Home Run Derby

Fire up the Wayback machine – set for fifteen years ago … 1994.  

When Michael Jordan tried his hand at baseball. 

In 1993, Jordan threw out the first pitch before Game One of the American League Championship Series between the Sox and Blue Jays.  It was the first pitch of an interesting footnote in Jordan’s legacy.

Sometime during the game, Jordan’s agent told Bulls (and White Sox) owner Jerry Reinsdorf that Jordan was about to retire.  And during the game … that rumor spread to everyone watching on television. 

A few days later … Jordan held a press conference saying he was done with basketball.  His father had been murdered over the offseason.  During the 1993 NBA playoffs, the media had scrutinized MJ’s gambling habits … and Jordan needed time away.  Stating he wanted to spend more time with his family … Jordan shocked the world … and was done.

But like most professional athletes who say that they’re retiring to spend “more time with their family” – Jordan was looking for something to do.  And … Michael Jordan came back.  But not in a way anyone ever anticipated.  

When he was twelve years old, Jordan was named “Mr. Baseball” by the Dixie Association in North Carolina.  His father always envisioned him being a MLB player … and then that whole basketball thing happened.  But saying that “he had to try” baseball,  Jordan showed up at Spring Training, a non-roster invitee of the White Sox. 

Jordan didn’t do terribly well in Sox camp … and people noticed. 

Sports Illustrated put a whiffing MJ on the cover of the March 14, 1994 issue saying that Michael Jordan was “embarrassing baseball” … if not just himself.  That he was taking away an opportunity for a player who had putting his time in the minors.  That he just wasn’t good enough.  and the media was all over it.

Indeed, it was tough to see a basketball God strike out.  But the determination was there.  When Jordan didn’t make the Big League club, he didn’t quit.  He went to Birmingham,

Jordan was assigned to the White Sox AA affiliate Birmingham Barons, where he was managed by future Boston Red Sox skipper Terry Francona. 

In 127 games with the barons, he posted a .202 average (.555 OPS) with 51 RBI, 3 Home Runs, and 30 Stolen bases.  He also struck out 114 times . Stats via the Baseball Cube.

As you can imagine, it was probably tough for the NBA superstar to adjust to life in the minor leagues.  So he provided the team with a tricked out bus.  Here’s the Jordan Cruiser.

In the fall of 1994, Jordan reported to the Arizona Fall League to play for the Scottsdale Scorpions (again managed by Francona), where he was a teammate of Nomar Garciaparra.   Jordan did a little better - batting .252.

Spring Training 1995 presented Jordan an interesting opportunity as the MLB players were still on strike.  If the owners started the regular season with replacement players, Jordan would certainly have made the cut and had a chance to play in the Major Leagues.  But Jordan wouldn’t cross the picket line and returned to basketball instead.

He made the right decision. 

I have to think that the fire to play ball was re-stoked in Jordan when he took a few cuts in a special batting practice session at Comiskey Park during the summer of 1990.   Here’s Jordan wearing the White Sox’ old uniform before they went Black and White.

 During that 1994 Season, Jordan played in an exhibition game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.  Here’s Harry Caray and Michael Jordan.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 26th, 2009 at 12:11 am and is filed under Minor Leagues, Other Sports, Wayback Machine, White Sox. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.