Deion Sanders #21

PERSONAL: Graduated from North Fort Myers (FL) High School in 1985, where he was All-State in football, basketball and baseball...attended Florida State University, where he was a two-time All-American cornerback...won the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior...established FSU records with 287 reception return yards (14 interceptions) and 1,429 punt return yards...played on teams that won four bowl games...played center field on the Seminolesb College World Series team...as a freshman was named Metro Conference MVP in track after winning the 100 and 200 meters...in 1988 qualified for the Olympic trials as a sprinter...has been selected to the Pro Bowl seven times in his 12-year NFL career...holds the NFL record with 18 career return touchdowns (8 interceptions, 6 punts, 3 kickoffs and 1 fumble)...has 22 career touchdowns total...in April 1997 donated $1 million to the Potters House Church in Dallas for the purpose of building a youth center...married, wifebs name is Pilar...they have one son, Shilo Deion (2/9/00)...Deion also has a daughter, Deiondra Yvonne (4/17/90) and a son, Deion Luwynn Jr. (12/1/93). BASEBALL TRANSACTIONS: Was originally selected by New York (AL) in the 30th round of the June 1988 draft...was released by the Yankees on 9/24/90...signed with Atlanta on 1/30/91...was traded to Cincinnati for LHP Roger Etheridge and OF Roberto Kelly on 5/29/94...was traded to San Francisco, along with RHP John Roper, LHP Ricky Pickett, RHP Scott Service and 1B Dave McCarty, for OF Darren Lewis, RHP Mark Portugal and RHP Dave Burba on 7/21/95...signed as a free-agent with Cincinnati on 2/17/97...signed by Cincinnati to a minor-league contract on 1/20/00. FOOTBALL TRANSACTIONS: Was selected by Atlanta in the first round (fifth overall) of the 1989 draft...signed with San Francisco on 9/15/94...signed with Dallas on 9/9/95...signed with Washington on 6/6/00.

1998

In 2000, was signed by the Reds to a minor-league contract on 1/20...had not played baseball professionally since 1997...joined the team in spring training as a non-roster invitee...was placed on the disabled list on 3/29 with a right-ankle injury...rehabbed at Triple-A Louisville, where he batted .200 with 3 HR, 7 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 25 games...was returned from his rehab assignment on 5/11 and placed on the 15-day disabled list...was reinstated from the disabled list and placed on the restricted list on 6/2...signed with the Washington Redskins on 6/6 and recorded 4 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 41 tackles...averaged 7.4 yards on punt returns

1997

In 1997, had one of his best seasons in the majors, batting .273 with 5 HR, 23 RBI and 56 stolen bases in 115 games for the Reds...his 56 steals ranked second in the National League to Pittsburghbs Tony Womack (60)...led the club with a career-high 127 hits...stole a career-high 4 bases on 4/14 at Atlanta, tying a team record last accomplished by Eric Davis on 7/24/86 vs. Montreal...his 19 stolen bases in April were the most in the majors in that month since Rickey Henderson had 20 steals in April 1988...hit his third career inside-the-park homer on 4/18 at Pittsburgh (also 7/17/90 vs. KC and 7/26/93 at Col)...belted his seventh career leadoff homer, his first as a Red, on 8/11 at San Francisco (off Pat Rapp)...was bothered by a bulging disc and missed 12 games after receiving his second epidural steroid injection in his lower back on 8/18...made his last appearance of the season on 9/4 and left the club following the 9/5 game vs. Pittsburgh to play football for Dallas...led the National League in stolen bases through games of 9/5, nine more than Womack...with Cowboys, was named to his sixth Pro Bowl and was named the NFC Defensive Back of the Year as selected by the NFL Players Association...recorded 2 interceptions on the season, including a 50-yard touchdown return off Brett Favre on 11/23 at Green Bay that broke the NFL record for career touchdowns on returns (14)...had an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown on 9/28 at Chicago, the longest return of his career...suffered a fractured right rib on a punt return on 11/27 vs. Tennessee and was inactive the final three weeks of the season...following the season underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle to remove a bone spur (5/28/98)

1996

In 1996, for the first time since 1988 did not play professional baseball...became the NFL's first full-time two-way player since Chuck Bednarik played center and linebacker for Philadelphia from 1949-62...was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl...was named All-Pro by The Associated Press and the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America...recorded 2 interceptions on the season and led the team with 3 fumble recoveries, including a 22-yard return for a touchdown on 9/15 at Indianapolis...scored his only touchdown of the season as a receiver on 9/8 vs. NY Giants (8 yards)...suffered a fractured orbit on his right eye in the fourth quarter of the Cowboysb second-round playoff game on 1/5 at Carolina

