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Reggie Sanders
Reggie Sanders
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Reginald Laverne Sanders (born December 1, 1967) is an American former right fielder in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He played professionally with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals, and was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2001 World Series championship over the New York Yankees. Sanders possessed both power and speed and is one of eight MLB players to record over 300 home runs and over 300 steals.[1]

Key Information

Currently, Sanders is a special assistant to baseball operations for player and staff engagement for the Kansas City Royals. The team hired him in 2017.[2][3]

Early career

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Sanders was 23 years old when he debuted in Major League Baseball (MLB) on August 22, 1991, after being selected in the seventh round of the 1987 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He attended Spartanburg Methodist College before beginning his pro career with the Rookie-level Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League in 1988.

Baseball career

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Sanders was called up to the majors in August 1991. He made his major league debut on August 22 versus the Atlanta Braves, going 0-for-4. He played in nine games that year and hit his first MLB home run on September 26 against Atlanta pitcher Armando Reynoso.[4] The following year, he played more in the outfield, splitting between left and center field for 110 games (with a few pinch hit appearances). In 116 total games, he batted .270 with twelve home runs and 104 hits while striking out 98 times with 48 walks and stealing 16 bases on 23 attempts; he finished 4th in Rookie of the Year voting. He was put as the primary right fielder for 1993 and played 138 games while batting .274 with twenty home runs and 83 RBIs and 27 stolen bases on 37 attempts.

In the strike-shortened 1994 season, he batted just .263 while hitting 17 home runs with 21 stolen bases on 30 attempts but he also led the NL in strikeouts with 114. Sanders gained some notoriety during the 1994 season when Pedro Martínez hit him with a pitch to end his bid for a perfect game with one out in the eighth inning. Sanders responded by charging the mound and igniting a bench-clearing brawl. He was ridiculed by some in the press for believing that a pitcher would abandon an attempt at a perfect game to intentionally hit a batter.[5] In 1995, crediting a decision to adjust his batting stance (where he moved his hands from high and back to low and toward the front of the plate) for timing, Sanders had a career year, playing in 133 games and batting a career high .306 with 99 RBIs while hitting 28 home runs and stealing 36 bases on 48 attempts to go with 148 hits and 69 walks (all except the home runs wound up being career highs for Sanders). The Reds won the NL Central title that year and Sanders played as the right fielder for each game of their postseason run. He batted .154 in the NLDS with one home run and nine strikeouts as the Reds won in a three-game sweep over the Dodgers. It did not get better for Sanders as the Reds met the Braves in the 1995 NLCS, as Sanders proceeded to bat .125 with two total hits and ten strikeouts as the Braves swept Cincinnati.[6] 1996 saw him plagued with injuries that saw him go on the disabled list three times with a lower back strain in April, a sore rib cage in June, and torn ligaments in his right thumb in August. He played 81 total games and batted .251 with 14 home runs and 24 stolen bases.[7][8][9] Sanders was plagued by further injuries the following year, having had a bulging disc in his lower back in April to then pair up with severely spraining his right ankle in late May 1997 while sliding into second base trying to avoid a game-ending double play.[10] He played 86 games and batted .253 with 19 home runs and 13 stolen bases. He was healthier in 1998 for the Reds, playing in 135 games and batting .268 with 14 home runs and 20 stolen bases, although he struck out a career-high 137 times. On February 2, 1999, Sanders was traded by the Reds (along with Josh Harris and Damian Jackson) for Mark Sweeney and Greg Vaughn.[11]

In his one season with San Diego, he batted .285 in 133 games while having 26 home runs and 72 RBIs. On December 22, 1999, he was traded (alongside Wally Joyner and Quilvio Veras) to the Atlanta Braves for Bret Boone, Ryan Klesko and Jason Shiell. Sanders would play as a free agent for five different teams in the next five seasons. With Atlanta in 2000, he batted .232 in 103 games while playing mostly in left field but got to return to the postseason; in the NLDS, he went 0-for-9 with two walks as the Braves lost. With Arizona in 2001, he played 126 games and batted .263 with 90 RBIs and a career-high 33 home runs to go with 14 stolen bases as the Diamondbacks made a run to the World Series. Sanders got his first postseason home run in six years when he broke a scoreless tie in Game 5 of the NLDS versus St. Louis. It was his only RBI of that series, but Arizona won the game 2–1 to move on to the NLCS. Facing Atlanta, Sanders batted .118 while playing in right field, but Arizona won in five games anyway. In the 2001 World Series versus the New York Yankees, Sanders played the first six games in right field and batted .304 but stole just one base with one RBI. He didn't play in Game 7 due to being benched by manager Bob Brenly but Arizona won to give Sanders a World Series ring.[12]

