John Sanders (baseball)
Encyclopedia
John Frank Sanders is a retired American
baseball
player, coach
, manager
and scout. Although he began and ended his career in the professional game, he is most known as the longtime (1978-97) head baseball coach of the University of Nebraska, where his teams won a school-record 767 games.
Sanders was a four-sport (baseball, basketball
, football
and track) star at Grand Island High School, before he was signed to his first professional contract as an outfielder
with the Kansas City Athletics
by A's scout Whitey Herzog
. Sanders threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 m) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg).
In his rookie season (1964) in the Appalachian League
, Sanders batted
only 30 times, but collected 13 hits
for a .433 batting average
. He was then kept on Kansas City's Major League
roster at the outset of the season under the terms of the bonus rules then in force. During that time, he appeared in his only Major League game, on April 13, 1965 as a pinch runner
in an 8-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers. On May 4, 1965, the A's lost Sanders on waivers to the Boston Red Sox
when they attempted to send him to the minor leagues
for more seasoning. He played in the Red Sox, New York Mets
and Kansas City Royals
farm systems through 1968 before quitting the pro game. Overall, he batted .269 with ten home runs in 205 minor league games.
Sanders earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Northern Colorado
and embarked on a coaching career in 1974 at a community college in Oregon
. After compiling a 34-15 mark at Arizona Western College
in 1975-76, he joined the Nebraska Cornhuskers
as an assistant coach in 1977 before taking over as head coach the next season. During Sanders' 20-year-long tenure, Nebraska had nine 40-victory seasons, made the NCAA Baseball Tournament
three times, and produced 92 professional players, including 1995 first-round draft choice Darin Erstad
.
In 1999, Sanders returned to professional baseball and the Red Sox organization, spending nine seasons with Boston as manager of their Rookie-level Gulf Coast Red Sox affiliate (1999-2002) and a scout based in Woodstock, Georgia
(2003-07). He was named to the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player, coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and scout. Although he began and ended his career in the professional game, he is most known as the longtime (1978-97) head baseball coach of the University of Nebraska, where his teams won a school-record 767 games.
Sanders was a four-sport (baseball, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and track) star at Grand Island High School, before he was signed to his first professional contract as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
with the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
by A's scout Whitey Herzog
Whitey Herzog
Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog is a former Major League Baseball manager. Born in New Athens, Illinois, he made his debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including...
. Sanders threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 m) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg).
In his rookie season (1964) in the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
, Sanders batted
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
only 30 times, but collected 13 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
for a .433 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. He was then kept on Kansas City's Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
roster at the outset of the season under the terms of the bonus rules then in force. During that time, he appeared in his only Major League game, on April 13, 1965 as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
in an 8-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers. On May 4, 1965, the A's lost Sanders on waivers to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
when they attempted to send him to the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
for more seasoning. He played in the Red Sox, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
farm systems through 1968 before quitting the pro game. Overall, he batted .269 with ten home runs in 205 minor league games.
Sanders earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
and embarked on a coaching career in 1974 at a community college in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. After compiling a 34-15 mark at Arizona Western College
Arizona Western College
Arizona Western College is a public community college located in Yuma, Arizona, United States. AWC offers classes in San Luis, Somerton, Marine Corp Air Station , Wellton, Dateland, and La Paz....
in 1975-76, he joined the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball
The Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team is a member of the Big Ten Conference in the NCAA, and is currently coached by Darin Erstad. The program started in 1889....
as an assistant coach in 1977 before taking over as head coach the next season. During Sanders' 20-year-long tenure, Nebraska had nine 40-victory seasons, made the NCAA Baseball Tournament
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
three times, and produced 92 professional players, including 1995 first-round draft choice Darin Erstad
Darin Erstad
Darin Charles Erstad is the Head Coach of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team and a former Major League Baseball outfielder/first baseman. Prior to , he had played with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise before signing with the Chicago White Sox in 2007...
.
In 1999, Sanders returned to professional baseball and the Red Sox organization, spending nine seasons with Boston as manager of their Rookie-level Gulf Coast Red Sox affiliate (1999-2002) and a scout based in Woodstock, Georgia
Woodstock, Georgia
Woodstock is a city in Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. The population was 23,896 at the 2010 census.Originally a stop on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Woodstock is now considered part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
(2003-07). He was named to the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.