As a kid growing up in Fort Myers, Fla., Deion Sanders spent a lot of time at the Royals’ spring-training facility.
Sanders would collect baseballs that cleared the fence during practice, then turn around and sell them to fans who arrived for Grapefruit League games.
Sometimes, Royals players like Amos Otis, Willie Wilson and John Mayberry would give balls to Sanders, who would get autographs to increase the value when he sold them.
Sanders eventually became a multi-sport start at North Fort Myers High School, and was picked by the Royals in the sixth round of the 1985 draft.