With San Francisco in 2002, he played 140 games and batted .250 while hitting 23 home runs with 18 stolen bases. He played in each of the 16 postseason games for the Giants in that year, which included the 2002 World Series. He hit a home run in both Game 1 and Game 2 of the series, but the Giants lost the series in seven games; Sanders had seven RBIs in the postseason, albeit with all but one being in the World Series. With Pittsburgh in 2003, he batted .285 while having 31 home runs and 15 stolen bases. On August 20, 2003, Sanders became the fortieth player in MLB history to hit two home runs in an inning, doing so against the St. Louis Cardinals in the top of the 5th inning. He was only the third Pirates player to accomplish the feat. Sanders' first home run of the inning came as the third in a back-to-back-to-back string for the Pirates; the second was a grand slam.[13] With St. Louis in 2004, he played in 135 games and batted .260 while hitting for 22 home runs with 21 stolen bases. He played in all but one of the postseason games during the trip to the World Series, which saw him have eight total hits with one RBI and go hitless in the World Series, which ended in a sweep for Boston. He returned to the Cards for 2005, which saw him bat .271 in just 93 games with 21 home runs and 14 stolen bases. Sanders had a breakout of sorts during the 2005 National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. In a three-game sweep of the Padres, Sanders had ten runs batted in (with six coming in Game 1) a new record for a division series. In Game 1 of the 2005 NLCS, Sanders hit a two-run home run to give the Cardinals a two-run lead, making it his seventh career postseason home run. Sanders went cold from that game on however, having just two total hits after Game 1 as the Cardinals would lose the series in six games, giving the Houston Astros their first NL pennant and trip to the World Series.

Sanders played in 88 games and batted .246 with 11 home runs and 7 stolen bases as a free agent who signed with the Royals for 2006. On June 10, 2006, as a member of the Royals, Sanders hit his 300th home run. This made him the fifth member of Major League Baseball's 300-300 club, as he had stolen the 300th base of his career on May 1.[14][15] He became the first player in history to join the club at his home stadium. Steve Finley of the San Francisco Giants joined the 300-300 club as its sixth member on June 14, four days after Sanders achieved the feat. Sanders hit 20 or more home runs in one season for six different teams. He hit at least 10 home runs in a season for every major league team he played for (eight in all).[16]

Sanders missed the majority of the 2007 season due to an injury and became a free agent after the season. In what ended up as his final game on July 29, 2007, Sanders went 1-for-3, with his final hit being a single that scored a run in a 10–0 victory for Kansas City.

Career statistics

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Years Games PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG FLD%
17 1,777 7043 6,241 1,037 1,666 341 60 305 983 304 674 1,614 .267 .343 .487 .981

In 64 postseason games, Sanders batted .195 (43-for-221) with 24 runs, 7 home runs, 25 RBI, 9 stolen bases, and 26 walks.

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Reginald Laverne Sanders (born December 1, 1967) is an American former professional baseball who played 17 seasons in (MLB) from 1991 to 2007, amassing 305 home runs and 304 stolen bases to become one of only eight players in history to reach the 300-300 club for power-speed milestones. Drafted by the in the seventh round of the 1987 MLB Draft out of Spartanburg Methodist College, Sanders made his big-league debut on August 22, 1991, and spent his first eight seasons with the , where he established himself as a dynamic with right-handed power and base-stealing ability. In 1995, his breakout year, he batted .306 with 28 home runs, 99 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases, earning his only selection and finishing sixth in National League voting while helping the win the NL Central division title. Sanders played for eight teams across his career, including stints with the San Diego Padres (1999), (2000), Arizona Diamondbacks (2001), San Francisco Giants (2002), (2003), St. Louis Cardinals (2004–2005), and (2006–2007), appearing in the in 2001 and 2002 and contributing to two NL pennants during that span. His peak power came in 2001 with the Diamondbacks, when he hit a career-high 33 s en route to a championship, and he reached his 300th in 2006 with the Royals, solidifying his place in the 300-300 club later that season after stealing his 300th base. Overall, Sanders compiled a .267 , 1,666 hits, 983 RBIs, and a .830 on-base plus slugging percentage over 1,777 games. After retiring following the 2007 season, Sanders transitioned to front-office roles in , joining the as a special assistant to baseball operations in 2017, where he focuses on player development, , and leadership initiatives.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Early Life

Reginald Laverne Sanders was born on December 1, 1967, in . As the oldest of two children born to parents and Thelma Sanders, he was raised in a close-knit, conservative Christian household where played a central role in his upbringing. His mother, Thelma, provided unwavering support throughout his life, while his father, , who has since passed away, served as a significant influence on his development. Sanders' introduction to organized came at age seven through the Boys and Girls Club of , where his passion for the sport first ignited. A devoted fan of the from an early age, he also engaged in informal games like stickball during winters, using a stick and aluminum foil ball with neighborhood friends, and by age eight, he joined a traveling all-star team for 10-and-under players, competing every weekend across the state.

