Michael Jordan is undoubtedly one of the best basketball players of all time. But he also had a short career in baseball. You may wonder, “What team did Michael Jordan play baseball for?”
Michael Jordan played basketball for the Birmingham Barons. He also appeared for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Jordan played only a season (127 games) for the Barons in Double-A Minor League Baseball.
But why did he leave basketball and join baseball? Was his baseball journey a memorable one? I will answer all your questions today about Jordan’s baseball career.
Michael Jordan’s Basketball Career in Brief
Michael Jordan’s basketball career is synonymous with excellence, dominance, and unimaginable achievement. Basketball fans always consider him the GOAT.
Chicago Bulls Picked Jordan as the overall third pick in the 1984 NBA draft. Then he impressed everyone with his extraordinary athleticism and quick scoring ability. Not to mention, Jordan won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1985.
Michael Jordan is a six-time NBA champion. First, he won it with the Bulls in 1991 and repeated it the next two years, making it three consecutive title wins. Then he repeated the story from 1996 to 1998.
You may wonder why he did not win the title in 1994 or 1995. That is because, at that time, he was playing baseball. The world was shocked, too, when they heard that Jordan would switch careers to baseball.
Why did Michael Jordan Join Baseball?
On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball and revealed his plan to join baseball. It was shocking news to the world as he was at the peak of his career.
Michael Jordan later said that he pursued baseball to fulfill and honor his late father’s dream. His father was a huge MLB fan and wanted him to play baseball.
However, Jordan’s father was murdered in July 1993. After that, Jordan felt a deep sense of commitment to fulfill his father’s dream, and that is why he left baseball and decided to join baseball.
Moreover, Jordan was feeling too much pressure after winning three consecutive NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. He wanted a break from basketball at that time. It is another reason why Michael Jordan switched to baseball.
What Team did Michael Jordan Play Baseball for?
Michael Jordan played Double-A Minor League Baseball for the team Birmingham Barons, which is an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
On February 7, 1994, Jordan announced his contract with the Chicago White Sox. Interestingly, the baseball team owner is Jerry Reinsdorf, who is also the owner of Jordan’s basketball team, the Chicago Bulls.
Although he could have played in higher leagues, he wanted to start from scratch. That’s why he decided to play in the Double-A.
After finishing training with the Chicago White Sox, Michael Jordan started playing for the Birmingham Barons. He played a total of 127 baseball games for the team.
Besides Birmingham Barons, Michael Jordan also played for Scottsdale Scorpions in the 1994 Arizona Fall League.
Michael Jordan’s Baseball Career Highlights
Initially, Jordan’s baseball performance was not outstanding, but he has shown improvement over the years. Although he was a fantastic basketball player, he had to face different challenges in baseball.
Michael Jordan struck out 114 times in 497 plate appearances while playing for the Birmingham Barons. It was a 22.9% rate, which is decent compared to 16.4% of the Southern League that year.
Not to mention, Michael Jordan had 30 stolen bases that were second on the team, only behind Doug Brady.
I watched a lot of his games for the barons. As a baseball coach, I can say he was pretty good at it, considering he was originally a basketball player.
Did Michael Jordan Play in Major League Baseball?
No. Michael Jordan played in the Minor League but never made it to Major League Baseball.
However, Oakland Athletics offered Michael Jordan a contract to join the MLB roster for the team. While Jordan appreciated the offer, he rejected it. He thought he was not skilled enough ready for the Major level.
Not to mention, many think that the offer was only a publicity stunt from the baseball team. But experts at that time commented that Jordan surely would have made it to the MLB if he had started his baseball career earlier.
When did Michael Jordan Retire from Baseball?
After a brief career in Baseball, Michael Jordan announced his retirement in March 1995. During the Major League Baseball strike, Jordan feared that he might become a replacement player. That’s why he retired from the sport.
While Jordan was following his father’s dream, the Chicago Bulls were struggling without him. His retirement from baseball and joining the Bulls helped the team to get back on top and win three more NBA championships before Jordan retired from basketball in 1999.
FAQs:
1. How long did Michael Jordan play baseball?
Michael Jordan’s baseball journey started in February 1994 and concluded in March 1995. That is roughly 13 months only. He played only one season in the Minor League for Birmingham Barons.
2. Did Michael Jordan return to basketball after baseball?
Yes. After a short career in baseball, Michael Jordan returned to basketball in 1995. He returned to his original team Chicago Bulls. Then he led the team to win three consecutive NBA championships from 1996 to 1998.
3. Did Michael Jordan’s baseball career contribute to his overall legacy?
Though Jordan’s baseball career is not an extraordinary one, it is indeed a unique chapter in his overall legacy. It shows his bravery to do unimaginable things and also honor the dreams of loved ones.
4. What is Michael Jordan’s biggest success?
Michael Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls with two three-consecutive title wins. He also won five NBA MVP awards and two Olympic gold medals.
Conclusion
Michael Jordan’s impact on sports is immense. His extraordinary achievements in basketball make him a legend already.
Besides, his short baseball career encourages taking risks to honor a loved one’s memory. It emphasizes the importance of personal motivation to do anything you want. He will always be remembered as one of the greats in sports history.
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Hello everyone. My name is Jason Butler, and I live in California, America. I was a professional AAA Minor League Baseball player. I lost my chance of playing MLB for injury issues, but I did not lose my love for baseball. I attended the coaching training program and am now working as a coach in a small school in San Diego.
I always love to share my experience and knowledge if that can help you. Play baseball, and stay fit.