Deion Sanders has been a survivor from the very start. He’s been a relentless force of drive, determination, and hustle. Long before he became a two-sport legend and a household name, Deion was already showing the world what he was made of.
At just nine years old, he had an eye for opportunity and the heart to chase it. Growing up in Fort Myers, Florida, young Deion would ride his bicycle for miles to Terry Park, where the Kansas City Royals held their spring training. But he wasn’t just there to watch. He’d catch stray baseballs and sell them, turning every visit into a business hustle.
Why the Kansas City Royals Practiced In Fort Myers
The Kansas City Royals used to practice in Fort Myers because it served as their spring training home starting in 1978. The Royals’ franchise brought their team to Fort Myers to utilize the city’s facilities for pre-season preparation.
At the time, Fort Myers was home to the Royals’ Single-A affiliate in the Florida State League, making it a practical and strategic location for training. This move allowed the Royals to develop talent and build team cohesion in a warm-weather environment, which is ideal for spring training.
Fort Myers’ established baseball infrastructure made it a fitting choice for the franchise.
Deion Sanders Used To Hustle For Souvenirs
As a third grader growing up in Fort Myers, Florida, Deion Sanders collected baseball souvenirs from Kansas City Royals spring training games.
He’d skip school and outrun all the other kids to snag home run balls and store them in his tube socks. During games, he’d sell those baseballs for $3.50 each. Later, he would even go the extra mile by getting those balls autographed, raising the price to $5 (which would be $28.10 in today’s money).
He also collected (sometimes even begged for) broken bats from Royals legends like George Brett and Amos Otis, so he could later sell them for $10 or $15 a piece. Sanders even cleaned batting cages in exchange for balls he could resell.
This early hustle hinted at his entrepreneurial spirit. Long before his NFL fame or MLB debut, Sanders was already making plays off the field.
How Players Started To Know Him
As a result of Deion’s dedication and consistency in the hustle, players started noticing him. Guys like Willie Wilson and Big John Mayberry saw the kid’s fire long before the Royals came calling.
In 1985, while still in high school, Deion was drafted and offered a $40,000 signing bonus. But then came a life-altering moment with manager Dick Howser.
As a fellow Florida man, Howser saw more than just a ballplayer in Deion. He saw potential. He urged Deion to turn down the offer, saying:
“If you’re good enough for us to draft you now, you’ll be good enough for us to draft you in another couple of years.”
The message hit home. Deion turned down the money, returned to school, and bet on himself.
It was the best play he ever made because that choice set him on a path to becoming the only athlete in history to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
Also Read: How a Basketball Court Accident In High School Got Deion Sanders Recruited To FSU