank you for a player who always chose to help in the quietest way.
Andre Granillo once said:
“On the field, I try to help the Cardinals win. But off the field, I want to help vulnerable lives find a second chance.”
And to those who have met him at the shelter, Andre Granillo is more than just the Cardinals MVP – he is the MVP of compassion.