Amateur Career

Reggie Sanders began his organized journey at a young age, starting with the Boys and Girls Club of , at seven years old. By age eight, he had advanced to a 10-and-under traveling team, where he competed in tournaments across every weekend, honing his skills in a competitive environment. In high school, Sanders played at Wilson High School in , graduating in 1986. There, he developed as an , showcasing the athleticism and hand-eye coordination that would define his career. Sanders continued his amateur career at Spartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he played for the Pioneers and earned an Associate of Science degree in 1988. His performance on the junior college diamond drew professional scouts' attention, leading to his selection by the in the seventh round (180th overall) of the 1987 MLB June Amateur Draft.

Professional Baseball Career

Cincinnati Reds Years (1991–1998)

Reggie Sanders began his professional career with the Cincinnati Reds after being selected in the seventh round of the 1987 MLB Draft out of Spartanburg Methodist College. He progressed through the Reds' minor league system over the next four seasons, starting as a shortstop with the Rookie-level Billings Mustangs in 1988 and advancing to Double-A Chattanooga by 1991, where he batted .315 with 8 home runs in 86 games that year. On August 22, 1991, Sanders made his major league debut with the Reds as a center fielder against the Houston Astros at Riverfront Stadium, going 0-for-4 in a 4-3 loss; he appeared in nine games that September, hitting .200 with one home run. This call-up marked the end of his minor league tenure, during which he demonstrated emerging power and speed potential across 333 games, compiling a .292 batting average, 35 home runs, and 87 stolen bases. By 1992, Sanders had fully transitioned to the outfield, primarily right field, as the Reds sought to capitalize on his athleticism amid a crowded infield featuring at . In his first full season, he played 116 games, batting .270 with 12 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases, earning a fourth-place finish in National League Rookie of the Year voting. This positional shift proved pivotal, allowing Sanders to develop into a prototypical power-speed over the next few years. From 1993 to 1995, he solidified his role in the Reds' lineup, averaging 126 games per season while blending extra-base power with base-stealing prowess; in 1993, he hit 20 home runs and stole 27 bases with a .274 average and 83 RBIs, followed by 17 home runs and 21 steals in the strike-shortened 1994 campaign at .263 with 62 RBIs. His ability to contribute 15-20 home runs annually alongside 20-plus steals made him a dynamic threat in the outfield, helping anchor the Reds' offense during a competitive era in the NL Central. Sanders' breakout came in 1995, when he earned his first and only selection as a reserve for the National League team, batting .306 with 28 home runs, 99 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases in 133 games—his .397 and .579 marked career highs, culminating in a 6.6 and sixth-place finish in NL MVP voting. These contributions were instrumental in the Reds capturing the NL Central division title with a 85-59 record, their first postseason appearance since 1990, though they fell in the NLDS to the . Sanders' performance that year exemplified his growth into a player, blending speed (36-for-43 in steal attempts) with power in a lineup that emphasized athleticism. Sanders remained with the Reds through the 1998 season, appearing in 555 games from 1996-1998 with a .256 average, 68 home runs, and 167 RBIs, though injuries and inconsistencies tempered his production compared to his peak years. On February 2, 1999, following the 1998 campaign, the Reds traded Sanders, along with prospects Damian Jackson and Josh Harris, to the Padres in exchange for and , as part of a roster retooling effort amid financial constraints. This deal ended his eight-year tenure with , where he had established himself as a fan favorite for his explosive style.

