Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 4, 1991 TAG: 9104040224
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
With that, the Atlanta Falcons' "Prime Time" cornerback had accomplished his goal: becoming a pro athlete to play football and baseball in the same city, on the same field. It has only happened one other time in history.
In 1945, Steve Filipowicz played outfield for the New York Giants and was a running back for the football Giants at the Polo Grounds.
Gene Conley had pitched for the Braves in Boston and played basketball for the Celtics there, but on different playing surfaces.
"It's one of the biggest accomplishments of my life, probably the biggest," said Sanders, the Falcons' No. 1 NFL draft pick two years ago. "It's like the motto I've got taped inside my football helmet: You gotta believe."
Sanders said he believed from the first day of spring training he would make the team, even though the Braves had him ticketed for their Triple A club in Richmond, Va., after signing him as a non-roster player for $650,000.
"Against all odds," he said. "I was written off."
Sanders hit .158 in 57 games with the New York Yankees last season and .321 in 22 games with Triple A Columbus. He was released on Sept. 24.
Braves general manager John Schuerholz, who had said he would not make a decision on Sanders until Friday, simply said "yes" when asked Wednesday if the speedy outfielder had made the club for Tuesday's opening night game against Los Angeles at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
"He's a guy, obviously, who plays up to a challenge," said Schuerholz. "And the challenge was there."
Sanders, whose fondness for gold jewelry and expensive sports cars prompted some to question his attitude during his first season with the Falcons, has been relatively subdued with the Braves.
"He's been great," said Schuerholz. "He's hard working; as a matter of fact, he's worked as hard as anybody in camp."
Sanders, who hit his first homer of the spring Tuesday, was batting .281 in 57 at-bats going into Wednesday's exhibition game.
"I've got a long way to go," said Sanders, who returned to Atlanta today for a cortisone shot in his left shoulder. "I'm not going to say I feel comfortable, but I was hoping to get a good shot and that hope was not denied."
He credited the Braves with taking the time to work with him on bunting, fielding and hitting to left field.
"They made me believe I could play this game," he said. "My hard work paid off, and then another player unfortunately got injured and the chips fell my way."
That player was Lonnie Smith, who hit .305 last season but underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last week and will be on the disabled list until April 14.
"I don't know," said Schuerholz. "I have no idea. We'll just have to see what Lonnie can do when he returns, and find out the circumstances with the team at that time."
The news for Sanders was not all good. His father, Mims, 48, was ordered held on $5,000 bond Wednesday after Lee County, Fla., sheriff's detectives found crack cocaine on his tongue.
Detectives also found a rock of crack and a pipe for smoking the drug inside a black 1990 Corvette registered to Deion Sanders and parked at the North Fort Myers motel where Mims Sanders was staying, Lee County sheriff's spokeswoman Geraldine Poole said.
The younger Sanders was not available for comment on the arrest.
by CNB