When Did Jordan Play Baseball?

Many people don’t know that Jordan played baseball for a short time in his career. Here’s a look at when he played and how he did.

Michael Jordan’s Baseball Career

Michael Jordan is a retired American basketball player and businessman. He is also one of the most marketed athletes in history. Jordan played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. During his time in the NBA, he won six championships with the Bulls.

Short-lived MLB career

Michael Jordan played minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, in 1994. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 1989 draft but didn’t play for them due to his commitment to basketball. He joined the Barons after his first retirement from the NBA in 1993.

Jordan’s stint in baseball was short-lived; he batted .202 with three home runs, 51 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 127 games. He announced his second retirement from basketball in early October 1994, just before the MLB playoffs began.

Why did Jordan play baseball?

There are a few theories out there as to why Jordan decided to walk away from the NBA and pursue a career in baseball. The most common theory is that he was trying to get back at his father, who had wanted him to play baseball instead of basketball. Another theory is that he was trying to make a statement about racial inequality in professional sports, as there were very few African American players in Major League Baseball at the time. Whatever his reasons, it’s clear that Jordan was passionate about the game of baseball and gave it his all during his time with the Birmingham Barons.

The Timing of Jordan’s Baseball Career

After his first retirement from the NBA

Jordan retired from the NBA for the first time after the 1992-1993 season. He then played minor league baseball for a single season as part of the Chicago White Sox organization.

After his second retirement from the NBA

Jordan’s first retirement from basketball came in October 1993, when he announced his decision to follow in the footsteps of his late father and pursue a career in professional baseball. Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, during the 1994 season. He was billed as a outfielder and wore the number 45. After batting .202 with three home runs, Jordan left baseball in March 1995 to resume his basketball career with the Chicago Bulls.

The Impact of Jordan’s Baseball Career

On March 31, 1994, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA. Two months later, he signed a minor league baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox. This was a surprising move because Jordan was one of the best basketball players in the world. He had just won consecutive NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and was in the middle of his prime. Some people think that Jordan’s retirement from the NBA was due to his father’s murder.

On his NBA career

On October 6, 1993, Jordan announced his retirement from basketball, stating that he had lost his desire to play. In early 1994, he signed a minor league baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox organization and was assigned to their Class AA affiliate, the Birmingham Barons. He reported to spring training in Sarasota, Florida, but continued to wear his Chicago Bulls No. 45 jersey. Although he played well during spring training and batted .202 with three home runs, nine stolen bases and 30 RBI in 127 games for the Barons, he was not selected for the Major League roster when the strike ended in August 1994. In March 1995, Jordan announced his return to professional basketball.

On his baseball career

Although Jordan did not achieve the same level of success in baseball as he did in basketball, his short-lived career in the sport was still influential. First of all, Jordan’s decision to pursue baseball boosted interest in the sport among African American children. Secondly, Jordan’s involvement in baseball helped motivate other professional athletes to try their hand at the sport. For example, Deion Sanders, who played both football and baseball at a high level, credited Jordan with inspiring him to pursue a career in both sports.