Mid-Career Transitions (1999–2002)

Following his departure from the , Reggie Sanders entered a dynamic phase of his career marked by multiple team transitions during his athletic prime, where he showcased power hitting while contributing to two World Series-contending squads. Traded to the Padres on February 2, 1999, in exchange for and infielder , Sanders quickly adapted to his new environment in the . In 133 games that season, he batted .285 with 26 home runs and 72 RBIs, providing consistent outfield production and helping the Padres remain competitive in the division standings. Sanders' tenure with San Diego proved short-lived, as he was traded again on December 22, 1999, to the along with Wally Joyner and Quilvio Veras for a package including Ryan Klesko, Bret Boone, and pitcher Jason Shiell. His 2000 performance with Atlanta was hampered by injuries and inconsistency, yielding a .232 , 11 home runs, and 37 RBIs over 103 games, though he appeared in three games without recording a hit. Becoming a on October 31, 2000, Sanders signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on January 11, 2001, joining a lineup featuring future Hall of Famers and . In 2001, Sanders reached a career peak with , slashing .263/.358/.551 with 33 home runs and 90 RBIs in 126 games, demonstrating his power potential in a hitter-friendly park. His postseason contributions were pivotal, as the Diamondbacks advanced through the to win the against the New York Yankees in seven games; Sanders batted .304 with seven hits in six contests, providing solid defense in right field with a perfect 1.000 fielding over 168 . Entering free agency again on November 6, 2001, he inked another one-year contract with the Giants on January 8, 2002, reuniting with manager from his Reds days. Sanders rounded out this transitional period with the Giants in 2002, posting a .250 average with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs across 140 games, bolstering an offense led by . The team surged to the National League pennant, and Sanders participated in all 16 playoff games, including the loss to the Anaheim Angels, where he homered twice for six RBIs and maintained error-free fielding in seven appearances. These years highlighted Sanders' versatility and postseason poise, building on the foundation of his earlier success in to establish him as a valuable trade asset and contributor to championship-caliber teams.

Late-Career Stints (2003–2007)

In 2003, Reggie Sanders signed a one-year contract with the and enjoyed a resurgent season, batting .285 with 31 home runs and 87 RBI over 130 games. One of his highlights came on August 20 against the St. Louis Cardinals, when he became the 13th player in MLB history to hit two home runs in the same , powering a 10-run fifth that led to a 12-2 victory. This performance underscored his power potential late in his career, as he hit 31 home runs despite playing for a last-place team. Sanders joined the St. Louis Cardinals as a in December 2003, contributing to their consecutive appearances. In 2004, he hit .260 with 22 home runs and 67 RBI in 135 games, providing steady production during the regular season. His 2005 campaign was interrupted by a broken right in July from an collision, limiting him to 93 games where he batted .271 with 21 home runs and 54 RBI. Sanders rebounded dramatically in the postseason, playing a pivotal role in the sweep of the Padres; he went 4-for-12 (.333) with a grand slam in Game 1 that drove in six runs, totaling 10 RBI across the three games and setting an NLDS record for most RBI in a single series. After signing a minor-league deal with the in February 2006, Sanders provided veteran leadership in the outfield. That year, he batted .246 with 11 s and 49 RBI in 88 games, reaching a personal milestone on by hitting his 300th career off Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Chad Harville, making him the fifth player to join the 300-300 club with 304 stolen bases. In 2007, Sanders appeared in only 24 games, batting .315 with two s and 11 RBI before a torn left in May sidelined him for most of the season; he briefly returned in but re-injured the , leading to his placement on the disabled list. Unable to fully recover, Sanders retired after the 2007 season, concluding a 17-year MLB career that spanned nine teams.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Regular Season and Postseason Stats

Reggie Sanders compiled a solid career as an over 17 seasons, appearing in 1,777 games with a .267 , 1,666 hits, 305 home runs, 983 runs batted in, and 304 stolen bases across 6,241 at-bats and 7,043 plate appearances. His 3,042 underscored his power-speed combination, contributing to an percentage of .830. These figures reflect his consistent production as a right-handed hitter who blended extra-base hits with base-stealing prowess, amassing over 100 runs scored in multiple seasons. In the postseason, Sanders participated in 64 games over seven appearances, including three World Series, batting .195 with 43 hits, 7 home runs, 25 runs batted in, and 9 stolen bases in 221 at-bats. His playoff performance, while below his regular-season norms, included key power contributions, such as a home run in the 1995 and the . The following table summarizes Sanders' home runs and stolen bases by team, highlighting his peak production with the Cincinnati Reds and sustained output in later years:
TeamYearsHome RunsStolen Bases
Cincinnati Reds1991–1998125158
San Diego Padres19992636
Atlanta Braves20001121
Arizona Diamondbacks20013314
San Francisco Giants20022318
Pittsburgh Pirates20033115
St. Louis Cardinals2004–20054335
Kansas City Royals2006–2007137
Career Totals305304
These metrics illustrate Sanders' versatility, with four 20-20 seasons (20+ home runs and stolen bases).

