Anthony Sanders

ANTHONY MARCUS SANDERS personifies perseverance. Quiet with an engaging personality, he was well liked and respected by his teammates during his 15-year career. Sanders experienced countless professional joys and disappointments and crushing personal tragedies. He endured 26 stops in the minors, majors, Mexico, and Japan. He was an Olympian. He was a minor-league coach and manager for 13 years before returning to the majors as a coach.

On March 2, 1974 in Tucson, Arizona, Sanders was born to Benjie, an award-winning photographer with the Arizona Daily Star for 44 years, and Phyllis, a nurse.3 Growing up in the Rolling Hills subdivision of Tucson, Sanders was the youngest son with two brothers, Kevin and Benjie Jr., and a sister, Juanita.

After his weekend Little League games, Sanders watched major-league games on television. Sanders told his father “You know, I am going to be a professional baseball player. I could do that I know I could,” and his father “chuckle[d] and pat[ted] his son on his head.”4 Each fall, it was football and being the quarterback. He excelled in youth basketball and soccer leagues. His parents went to every game. A lifelong passion for fishing began.

Benjie noticed his son’s competitive streak: “His favorite line growing up was, ‘Second sucks.’ He’s always been competitive.”5 His mother recalls these years as special as her youngest son transformed: “I miss those days now. I know he’s a young man now, but he’ll always be our baby boy.”6

Evolving into an exceptional athlete, Sanders starred on the Santa Rita High School football, basketball and baseball teams, graduating in 1992.7 In the summers, he played for Connie Mack and American Legion teams. A member of the varsity baseball and basketball teams for three years, Sanders was the starting quarterback for the junior varsity and varsity teams. A pitcher and infielder, he played in front of scouts who swarmed his Santa Rita games enamored with his multi-tool skill set and athleticism.8 Mark Snipp, a regional scout for the Toronto Blue Jays, said “[F]rom a scout’s perspective, [Sanders] had the whole package.”9 Though Sanders favored baseball, he said at the time that “I like being the quarterback. I can run and throw instead of running the ball a lot.”10

Elite football college programs swarmed Sanders and his family to recruit him. At 6-foot-2 and a muscular 180 pounds, Sanders could throw a tight spiral 65 yards and run with authority.11

The University of Arizona offered Sanders a scholarship before his senior year. A condition for Sanders was that he wanted to play both baseball and football. As a high school senior, Sanders was listed as one of the Top 100 high school football players in America by The Sporting News. He attributed his success to “understanding what went wrong [which was] 50 percent of the battle.”12 His senior campaign was cut short by a broken left clavicle suffered in the sixth game of the season.13

Sanders was a member of the student council and honors society. He was named to several all-Southern Arizona and state teams in baseball and football.14 Sanders’ number 10 jersey for football was retired by Santa Rita.15

On January 22, 1992, Sanders signed a letter of intent and committed to play football for Arizona, exacting a promise he could play baseball beginning his sophomore year.16 But on June 1, 1992, Sanders was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh round of the First-Year Amateur Draft. A choice had to be made.

At his father’s suggestion, Sanders delayed his decision until after he attended Arizona’s preseason camp. Although he excelled at camp, on August 20, the day before classes began, Sanders signed a six-figure bonus contract with Toronto, who agreed to pay for his college education. Though the decision was hard, for Sanders, “I’ve always wanted to play baseball in the long run, really, and just wanted to play ball real bad.”17

Sanders began his pro career in the fall of 1992 in the Florida Instructional League. Sanders hit a home run and double in his first game.18 “We miss him. I wish we could go to all of his games like we did in Little League,” his mother said.19

His formal minor-league career began in 1993 in southeast Alberta, 1,588 miles from home. Sanders was assigned to the Medicine Hat Blue Jays rookie team in the Pioneer League.20 For the 1994 season, Sanders played for the St. Catherines Blue Jays, located in Ontario, in the short-season Class-A New York-Penn League. Starting poorly, “I improved during the second half. I started going the other way with the ball and stopped trying to hit home runs,” Sanders said.21

When Sanders reported for spring training in 1995, the Blue Jays decided that Sanders should focus on playing center field. They assigned him to the Class-A South Atlantic League Hagerstown Suns: “At first I was surprised about playing center field and everything. I was kind of disappointed, but I realized I have to prove myself as I go along.”22 He endured an ineffectual start at the plate, batting .189 as of May 13, but ended strongly to raise his average to .232.23 Sanders played winter ball in an Australian pro league.

