Wednesday, May 2. 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 11
Deion makes dramatic return to Reds
The Associated Press
CINCINNATI — A thick, jeweled cross swung from the gold chain around Deion Sanders' neck. The fingers of black batting gloves poked from the back left pocket of his pinstriped Cincinnati Reds pants.
Mingling religion and baseball, the two-sport athlete returned to the major leagues yesterday with one thing in mind: showing he belonged.
After only two at-bats, he had made his point.
Sanders lined a single to center on the first pitch he saw from Los Angeles' Greg Gagne in the first inning. Sanders got a standing ovation and a curtain call in the second inning, when he again hit Gagne's first pitch for a three-run homer that put the Reds up 5-1.
As a banner in right field proclaimed, it was again Prime Time in Cincinnati. The only question was: For how long?
During pregame interviews, the Washington Redskins cornerback refused to say how long he'd stay in Cincinnati. He turned aside all football questions, doting on that sport only long enough to use it as a measuring stick for his latest fling with baseball.
"If you look back at football — it's been a good run," said Sanders, whose contract with the Redskins allows him to play baseball. "There isn't too much more I can do. In baseball, there's much to do, so much to accomplish, and it's a challenge."
Sanders, 33, hadn't played in the major leagues since Sept. 4, 1997, a span of 1,364 days. He didn't play baseball at all in 1998-99, and passed up chance to play for the Reds last season.
When he asked general manager Jim Bowden for one more chance over the winter, Bowden relented. Sanders got a minor league contract, an invitation to spring training and an opportunity that turned out better than anyone expected.
Sanders was leading the International League in hitting with a 459 average when the Reds called him up from Triple-A Louisville yesterday — the first day the Reds were allowed to, under baseball's rules. He was in the starting lineup, batting second and playing left field.
"I feel like I earned my way back," Sanders said. "It was not just given, and that was very important to me."
He gave no hints about how long he'll stay.
When Sanders was with the Reds in 1997, he left to go play football for Dallas in September. After one month in the minors last year, he decided to go back home to Dallas and later refused a call-up, saying he wanted to concentrate on football.
This time?
"We signed Deion with the expectations that if he made the big league club, that he'd be here throughout and help us win until the last out is made in our season," said Bowden, standing behind the batting cage.
Sanders wouldn't go quite that far. Three times, he was asked how long he'd stay with the Reds. Three times, he dodged the question.
"I haven't even made a commitment to the realtor," he said, grinning. "You know what? I'm going to be happy, man. That's first and foremost—that I am happy and I am at peace in whatever decision I make."
The only time that his voice took on an edge during two rounds of interviews was when someone asked whether he felt an obligation to the Redskins.
"It's like asking if they feel obligations to me," he said. "Pose that question to them."
The Reds have a minimal obligation to Sanders. Shortly after he arrived in the clubhouse at noontime to start unpacking, he went up to Bowden's office to sign a $500,000, one-year contract that contains no incentives or options for future years, according to Bowden.
Sanders posted a verse from one of the Psalms above his locker and added a "Jesus Loves You" banner below his nameplate. Sanders had a change of heart about religion when he was with the Reds in 1997, his last in the majors.
A. 266 career hitter who never reached base often enough to use his speed, Sanders seemed to change his hitting approach during his 19-game stint in Louisville. He led the International League in hitting, triples, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
"I don't think I'm a different ballplayer," Sanders said. "I'm a different person."
With Ken Griffey Jr. disabled by a torn nantstring, Sanders will get a chance to play often. Manager Bob Boone uses his bench a lot and likes Sander's speed.
"He's coming in as an extra outfielder and we'll see," Boone said. "We'll see how good he does."
Ryan's seven no-hitters still an amazing feat
The Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — Nolan Ryan remembers being laughed at in 1979 when he became baseball's first $1 million player and said his contract quickly would be dwarfed.
"They made fun of that," Ryan said yesterday. "Shortly thereafter, people surpassed that figure. And we know what has happened since then."
Even he was amazed during the off-season when the Rangers signed shortstop Alex Rodriguez to a record $252 million, 10-year contract.
ryan was at the Ballpark in Arlington for a pregame ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the last of his record seven no-hitters. At age 44, he pitched a no-hit, 3-0 victory for Texas against Toronto.
"Wow, I thought that was pretty interesting." Ryan said. "When they
went over $10 million, I thought they were probably reaching the limits then."
Ryan's last no-hitter came at Arlington Stadium. He calls it the most memorable of his seven.
"Look back on it and you realize that it's been 10 years and how quick that time's gone," Ryan said. "It's the most recent in my memory. There was a pretty good span between the first and the last one. I think too, I really thought that was a part of my career that was over with."
Ryan struck out 16 of the 29 batters he faced against Toronto in the 3-0 victory. Kelly Gruber and Joe Carter were the only two Blue Jays to reach, both on walks.
Steve Buechele, the Rangers third baseman that night, knew after the first inning as he and shortstop Jeff
Huson ran off the field it could be a special night.
"We both had that look like, 'All right, here we go again,' because it was that dominating a first inning." Buechel said yesterday. "We both just knew of that he had good stuff that night and this could be another one."
Ryan threw his first two no-hitters with California in 1973, and threw one in each of the next two seasons for the Angels. The fifth no-hitter came in 1981, his second year with Houston, and No.6 was in 1990.
"It's amazing. What he did was unbelievable," said Rafael Palmeiro, the Rangers first baseman yesterday and also a decade earlier. "Just think, half of those hitters could have been no hitters. That would have been 13no-hitters, and would have been the most unbelievable record. It still is anyway."
Though he rarely reflects on his playing days, Ryan said watching a replay of the seventh no-hitter gave him goosebumps.
Ryan still throws occasionally, most recently with one of his three children this spring. While he used to routinely throw 100 mph or more, he's not sure of what his velocity is now.
Double bypass heart surgery in April 2000 and a brief hospital stay because of tightness in his chest last October forced Ryan to curtail his physical activities some. But he's looking fit and feeling good.
"Since about February, everything has been going well. They seem to have me pretty well lined up," Ryan said. "I'm pretty much back to normal activities, but I don't work out as strenuously as I used to."
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