Notable Accomplishments

Reggie Sanders was selected to the 1995 National League , representing the as an after a breakout season in which he hit 28 home runs and stole 29 bases. Sanders contributed to the Arizona Diamondbacks' championship, defeating the New York Yankees in seven games, where he appeared in six contests and batted .304 with six runs scored. One of Sanders' most distinctive achievements was joining the exclusive 300-300 club, becoming only the eighth player in history to record at least 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases in a career, accomplishing this feat on June 10, 2006, with his 300th home run while with the . His final totals stood at 305 home runs and 304 stolen bases. Sanders holds the unique record as the first player to hit 20 or more home runs for six different teams—Cincinnati Reds (125 total), Padres (26), Diamondbacks (33), Giants (23), (31), and Cardinals (43)—and he recorded at least 10 home runs with every one of the eight teams he played for during his 17-year career, including 11 with the and 13 with the .

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Family and Residence

Reggie Sanders married Wyndee Bailey on December 23, 1996. The couple has built a close-knit centered on their shared values. Sanders is the father of four daughters—Cody, Carrigon, Carson, and Cooper—who remain a central part of his life. He is also a grandfather to his grandson, Campton Sanders. As of 2025, the Sanders family resides in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they enjoy a quieter life together after his baseball career.

Charitable Work

Reggie Sanders founded the Reggie Sanders Foundation in 2013, with a primary focus on providing support and youth mentoring programs for children and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. The foundation aims to build comprehensive networks that promote inclusion, independent living skills, and job opportunities, including partnerships with educational programs like Coastal Carolina University's LIFE initiative for students with intellectual disabilities. Sanders' involvement extends to organizing annual events such as the Advantage Games, which feature STEM activities, job fairs, and celebrity softball games to raise awareness and resources for autism support. In addition to his foundation work, Sanders has directly supported underprivileged youth through targeted initiatives during his playing career. He provided school supplies to every student at an entire elementary school in on the first day of classes, ensuring inner-city children had essential materials to start the school year. This effort reflects his commitment to educational access in communities where he played. Sanders has also facilitated access to baseball experiences for disadvantaged children, offering tickets and transportation to home games, allowing underprivileged kids to attend every home contest and engage with the sport. His philanthropy is further evidenced by participation in Players Trust programs, which promote community involvement and charitable causes among former players. These efforts underscore Sanders' dedication to mentoring and empowering young people from underserved backgrounds. Sanders serves on the for the Rise 2 Greatness Foundation, which provides pathways for youth from underserved populations to succeed in and beyond. He has advocated for increasing minority participation in and supported youth sports initiatives. Additionally, Sanders has honored U.S. troops through travels to military bases with the (USO).

Post-Retirement Career

Role with Kansas City Royals

Following his retirement from , where he concluded his playing career with the in 2007, Reggie Sanders joined the organization's in 2017 as a Special Assistant to Operations focused on player and staff engagement. In this role, Sanders contributes to front-office support by fostering relationships within the team structure and aiding operational initiatives. Sanders' responsibilities include mentoring young players, helping them develop both on and off the field, and promoting leadership growth among staff. He engages in community outreach efforts tied to the Royals' initiatives, emphasizing personal development and team culture. These duties leverage his extensive playing experience to guide emerging talent and strengthen organizational cohesion. As of 2025, Sanders continues in this position, now in his ninth season with the Royals, including visits to minor league affiliates such as the in 2021, where he addressed the team and staff on professional growth and life lessons. His ongoing involvement underscores the Royals' commitment to veteran insights for sustained development.

Other Professional and Community Involvement

Following his retirement from in 2007, Reggie Sanders has engaged in various independent professional and community efforts centered on mentoring and player development, distinct from his primary role with the . As a member of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), Sanders participates in alumni events and initiatives aimed at supporting former players and fostering the growth of the sport. For instance, in 2015, he co-hosted a charity golf tournament with retired player Andre Davis to benefit community causes, highlighting his commitment to collaborative alumni networking beyond team affiliations. Sanders extends his influence through youth baseball mentoring programs unaffiliated with the Royals, serving on the for the Rise 2 Greatness Foundation, which empowers underserved youth through sports and . In this capacity, he partners with the organization to introduce young athletes to , providing guidance on discipline and to inspire the next generation of players. His involvement emphasizes mental performance coaching, drawing from his 17-year MLB career to help young participants build resilience and focus. Additionally, Sanders maintains his personal website, reggiesanders.com, where he shares reflections on his career and promotes his "Faith, Focus, Finish" philosophy as a guiding for personal and professional achievement. The site serves as a platform for his work as a speaker, , and mental performance , offering insights into player development strategies independent of organizational roles. Through these endeavors, Sanders continues to contribute to baseball's broader , prioritizing mentorship and inspirational content for aspiring athletes.

References

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