Assigned to high Class-A Dunedin in 1996, Sanders started the season going 11-for-29 with four doubles, two homers, and three RBIs. Sanders played in the Florida State League All-Star Game and finished second in the home run derby. On July 24th, Sanders was promoted to the double-A Knoxville Smokies in the Southern League.24 Sanders was invited to the Blue Jays’ 1997 major-league camp. Baseball America projected Sanders to be Toronto’s starting right fielder in 1999. To work on his hitting, Sanders played in the Hawaiian winter league in Maui.

Sanders had dated Denise Tapia since 1990.25 On August 12, 1993, they had a son, Anthony Jr. The week before leaving for spring training, Sanders married Denise on February 8, 1997, in Tucson. The couple promised to open their wedding gifts during his first break from baseball.26

March 8 was their one-month wedding anniversary. Denise was on a skiing trip with several girlfriends at Sunrise Park Resort in Arizona. The couple had picked up the sport a few years earlier. She was using the skis her husband gave her as a Christmas gift. Skiing alone on her final run, she lost control, hitting a tree.27 She died from severe head injuries.

A few minutes after his daily spring training call to his parents, his mother called him back. “Something happened to Denise. She’s been killed,” Phyllis told her son. “I just set the phone down and I froze,” Sanders recalled.28

Toronto general manager Gord Ash attempted to talk to Sanders and his father on the afternoon of March 9, but they were devastated. “I just had to say, ‘Take all the time you need,’” Ash said.29 Manager Cito Gaston worried for Sanders: “He was a good kid, but I don’t know how he’ll come out of this.”30 Gaston trailed off, “Terrible. It was the first thing I heard this morning.”31 Sanders agonized over what to tell his son.

Five days later, Sanders and his three-year-old son viewed the casket alone, then buried the twenty-two-year-old wife and mother. Wedding gifts were still unopened. Sanders considered quitting the game to raise his son but went back to Knoxville. Anthony Jr. and baseball were his therapy. “The way I look at it, you only get one shot at this game,” Sanders said.32 Toronto flew his son with family members to Knoxville during home stands.33 The duo were inseparable, a presence on each team Sanders played on.

At Knoxville, Sanders applied the lessons he learned playing winter ball in Maui: “They had a lot of Japanese pitchers who threw a lot of breaking pitches. Now, I don’t worry about who the pitcher is or whether he’s throwing or hitting to the opposite field. I just hit.”34 Sanders was selected to the Southern League All-Star team and was the starting outfielder in the Class-AA All-Star Game in San Antonio, Texas. Sanders set career highs in homers (26) and RBIs (69) while batting .266.

But the sense of loss was constant. Late in the season, Sanders called home. His father answered, hearing sobs, and called out, “Anthony, is that you? Anthony?”35

Baseball America rated Sanders as Toronto’s top 1998 prospect. The Blue Jays “[had] told me that the door is open, but it’s all talk until you actually make it,” Sanders warned.36 Sanders was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Batting .194 with four homers and 19 RBIs in 57 games, he was demoted back to Knoxville on July 1. Advised it was not a long-term move, Sanders said, “That is what I was told. But you never know for sure.”37 Sanders hit .400 with four homers in six games, quickly promoted back to Syracuse. A fractured left ankle caused him to miss the final six weeks of the 1998 season.

Entering 1999, Sanders knew he was at a crossroads: “It’s kind of a big year for me. I can determine what happens.”38 Used sparingly in spring training, Sanders found himself back in Syracuse. Ash said Sanders was still adjusting from his football-playing days and was striking out too often. His swing had to become more fluid. Defensively, he was a major leaguer.39 On April 18, Sanders received the call he dreamed about as a child.

“It really never hit me until I talked to [my son]. He said ‘Daddy, I’m going to see you on TV now … You’re not in the minor leagues. You’re in the big leagues,’” Sanders said.40 His debut was on April 26, batting seventh as DH. He went 2-for-4 with two RBIs on the road against Anaheim in an 11-inning 4–3 loss. The first hit was a fifth-inning infield single off Chuck Finley. In the seventh, Sanders lined a two-run double down the left-field line. “It’s a dream come true, especially with my parents and little son here [from Arizona] to see me do it,” Sanders said to the Toronto Sun.41

Having appeared in one game in a six-game stay in the majors, Sanders was optioned back to Syracuse the day after his debut. He was solemnly upset. “I’m disappointed. I’ve just got make the best of it. My time will come,” Sanders said.42 Two days after joining the Blue Jays, Sanders proposed to his girlfriend, Claudia Aparicio.43

