Did Michael Jordan play baseball? Which team did he play for?
Know about Michael Jordan's stint in Minor League Baseball after first retirement from NBA.
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Michael Jordan with the Birmingham Barons
Michael Jordan is regarded as the Greatest Of All Time by many basketball fans around the world. His teammates and even the opponents he handed embarrassing Ls to even compare him to nothing but God. As he really was one of a kind whenever he took on the NBA hardwood. Michael Jordan is the reason behind the widespread of the NBA and basketball at the international level. After joining the league in just a matter of some years he was a global superstar for the way he dominated the sport with his athleticism and mechanical skills.
But Basketball isn’t the only sport Michael Jordan played as a professional. Because Black Jesus has also suited up on the field and swung some great shots while playing Baseball during his stint in Minor League Baseball. It was a shocker to the world when Michael Jordan announced his first retirement on October 6, 1993. As he lost his desire to play basketball after his father’s murder. His father was his biggest support system and the best guy he had around. So him wanting a break was understandable.
But none expected him to play baseball and once again he shocked the sports world. On February 7, 1994, he signed a Minor League Baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox. The Chicago Bulls owner, Jerry Reinsdorf also owned the Chicago White Sox. So MJ got an easy entry to the league. Later he also revealed the backstory behind him playing professional baseball. And, it turned out to be a dream of his late father who wanted MJ to be a Major League Baseball player.
Michael Jordan’s time playing baseball
Michael Jordan wasn’t the same beast on the field, as he was on the NBA hardwood. As from the sports being different in all the drills, body-physique structure, training and techniques nothing was the same. So MJ had to put in a lot of work. He didn’t choose the easy road and instead, went on to build himself up as a baseball player.
As Michael Jordan also received an offer to join the Oakland Athletics and get a Major League spot. But MJ declined it and went on to put in the work as he wasn’t ready for the opportunity. Unfortunately, his career as a baseball player was full of struggles. As suiting up for 127 games for the Birmingham Barons (a Double-A minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox), he struck out 114 times in 497 plate appearances. But he wasn’t the last guy on the field as he improved every day and even led the team stats in some categories.
Michael Jordan also suited up for Scottsdale Scorpions in the 1994 Arizona Fall League as the MLB season ended with an unfortunate player strike. There he batted .252 against some of the best prospects. But soon he got the urge to lace up and drill down some buckets watching the Chicago Bulls miss him out on the hardwood. He also feared becoming a replacement player during the MLB strike.
So being one of the best guys in the business he made a wise decision and returned to the basketball world to create history and cement his legacy. As he announced his return on March 18, 1995, by a fax machine and said: “I’m back.”
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