Major League Baseball

David Justice says Deion Sanders' Braves stint 'was never a distraction'

Updated May. 24, 2024 1:57 p.m. ET

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Once upon a time in Atlanta, Deion Sanders had the sports world in the palm of his hand.

In 1992, Sanders, who was already a premier defensive back with the Atlanta Falcons, was playing for the Atlanta Braves. On Oct. 11 that year, Sanders played for the Falcons in their Week 6 matchup against the Miami Dolphins and then hopped on a plane to Pittsburgh for the Braves' Game 5 tilt against the Pirates in the National League Championship Series.

The spectacle of Sanders playing in both the NFL and MLB — and, more specifically, the dramatic Sunday in October 1992 when he was present for both teams — caused some criticism. That said, it never came from the Braves dugout.

David Justice, a three-time MLB All-Star and Sanders' teammate from 1991 to 1994, explained how the Braves never had beef with Sanders about him playing both sports on the latest edition of "All Facts No Brakes."

"Deion was never a distraction," he told host Keyshawn Johnson. "Deion was one of the fellas. Otis Nixon was really our starting center fielder, and … Deion was part-time. We understood he was going to be part-time. So, whenever Deion could make it to the team, we loved having him — and when he couldn't, we knew he was off playing football. 

"It was never a problem with us, at all. … The media tried to make it seem like he was a distraction, but that was never the case. … To be able to play two sports at the highest level is incredible."

The aforementioned 1992 season was Sanders' best, as he led MLB with 14 triples in just 97 games. Sanders then hit .533, going 8 for 15 in Atlanta's World Series matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays. All the while, Sanders went on to put together his second consecutive Pro-Bowl campaign with the Falcons.

Sanders' MLB career began with the New York Yankees in 1989, with him later signing with the Braves for the 1991 season. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the 1994 season and was then traded to the San Francisco Giants during the 1995 season. Sanders primarily played center field, but he also dabbled in left.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer didn't play in MLB in 1996 and from 1998-2000, but he had two more stints with the Reds in 1997 and 2001. Three years later, he returned to the NFL for two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2004-05).

Sanders is now four seasons into his collegiate coaching career; he coached Jackson State from 2020-22, with the Tigers going a combined 27-6, and is now attempting to turn Colorado into a powerhouse program after a 4-8 debut season.

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Keyshawn Johnson

All Facts No Brakes with Keyshawn Johnson