Sanders was recalled on May 3. He started in left field, going 0-for-3 in a May 5 loss to Oakland. On May 8, Sanders was optioned back to Syracuse, where he remained for rest of the season.44 In the offseason, Sanders played in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League for Cardenales de Lara.45 Sanders married Claudia in January 2000. During their courtship, his mother noticed a change in her son: “It’s such a good feeling to see my son smile again.”46

Sanders was out of options with Toronto as the 2000 season loomed. Designated for assignment on March 29, Sanders was selected by Seattle two days later. Pat Gillick, the Mariners’ general manager, drafted Sanders while in Toronto: “Anthony plays excellent defense. But he’s a player who has yet to hit [well]. He just hasn’t made the adjustment to the major leagues yet.”47 He opened the season with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate Tacoma Rainiers. He was enjoying a great season when an opportunity arose to play for his country.48

Impressed by Sanders’ performance in Tacoma, USA Baseball officials chose him on August 23 as part of Team USA’s 2000 Sydney Olympics squad. He accepted immediately: “This was a big surprise, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”49 Claudia was due with their first child on September 9. She insisted her husband be with the team in Australia with Anthony Jr. Son Logan was born on his due date.

Team USA won the baseball gold medal in Sydney, defeating the vaunted Cuban team on September 27. An Associated Press image captured a smiling Sanders with his glove on his left hand and his cap on his right with his son on his shoulders, draped in an American flag. “This is the best day of my life,” Sanders said.50 He felt being an Olympian justified the decision to pursue baseball.

After the gold-medal victory, Seattle called up Sanders. Jet-lagged, he appeared in one game on September 30, the next-to-last game of the season. In top of the ninth, pinch-hitting for Mike Cameron, Sanders hit a ground-ball single to left field. Two batters later, he scored a run. “My family was there to see it, too. That made it even more special.”51

As 2001 spring training began, Sanders knew what he had to do to become a full-time major leaguer: “I just need to hit.”52 His strike zone acumen had improved while at Tacoma. For the first time, he made an Opening Day roster, on a team that would set a major-league season record with 116 wins. “I’ve been through so much in the past with my wife passing away and struggling with the Blue Jays. Things are starting to turn around now,” Sanders said.53

Sanders hit just .176 (3-for-17) in nine games. Frustrations mounted. “I sat on the bench for eight, nine days. If they can judge a guy on that, they’re crazy,” Sanders said.54 At the age of 27, Sanders appeared in his last major-league game on April 18, 2001, going 0-for-3 against Texas.55 Sanders was out-righted to Tacoma on April 28. Though the Mariners wanted him to stay, Sanders refused the assignment and became a free agent. “I spent enough time in Triple A,” Sanders said.56

Sanders signed a lucrative $350,000 deal in mid-May with the Yokohama BayStars in the Japanese Central League.57 He mulled offers from other teams, but that meant toiling away once again in Triple-A. “The language of baseball’s the same, no matter where you go,” Sanders said.58 Japan did not work out. Sanders hit poorly (.094 in first 11 starts) and was demoted to Yokohama’s minor-league affiliate, Shonan Searex. “You get off to a slow start over there, and they’ll send you home. … That’s a long way to go from home to be playing in the minor leagues.”59

Sanders signed with the Cincinnati Reds on December 10, 2001, as a non-roster invitee. The annual refrain continued as he tried to resurrect his major-league dream. He was destined to play for the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats in 2002. “I’m just trying to take advantage of every opportunity. … For a guy in my position, every single at-bat in the spring is huge.”60

Sanders played in 33 games for Louisville before the Reds traded him to the White Sox, who assigned him to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights.61 He played in 58 games for Charlotte when Sanders’ world once more collapsed.

In May, eight-year-old Anthony had open-heart surgery at Stanford University Medical Center to repair a birth defect of a faulty heart valve. Recovering at home, he soon was back with his father in Charlotte. On the morning of July 23, Anthony complained of chest and neck pain. Sanders immediately took Anthony to the hospital where the little boy passed away. No more hide-and-seek in the clubhouse, no more playing catch, no more fishing trips, and no more days off together. Sanders’ teammates, who doted on the child, were devastated: “I cried more [Tuesday] than I’ve ever cried in my life,” Scott Morgan said.”62

Three days later, Anthony was buried wearing a USA baseball jersey.63 With all his remaining emotion, Sanders gave a tearful eulogy. Sanders learned that he and his wife were expecting another child.64 He sat out the rest of the season.

