Prepping for Prime Time

Deion Sanders with the New York Yankees (Sports Illustrated photo)

In the beginning of not such a typical work week in 1989, rookie left fielder Deion Sanders hits a two-run homer off Jerry Reed in the fourth inning of the New York Yankees’ 12-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners before a Tuesday night crowd of 14,905 in the Kingdome.

That takes place 36 years ago today.

Sanders then finishes his 1989 season in the major leagues the next day by striking out against Brian Holman in the sixth inning of another New York victory, this one 5-3, at Seattle.

Deion Sanders returns a punt in his NFL debut

The 22-year-old Sanders then flies to Atlanta, where four days later he makes his NFL debut as a kick returner and cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons.

Naturally, Sanders being Sanders and that being half-entertainer and all athlete, promptly returns a punt by Dale Hatcher 68 yards for a touchdown in the Falcons’ 31-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium.

Sanders eventually returns five more punts for touchdowns and scores three more on kickoff returns, as well as returning nine interceptions for scores, during a 14-year NFL career that leads to his election in 2011 into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The baseball gig works out well, too, for Sanders, who in parts of nine seasons in the majors – remember, he also is spending his falls in the NFL – puts together a .263 lifetime batting average over 641 games with 39 homers and 186 stolen bases for the Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants.

He also hits .348 in 13 postseason games for the Braves.

Not bad for part-time work.

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