Barry Sanders Memorabilia Buying Guide

By Sean J. O'Rourke

One of the most prolific athletes in the history of the National Football League, Barry Sanders will always be remembered as one of the greatest players in football history. Noted and sometimes knocked for his short (5 ft., 8 in) stature, his size and ability to keep a low center of gravity made him a dominant back starting all the way back in high school. Despite winning all-state honors as a running back his senior year, Sanders received only a handful of college scholarships and eventually went to Oklahoma State University.  In his first two collegiate seasons, Sanders backed-up star runner Thurman Thomas, who left before the start of Sanders’ third season. As a starter his junior year, Barry Sanders put together what is considered the greatest offensive season in college football history. Amassing an incredible 2,628 yards rushing, 3,249 total yards, 234 points scored and 39 touchdowns, Sanders guided OSU to a victory at the Holiday Bowl before taking home the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 1988.

Sanders opted for the NFL Draft after his junior year and was drafted third overall by the Detroit Lions, a franchise he would remain with for the duration of his NFL career. His explosiveness and unmatched elusiveness made him the league’s second leading rusher his rookie year and he took home Rookie of the Year honors in 1989. Despite winning the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year award in 1994, Sanders’ far and away best season came in 1997. Running for 2,053 yards, Sanders became only the third player in NFL history to rush for 2,000+ yards in a single season. Rushing for 100 yards in an NFL record 14 consecutive games, Sanders co-won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1997. A Pro-Bowler for all ten of his professional seasons, Barry Sanders shocked the world by announcing his retirement in 1999 in a fax to the Wichita Eagle, his hometown newspaper. Surprising many who had assumed Sanders would soon eclipse the great Walter Payton as the NFL's career leading rusher, Sanders eventually told the football world he simply did not have it in him to continue playing for an unsuccessful franchise.  In 2004, Sanders was inducted in the Football Hall of Fame, making him only the second former player to be inducted while in his 30s.

A man no football fan will ever forget, Barry Sanders put the world on his shoulders and ran with it for each of his ten NFL seasons. At the time of his retirement he was second only to Walter Payton in career rushing yardage and was only one behind Payton in career 100-yard games. Noted by many as the greatest halfback in the history of the NFL, no serious football collection is complete without one of the game's all-time most electrifying players, the one and only Barry Sanders.

• Signed OSU Mini Helmet: It all started back at Oklahoma State University for Barry Sanders. The future NFL star would go on to rush for 2,628 yards his junior year at OSU, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1988. A great addition for your college football collection, Barry Sanders has hand-signed this replica OSU mini-helmet along with inscribing "Heisman 88" below his trademark signature. A true essential for every Sanders or Oklahoma State fan, this hand-signed flawless mini-helmet comes with a Schwartz Sports credit card of authenticity and includes an image from the signing. Bring home the 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders today with this signed mini-helmet.

• Signed NFL Football: Sanders made the jump to the NFL in 1989 as the third overall pick by the Detroit Lions, a team he'd carry on his back his entire 10-year professional career. Making an impact from the first time he stepped on the field in the silver and blue, Barry Sanders would go on to win the 1989 Rookie of the Year Award. A Pro-Bowler from his rookie year straight through his retirement, Barry Sanders has hand-signed this authentic NFL leather football in distinct silver ink. An absolute must-have for each and every serious NFL collector, this hand-signed NFL football is authenticated by All About Autographs and comes complete with a certificate of authenticity as well as an image from the signing. Bring home one of the NFL's most-electrifying players with this authentic NFL football hand-signed by the one and only Barry Sanders.

• Signed 8x10" Photograph: Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman once said of Sanders, "Nobody has ever created such turmoil at the point of attack as Sanders has.”  Captured here elusively charging through the Tampa Bay defense, Barry Sanders has hand-signed this brilliant photograph in distinct blue ink. Unquestionably one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004 and has inscribed "HOF 04" below his trademark signature. A great addition to every football collection, this genuine Barry Sanders autographed photograph includes a Steiner Sports certificate of authenticity. Bring a great unique piece of genuine memorabilia home today!

• Heisman Trophy Winners Autographed Helmet: This is an incredible opportunity to take home a very rare and very valuable authentic ProLine helmet hand-signed by 19 winners of college football's prestigious Heisman Trophy. Hand-signed by previous Heisman winners Barry Sanders, Glen Davis, Mike Rozier, John David Crow, Johnny Lattner, Eddie George, Charles White, Gino Toretta, Johnny Rodgers, Earl Campbell, Jay Berwanger, Paul Hornung, George Rogers, Archie Griffin, Ron Dayne, Billy Sims, Ricky Williams and Joe Bellino, this helmet is a must-own asset for every serious college football collector. An absolute Hall of Fame-caliber centerpiece for your sports room, this piece by ProLine comes with a Schwartz Sports credit card certificate of authenticity.  An absolute must-have, take home this one of a kind collectible today!

• Autographed Authentic Helmet: The absolute ultimate Barry Sanders collectible. This authentic Detroit Lions is hand-signed by the greatest player in franchise history: The one and only Barry Sanders. Spending his entire NFL career with the Lions, Sanders was selected to 10 Pro Bowls, named the 1997 NFL Most Valuable Player and retired as the second leading rusher in NFL history. If you are considering purchasing a piece of authentic Barry Sanders memorabilia, I urge you to strongly consider this one right here. Forever a Lion, Barry called it a career after 10 All-Pro seasons and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Truly a must-have for every serious National Football League collector, distinguish your collection with one of the sport's all-time greats today with this authentic Detroit Lions helmet hand-signed by Hall of Famer Barry Sanders!

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