Sanders quietly told his teammates that he might have problems paying for funeral costs. He had to ask his family for help. His Charlotte teammates, as well as other teams he played for such as the Hagerstown Suns and the White Sox and Blue Jays organizations, raised monies to defray costs. “I mean, that’s huge, especially with a guy in my situation who hasn’t had much big-league time financially. A shock like that to happen, the funeral costs and everything, they put all that to rest for me. … I got to bury my son.”65

Sanders buried his son next to his first wife. Claudia thought this was poetic. “To me, it’s a comforting thing [that they’re buried together].”66 She added, “I am so grateful that [Anthony Jr.] got to be part of that [Olympic celebration]. Anthony will say that’s one of the best moments of his entire life.”67

Sanders signed a 2003 minor-league deal with the White Sox. Anthony stayed in his thoughts: “I don’t like to talk too much about it right now.”68 Sanders briefly lost the spark for the game: “Last year, I lost that, obviously, with everything that happened.”69 Sanders said, “[We] got good news the other day. My wife is expecting soon. You try to move on but.…”70

On March 18, White Sox manager Jerry Manuel informed Sanders that he had been optioned to Charlotte. Sanders took the demotion with dignity. “He didn’t say goodbye…With everything [Sanders] has been through, it was hard to send him down…. I think Anthony Sanders can play,” Manuel said.71 Three days after the demotion, his son Marcus was born in Tucson.72

Sanders was released by the White Sox after he hit .155 in June and July.73 The cruelty of the game was jabbing at Sanders. On August 7, Toronto signed him to a minor-league deal. Sanders’ baseball road dropped him off in New Haven, Connecticut, as he was loaned to the New Haven Ravens.74 A free agent at season’s end, Sanders played again in the Venezuelan winter league.

Sanders signed a minor-league contract with Colorado on February 5, 2004. Reporting to spring training with the hope of returning to the majors, he was released prior to Opening Day. His career appeared over; however, due to injuries to the Rockies’ outfielders, Sanders was re-signed and sent to Triple-A Colorado Springs for depth. Though batting .316 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 24 games, he was traded on June 23 to Toronto for a player to be named later due to injuries to the Blue Jays’ outfielders. He was assigned to Syracuse, where he had played in 1998 and 1999.75 On December 17, 2004, the Sanders’ third son, Troy, was born.

Sanders agreed to a minor-league deal with Toronto for the 2005 season. He was still in uniform, though back with Syracuse. Sanders lasted two games before going on the injured list with a bulging disc in his back, which caused nerve issues and leg pain. He missed most of the season. Yet, Sanders was optimistic, feeling lucky with a wife and three healthy sons. “I love to play the game, and I can play the game,” reflected Sanders.76 Claudia asked him, “‘Is this worth it?’ And to him, yes, it is, it’s worth it.”77

Toronto sent Sanders to the Class-A Midwest League Lansing Lugnuts for rehab. At thirty-one, he was the oldest Lugnut on the roster. On being back in Class A, Sanders said, “I think it’s made me appreciate it little more, [but] I want to get there and stay there. In my mind I haven’t truly made it yet.”78 In first game, Sanders went 3-for-4 against the Clinton Lumberjacks. “It feels good to put on the glove and spikes again,” said Sanders.79

On March 10, 2006, Sanders signed with Colorado, who released him before the season started. A nomadic few months resulted in what proved to be his final season as a player. He played in the Mexican League with the Vaqueros Laguna and the Olmecas de Tabasco. On July 14, he agreed to terms with the independent Atlantic League Newark Bears where he played the final 58 games of his career.80

On September 23, Sanders played his last professional game. He led off and manned center field against the Atlantic City Surf. He went 2-for-4, scored for the last time, drove in one last run, and stole one final base in a 13–4 defeat.81

Sanders officially retired from playing baseball in early 2007.82 The Rockies announced on April 29 that Sanders was the new hitting coach for the Tri-City Dust Devils, the club’s short-season Class-A Northwest League team in Pasco, Washington.83

Sanders was Tri-City’s hitting coach through 2012, during which time the team posted its best offensive years.84 He also served as base-running and outfield coach. Each offseason, he worked with Rockies prospects at the club’s Arizona instructional camp. “I still love the game and wish I could still play, but once you realize your time is over, it’s all about helping those kids try to accomplish their goals in life,” Sanders said.85