1995

In 1995, batted .240 with 1 HR, 10 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 33 games for the Reds before being traded to San Francisco on 7/21 in a eight-player trade...batted .285 with 5 HR, 18 RBI and 8 stolen bases in 52 games with the Giants...spent most of the season battling a sprained left ankle, an injury originally suffered on 5/31 at Pittsburgh while attempting a steal of third base...tied for third in the National League with 8 triples...with Cowboys, signed on 9/9 and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle on 9/25...was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl...recorded 2 interceptions on the season...caught a 47-yard bomb from Troy Aikman in the Cowboysb Super Bowl XXX win over Pittsburgh

1994

in 1994, began the season with Atlanta, where he batted .288 with 4 HR, 21 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 46 games before being traded to the Reds on 5/29 for LHP Roger Etheridge and OF Roberto Kelly...batted .277 with 0 HR, 7 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 46 games with Cincinnati...his 38 total stolen bases ranked second in the National League...was named the National League's "most exciting player" and "fastest base runner" by Baseball America...with 49ers, signed on 9/15 and played in 14 regular-season contests...was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press as San Francisco won the Super Bowl over San Diego...became the first athlete to compete in both a World Series and a Super Bowl...recorded 6 interceptions on the season...established an NFL record with 2 interception returns for touchdowns of 90-plus yards in one season (10/16 at Atlanta and 12/11 at San Diego)...had a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown on 9/25 vs. New Orleans

1993

In 1993, batted .276 with 6 HR, 28 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 95 games with Atlanta...was on the disabled list from 8/22-9/5 with an upper respiratory infection...played in 5 games vs. Philadelphia in the NLCS (0-for-3, 1k)...with Falcons, led the NFC with 7 interceptions despite playing in only 11 games...was named to his third Pro Bowl...was the only player in the NFL to rush and catch a pass from scrimmage on offense, intercept a pass on defense and return punts and kickoffs

1992

In 1992, enjoyed his best season in the majors, batting .304 with 8 HR, 28 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 97 games with Atlanta...led the National League with 14 triples...became the first player in Major League history, with the exception of the 1981 strike-shortened season, to lead the league in triples despite playing fewer than 100 games...began the season on a 14-game hitting streak that included 6 triples in his first 12 games...in Game 5 of the NLCS vs. Pittsburgh became the first player to appear for two different sports teams on the same day...earlier that day played for the Falcons in their game at Tampa Bay...with Falcons, was the NFL leader in Pro Bowl balloting at both cornerback and kickoff returner, but by league rules could only start at one position, getting the nod on defense...led the NFL with a 26.7 KOR average and 1,067 yards...had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on 9/13 at Washington...scored his first career NFL touchdown from scrimmage on a 37-yard reception from Wade Wilson on 12/13 at Tampa Bay

1991

In 1991, began the season as the Braves' left fielder, but was optioned to Triple-A Richmond in May...batted .262 with 5 HR, 16 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 29 games at Richmond before being recalled due to an injury to David Justice...played for the Falcons during NFL preseason, but returned to the Braves after Otis Nixon was suspended for the season...batted .191 with 4 HR, 13 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 54 games with Atlanta...with Falcons, was voted to his first Pro Bowl...was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week twice...had his first career 2-interception game on 11/17 vs. Tampa Bay...had another 2-pick effort, including a 55-yard touchdown return, on 12/5 vs. Seattle...in 1990, batted .158 with 3 HR, 9 RBI and 8 stolen bases in 57 games with New York (AL)...also played in 22 games at Triple-A Columbus, where he batted .321 with 2 HR, 10 RBI and 9 stolen bases...on 7/30 left the Yankees to fulfill his football obligation to the Falcons...on 8/1 was placed on the Yankeesb disqualified list and on 9/24 was given his unconditional release...with Falcons, had 3 interceptions on the season, including two for touchdowns...his 82-yard interception return for a touchdown on 9/9 vs. Houston was the longest touchdown play in the NFL in 1990...set a Falcons team record with a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown on 10/28 vs. Cincinnati...clinched a win vs. Dallas on 12/30 with a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown...in 1989, began the season at Double-A Albany before being promoted to the Yankees on 5/31...that day vs. Seattle recorded his first Major League hit (off Brian Holman)...hit his first Major League homer on 6/4 at Milwaukee (off Bryan Clutterbuck)...was optioned to Triple-A Columbus, where he batted .278 with 5 HR, 30 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 70 games...was recalled by the Yankees in September, but left the club on 9/6 to join the Falcons...with Falcons, made his debut in the NFL on 9/10 vs. LA Rams and returned his second career punt for a 68-yard touchdown...that touchdown established him as the only athlete in modern history to score an NFL touchdown and hit a Major League homer in the same week (9/5 at Seattle)...in 1988, in his first season of professional baseball, split time between the GCL Yankees (rookie), Class-A Fort Lauderdale and Triple-A Columbus.