Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, Basketball, Baseball
Patrick Rowe
Michael Jordan famously stepped away from the Chicago Bulls in 1993 at the height of his powers to try his hand at baseball, but was arguably the greatest basketball player of all time actually good at his second sport?
Jordan - who was 29 at the time of the announcement - highlighted how the death of his father and a dying love for the game of basketball were two major factors fuelling his desire to switch sports.
With three consecutive NBA Championships, two MVPs, six-straight All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team selections and nine-straight All Star appearances to his name at the time, it was a shock to the basketball world when Jordan announced the news at a Chicago press conference. Although, a fitting way to remember his father, who had been murdered earlier in the year and was a huge baseball fan.
After making his decision Jordan officially signed with the Chicago White Sox - who are also owned by Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf - on February 7th 1994.
It was stark contrast for Jordan in baseball after dominating on the basketball court for all of his career, as he started slowly in the spring training games. Until April 7th where he harnessed his inner competitive edge 2-for-5 in the Windy City Classic exhibition game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
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When asked by TSN if he felt he had done enough to make the team following his training games, Jordan said: “I don’t think I’ve proven I can make the team.
"That’s just being honest. … But I’m not going to give up. I’m trying to squeeze five years into eight weeks. It just hasn’t happened the way I wanted it to.”
Jordan would go on to make 127 regular-season appearances for the Birmingham Barons and the White Sox’s Double-A affiliate, hitting just three home runs across his time in the sport.