On February 4, 2013, Sanders was promoted by Colorado to manage their rookie affiliate in the Pioneer League, the Grand Junction Rockies: “[Managing is] something I’ve wanted to do since I got into pro ball.”86 He held the role for three seasons. In his first year, Sanders led the Rockies to a postseason berth, losing in the first round. The following season, he managed the team to the best record in the league with 43 wins and was named Pioneer League Manager of the Year.87

Sanders was part of Willie Randolph’s staff for the inaugural 2015 Premier 12 tournament, a men’s international competition held by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The US team won the silver medal. This was Sanders’ first international coaching experience. He compared it to his time as an Olympian: “When they put that USA jersey on, if they don’t have a different feeling then something’s definitely wrong with them.”88

After three years as a manager, Sanders was elevated to be the supervisor of development in Rockies’ minor-league system. He was associated with the Modesto Nuts (2016) and Lancaster JetHawks (2017) in the high Class-A California League. On January 18, 2018, he was promoted to minor-league outfield and base-running coordinator.

Sanders was named first-base coach for Team USA under manager Scott Brosius in the 2019 Premier tournament, in which Team USA successfully qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Sanders did not have the chance to coach in the Olympics. He was hired as the Baltimore Orioles’ first-base coach. “It’s a dream come true as a player or coach to get there… It’s awesome …,” Sanders said.89

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed his major-league coaching career. Sanders anticipated the moment when he walked into the first-base coach’s box as an Oriole: “I’m waiting for that call for the season to begin.”90 On July 23, 2020, Sanders made his debut as a major-league coach. As seasons progressed, to combat the stress of coaching and being away from his family, Sanders fished every place he could find.

Sanders focused on base-running and outfield defense, dissecting video and analytics, stressing fundamentals, making adjustments, and teaching baseball awareness. Sanders said, “I think that’s one lost art, just the instincts of these guys. With the numbers and data that tells us what times we should go and should not go, there’s instinct.”91 Coaching first base, Sanders could be seen using his stopwatch to assess a pitcher’s delivery and a catcher’s throws for stealing opportunities.

Before each Orioles game, Sanders threw batting practice. Needing someone to play catch with to loosen up, Sanders commenced a game tradition. He searched the stands to find a kid with a glove, calling the child over. They play catch on the field. Sanders understands: “It’s a kid’s game. …Grabbing a little kid and make his day. [Trying] to keep that going.”92

After six seasons, Sanders was the Orioles’ longest-tenured coach. With Baltimore’s hiring of a new manager in October 2025, Sanders was given permission to seek other positions. On November 5, he was hired to be the first-base coach for manager A.J. Hinch’s Detroit Tigers.93 Another new beginning for Sanders.

Sanders expressed concerns about the under-representation of African Americans in baseball. “I’ve seen my kids play Little League all the way up to what they are doing now, and it’s a shame that it is like that and baseball has gone that direction, because of other sports, football, financial reasons.” Sanders added. “I’ve seen baseball at pretty much every level, and there are some really talented players at these HBCU schools.”94

On September 6, 2025, Sanders was named the recipient of the 2025 Oriole Way Award, an annual Orioles Advocates award honoring a player or coach who exemplifies the best of the team on and off the field. Upon receiving the award, Sanders reflected: “I think it’s about the journey. … I spend a lot of time in the minors so I have a lot of good relationships with a lot of the kids who didn’t make to this level. Now that I’m in the big leagues, I enjoy every single day and don’t forget my roots.”95 Deeply dedicated, Sanders makes the most of every day he is in baseball.

SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted the National Baseball Hall of Fame Giamatti Research Center, the Baltimore Orioles, the Colorado Rockies, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Seattle Mariners, the United States Baseball Federation, Baseball-Reference, YouTube, MLB.com, Santa Rita High School, University of Arizona Library and Archives, and MASNsports.com.

To my wife, Teri, as always for her patience, input and editorial skills.

Many thanks to Java Nation in Kensington, Maryland where I researched, conceived, and wrote several iterations of this article.

