Deion Sanders' 1997 Cincinnati Reds Jersey Just Dropped
Two-sport icon Deion Sanders earned the nickname "Prime Time," thanks to his electrifying performances. Sanders routinely made highlight plays on the baseball diamond and the football field (sometimes in the same day).
With a career spanning two decades and several teams, several cities have tried to claim Sanders as one of their own. Luckily, there is plenty of "Prime Time" to go around, especially as part of Mitchell & Ness' latest drop.
Campaign Film
On Saturday morning, Mitchell & Ness dropped a slick campaign film on Instagram. The video showed Sanders playing for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1997 MLB season, to promote his authentic gray jersey, which is hitting shelves.
"Prime Time," wrote Mitchell & Ness. "Sometimes, the smallest change in a uniform… becomes part of the game, forever. Do You Remember? Available now at MitchellandNess.com. @MLB @deionsanders @reds."
Shopping Information
The Deion Sanders Cincinnati Reds 1997 Gray Authentic Jersey is available now in adult sizes (Small to 5XL) for $350 at MitchellAndNess.com and select retailers. That is a hefty price tag. Luckily for fans, Sanders' Reds batting practice jersey also dropped alongside the authentic game jersey for just $140 in adult sizes.
The authentic jersey features a Gray double-knit fabric with a layered twill front wordmark, name, and numbers. The embroidered twill Jackie Robinson 50th Anniversary patch on the right shoulder and the Reds logo on the left shoulder remain true to the original. Lastly, the embroidered year and player ID appear on the woven MLB Cooperstown Collection jock tag.
Jersey History
MLB paid tribute to Jackie Robinson throughout the 1997 season, and Sanders took it one step further. He paid a personal tribute to Robinson by shortening the sleeves on his road jersey, inspired by a photo of Robinson on a cereal box he spotted during spring training.
When the National League took issue with the non-uniform sleeve length, Sanders' teammates rallied around him, adopting the same look so the team would remain in compliance with league rules requiring uniformity. Even better, Reds manager Ray Knight gave his blessing, and the entire clubhouse rallied around Sanders.
Deion Sanders' Cincinnati Reds Era
Sanders' MLB career lasted nine seasons, and he spent four of those unforgettable years with the Cincinnati Reds. There are plenty of Sanders' jerseys from other teams, but few are as historic and important as his 1997 Road Gray jersey.
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Pat Benson covers team uniforms and player apparel for Jerseys On Sports Illustrated. Pat is a trusted voice for fans, regularly breaking news, spotlighting important stories, and interviewing the biggest names in sports. Pat also covers the footwear industry and has authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020." You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.