Shawn Sanford, a Cinnaminson High School graduate and current pitcher in the San Francisco Giants farm system, has progressed through his baseball career with the help and support of his father Jimmy Sanford.
Atlantic City Weekly recently had the opportunity to talk with one of South Jersey's professional baseball players, Shawn Sanford, over the phone.
Here is Sanford's story, which traces the pitcher's journey from high school to professional baseball.
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As a young child, Shawn Sanford thought his father, Jimmy Sanford, was an actual superhero.
“I literally thought he was Superman,” Sanford tells Atlantic City Weekly.
As farfetched as it may sound, perhaps there is reason to believe Jimmy had a little real life Superman somewhere within him.
Just consider the superhero-like talents the 22-year-old Sanford displays on the baseball diamond, such as his fastball that occasionally touches 93 miles per hour. Maybe his ability has a little to do with family genetics.
Sanford’s ascent to baseball prowess began at age five, when he started playing t-ball in his hometown of Washington Township, N.J., Gloucester County.
When he was eight-years-old, Sanford and his family moved to Cinnaminson, N.J., Burlington County, where Sanford would spend the rest of his pre-college years.
For his first year of high school in 2002, Sanford attended Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The following year, he transferred to Cinnaminson High School, from which he graduated in 2006 as both an All-State football and baseball player.
Outfielder Mike Trout, a 2009 Millville Senior High School graduate who was promoted to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from Double-A last week, had a somewhat rough start to his Major League Baseball (MLB) career this past weekend.
Widely considered the top prospect in baseball, Trout was selected 25th overall by the Angels in the 2009 MLB Draft. Since then, the local product has been tearing up the minor leagues, which led to his promotion.
See all of Atlantic City Weekly's custom-made baseball cards here. Just click each player icon to go to that player's card. Print out the fronts and backs for a full set.
“It freaked me out. I don’t really know exactly what happened next, but I dug down deep and decided that I’m either going to stop baseball and get a job, or I have to do something here. My last few games, I took the ball and threw it as hard as I possibly could.”
Quinton Miller is a 6’1’’, 185-pound right-handed pitcher who attended Shawnee High School in Medford, N.J., Burlington County from 2004-2008.
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1. billkelly_1 said... on Jul 25, 2011 at 03:07PM
“Great article on a great guy!”
2. sammy said... on Jul 26, 2011 at 04:36PM
“What a great story about a great kid and his Dad. Jimmy Sanford was a great dad and I miss him. Shawn has a great future ahead of him and much of that is because of the support he has always enjoyed from his family.”
3. Terri said... on Aug 2, 2011 at 10:26AM
“Where can I buy one of these baseball cards? He is his fathers' son; Two great men!!!”
4. joan kosick said... on Aug 3, 2011 at 11:38AM
“Great story wish you the very best .”