NOTES

1 Denny Sietz, “Player is Focused on a New Beginning,” Charlotte (North Carolina) Observer, April 4, 2003: 6Y.

2 Matt Michael, “It’s Worth It For Sanders,” Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), May 15, 2005: D-9.

3 “Photos: 44 years of Benjie Sanders,” tucson.com, July 2, 2014, https://tucson.com/lifestyles/photos-44-years-of-benjie-sanders/collection_9a9df224-020f-11e4-aead-001a4bcf887a.html#1, accessed June 10, 2025. Benjie Sanders was a long jumper on the University of Arizona track & field team while in college. As of December 2025, Sanders still worked as a freelance photographer for the Arizona Daily News. Benjie Sanders married Phyllis Marie Broussard on December 12, 1970, at Southside Baptist Church in Tucson.

4 Javier Morales, “Living a Dream,” Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona), March 5, 1993: 9.

5 Morales.

6 Morales.

7 Santa Rita High School is part of the Tucson Unified School District,

8 Morales, “Living a Dream.” In his senior year, Sanders batted .500 with five home runs and 29 RBIs. He pitched to a 7–2 record with a 2.13 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 46 innings, and his fastball was clocked at 93 mph.

9 Morales.

10 Ken Brazzle, “High School Successors Hopeful, Tucson Citizen, September 9, 1990: 2D.

11 Sanders as a minor leaguer in his early twenties filled out to 200 pounds with no change in height.

12 Mike Tucker, “Sanders Passes to Familiar Faces,” Arizona Daily Star, October 23, 1990: D- Page 3.

13 In his two-year varsity football career, Sanders went 232-for-371 on passes for 3,271 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed for 912 yards.

14 As a sophomore pitcher, Sanders was named honorable mention on the Arizona Daily Star 1990 Class 5A all-Southern Arizona baseball team. In 1991, his .348 average earned him second-team third baseman on the Tucson Citizen all-star team. For the 1992 season, he was first-team Star 4A Southern Arizona and Tucson Citizen all-star team as a pitcher. He was first-team QB on the 1990 Arizona Republic All-State football team. Sanders was second-team quarterback of the Daily Star’s 1990 All-Southern Arizona 5A football team. Despite being injured, Sanders was 1991 second-team quarterback on the Daily Star’s Class 4A Southern offense football team. As a basketball player, he was part of a team that went to the state championship game and was named second-team All-Southern Arizona his senior year.

15 Sanders was part of the Class of 2015 Pima County Sports Hall of Fame.

16 Anthony Gimino, “Tough Choice,” Arizona Daily Star, January 23, 1992: D-1.

17 “Cats Lose QB to Baseball,” Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, Arizona), August 30, 1992: 8.

18 Greg Hansen, “Rainbows Could Lead Copper Bowl to Its Fortune,” Arizona Daily Star, September 20, 1992: D6.

19 Morales.

20 Sanders batted .262 with four home runs and 33 RBIs in 63 games for the Baby Jays.

21 Bill Potrecz, “Record Fails to Tell Whole Jays’ Story,” Standard (St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada), September 3, 1994: C1. Sanders in 74 games batted .256 with six homers and 45 RBIs.

22 Javier Morales, “Position Switch Keeps Sanders in Lower Minors,” Arizona Daily Star, May 14, 1995: 10. For the season, Sanders batted .232 in 133 games (512 at-bats) with eight homers and 48 RBIs.

23 Morales. Sanders batted .262 while playing at Dunedin and Knoxville, a 30-point improvement from 1995.

24 At Dunedin, Sanders hit 17 homers with 50 RBIs, batting .259. Overall, Sanders hit 18 homers and 68 RBIs.

25 Denise Tapia was born in Tucson on September 3, 1974.

26 Greg Hansen, “Playing With Pain,” Arizona Daily Star, August 22, 1997: 7C.

27 “Tucson Newlywed Dies in Ski Accident,” Arizona Daily Star, March 10, 1997: B2.

28 Nick Gates, “Playing Through the Pain,” Knoxville (Tennessee) News-Sentinel, April 27, 1997: C1.

29 Allan Ryan, “Blue Jays Shaken by Tragic Death of Teammate’s Wife,” Toronto Star, March 10, 1997: Section B-1.

30 Ryan.

31 Eddie Michels, “Wife of Jays Prospect Dies in Ski Accident,” Tampa Tribune, March 10, 1997: 9-Sports.

32 Nick Gates, “Sanders,” Knoxville News-Sentinel, April 27, 1997: C11

33 Tom Maloney, “Jays Prospect Uses Baseball to Survive Wife’s Tragic Death,” Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) Spectator, November 15, 1997: C3.

34 Thomas Harding, “Chicks,” Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), May 18, 1997: D13.

35 Hansen, “Playing With Pain.”

36 Kevin Clerici, “Sanders,” Arizona Daily Star, January 30, 1998: 12D.

37 Nick Gates, “Smokies,” Knoxville News-Sentinel, July 9, 1998: C5

38 Bruce Pascoe, “Sanders Has His Life, Career in Order,” Arizona Daily Star, April 2, 1999: D1.

39 Bruce Pascoe, “Sanders,” Arizona Daily Star, April 2, 1999: 11D.

40 Scott Simonson, “Blue Jays Call Up Sanders, Son Ecstatic,” Arizona Daily Star, April 20, 1999: D1.

41 “Sanders Drills 2 in Debut with Jays,” Tucson Citizen, April 27, 1999: D1.

42 Greg Hansen, “Arizona Stadium to Have a Dynamic Change,” Arizona Daily Star, May 2, 1999: C10.

43 Claudia Aparicio attended Desert View High School in Tucson and was an outstanding athlete. She was named to the Class 4A Southern Arizona softball team as second-team DH in 1991 and as a honorable mention in 1992.

44 At Syracuse, Sanders batted .244 with 18 homers and 59 RBIs.

45 The Cardenales de Lara were founded on November 5, 1942, and based in Barquisimeto. Sanders batted .317 with nine homers.

46 Michael, “It’s Worth It.”

47 Greg Hansen, “Tucson Scene Hits Silver Screen,” Arizona Daily Star, April 2, 2000: C6.

48 Sanders hit .306 with 21 doubles, 20 homers, and 80 RBIs in 114 games.

49 Corey Brock, “Olympians,” News Tribune (Tacoma Washington), August 24, 2000: C8. Sanders learned that an Olympic teammate was Pat Borders. As a Blue Jay in 1997 when Sanders’ wife’s death was announced, Borders gave an impassioned speech to his teammates to contribute to a college fund for Sanders’ son. “It’s all pretty wild. It’ll be nice to get together with Pat again,” Sanders said. See: Greg Hansen, “Borders, Sanders Reunite for Country,” Arizona Daily Star, September 10, 2000: 11. Borders was the first American to win both a World Series ring and an Olympic gold medal.

50 Steve Rivera, “Sanders: Best Day of My Life,” Tucson Citizen, September 27, 2000: 1D; Sanders appeared in five of the team’s nine games. He was mostly utilized as a late-inning defensive replacement in centerfield. He went 1-for-6 at the plate, scoring three runs.

51 John McGrath, “Sanders Wants More Than Cup of Coffee with Mariners,” News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), March 5, 2001: C1.

52 Edward de la Fuentes, “Sanders Goes From Olympic Glory to Battling for a Spot in the Mariners’ Crowded Outfield,” Arizona Daily Star, March 13, 2001: C1.

53 Terrance Harris, “Sanders’ Road to Majors was Filled with Potholes,” Arizona Daily Star, March 29, 2001: C1.

54 Jack Magruder, “Sanders,” Arizona Daily Star, May 6, 2001: C11.

55 Sanders’ sojourn in the major leagues encapsulated 13 games, 25 at-bats, three runs, six hits, three doubles and four RBIs with a .240 batting average.

56 Jack Magruder, “Tucsonan Sanders Weighs His Options as a Free Agent,” Arizona Daily Star, May 6, 2001: C1.

57 “More Baseball,” Arizona Daily Star, July 8, 2001: 2.

58 Edward de la Fuentes, “Sanders,” Arizona Daily Star, May 24, 2001: C3

59 Tony Jackson, “Strange Year for Ex-Olympian,” Cincinnati Post, March 4, 2002: 5C.

60 Jackson.

61 Sanders took the roster spot of José Canseco, who had just retired.

62 Michael Schmelzle, “Death of Sanders’ Son, 8, Shocks Friends and Team,” Tucson Citizen, July 25, 2002: 2D.

63 Michael, “It’s Worth It.”

64 Sietz, “Player is Focused on a New Beginning.”

65 Chris Jackson, “Sanders Focuses on Game, not Past,” Arizona Daily Star, February 28, 2003: C2.

66 Michael, “It’s Worth It.”

67 Jack Milliken, “Sanders – Played with Sheets, Oswalt and Borders,” Tri-City Herald (Pasco, Washington), August 23, 2008: D3.

68 Jackson, “Sanders Focuses on Game.”

69 Jackson.

70 Ken Brazzle, “After Son’s Death, Ex-Prep Star Takes Life ‘Day by Day’,” Tucson Citizen, February 1, 2003: 1C

71 James Bennett, “Sanders to Start Seasonal Class AAA,” Arizona Daily Star, March 19, 2003: C2. Sanders had hit .160 in 15 Cactus League games.

72 “Births, St. Joseph’s Hospital,” Arizona Daily Star, April 13, 2003: B12

73 “Tides Top Knight with HR Power,” Charlotte Observer, July 18, 2003: 7C.

74 The New Haven Ravens existed from 1994 to 2003 in the Eastern League. In 2003, the team was the double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. In 2004, the team was sold and relocated to Manchester, New Hampshire, becoming the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. In 2005, Sanders briefly played for the Fisher Cats.

75 In 65 games at Syracuse, Sanders had a .271 average with five homers and 30 RBIs.

76 Michael, “It’s Worth It.”

77 Michael.

78 Mark Feather, “Outfielder, 31, Does Rehab with Lugnuts,” Lansing (Michigan) State Journal, July 31, 2005:5C.

79 Feather. Sanders hit .278 with three RBIs. Sanders went on another 10-game rehabilitation assignment to double-A New Hampshire, where he was once again the oldest player.

80 Sanders batted .284 with three homers and 25 RBIs.

81 Guy Gargan, “Surf Don’t Take a Day Off, Pounds Bears 13-4,” Press of Atlantic City (New Jersey), September 24, 2006: C10.

82 Between minor league baseball, independent leagues, and Mexican and Japanese leagues, Sanders hit 149 home runs with 1,182 hits and 622 RBIs with 134 stolen bases.

83 “Anthony Sanders New Hitting Coach,” MiLB.com, April 30, 2007. https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-235755, accessed July 30, 2025..

84 Jack Milliken, “No Shortage of NWL Talent in 2009,” Tri-City Herald, June 22, 2009: C8.

85 Milliken, “Sanders – Played with Sheets, Oswalt and Borders.. John Boyle, “Wilson,” Daily Herald (Everett, Washington), August 22, 2012: E3. Sanders coached future NFL quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson flirted with a baseball career while in college and before winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. Sanders said of Wilson, “[W]e had many conversations here – about football and about life.”

86 Patti Arnold, “GJ Rockies’ Sanders Excited About First Managerial Job,” Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, Colorado), February 6, 2013: 2B.

87 “Sanders Named PL Manager of the Year,” MiLB.com, August 30, 2014. https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-92286016, accessed July 14, 2025.

88 Tyler Maun, “Sanders Gets International Experience in Asia,” MiLB.com, December 11, 2015. https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-159448864, accessed August 22, 2025.

89 @AllSportsTucson.com, “Legendary Anthony Sanders, Santa Rita Grad, now Baltimore Orioles First Base Coach,” June 16, 2000, interview, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8VsS9qo1io, accessed July 11, 2025.

90 Javier Morales, “Anthony Sanders’ First Base Coaching Position with Baltimore Orioles Major step in Diligent Career,” All Sports Tucson, June 16, 2020. https://allsportstucson.com/2020/06/16/anthony-sanders-first-base-coaching-position-with-baltimore-orioles-major-step-in-diligent-career/, accessed June 10, 2025.

91 Jon Meoli, “Orioles,” Baltimore Sun, March 3, 2020: Sports-3.

92 98 Rock Baltimore, “Anthony Sanders on Coaching Challenges, Defensive Base Runners, Young Outfielders,” February 19, 2025, interview, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o-WdkIPu4g&t=47s, accessed September 26, 2025.

93 Evan Petzold, “Detroit Tigers hire first-base coach Anthony Sanders, assistant hitting coach Cody Asche,” Detroit Free Press, November 4, 2025. https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2025/11/04/detroit-tigers-anthony-sanders-cody-asche-coaching-staff/87092312007, accessed November 5, 2025.

94 Andy Kostka, “With HBCU Night, Orioles Hope to Reach Fans Who Have Felt ‘Disengaged from Baseball’” Baltimore Banner, September 18, 2015. https://baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/sports/orioles-mlb/orioles-hbcu-night-LU25ZGQJ7NDITECNLSPBMLBHEU/, accessed September 24, 2025. “HBCU” is an acronym for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

95 “Anthony Sanders wins the Oriole Way Award,” MASNsports.com, September 9, 2025, interview, https://video.masnsports.com/video/Anthony Sanders wins the Oriole Way Award/8429, accessed September 23, 2025. Past honorees included Trey Mancini, Adam Jones, and Buck Showalter.