As most know, Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player to ever live. He won six NBA Championships, five league MVPs and was a first ballot hall of famer.
What some people don’t know about His Airness is his 1994 journey in Birmingham, Alabama. That summer, Jordan played minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons, the AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
ESPN’s “30 for 30” film, "Jordan Rides The Bus," chronicles this expedition by Jordan and, depending on who you ask, his success was varied.
On July 23, 1993 Michael Jordan’s father, James Jordan, was shot and killed on the side of the highway by two teenagers. According to the film, Jordan and his father were extremely close.
This tragic event devastated the NBA star. So much so that it, for the time being, ended his NBA career.
On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA. News of decision to step down shocked the entire sports world.
However, it wasn’t the most surprising decision made by Jordan.
On February 7, 1994, Michael Jordan signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox. That summer, the minor leaguer played AA for the Birmingham Barons. Throughout the season, Jordan struggled mightily at the plate. He had a batting average of .202, hit a mere three home runs and batted in 51 runs.
However, numbers only can tell so much of the story. What Jordan’s pedestrian stats don’t tell describe is his work ethic. He would go to batting practice at least three times a game. He would go to the batting cage twice before the game, and even after his game was finished, he would go back and go through another round of batting practice.
What his stats also don’t reveal is why he decided to play baseball in the first place. While he cited exhaustion for retiring from baseball, Jordan also said his father served as an inspiration. He had always dreamed of his son growing up to be a professional baseball player, and Jordan attempted to fulfill his wish.
Jordan’s work ethic ended up paying dividends in the stat book as well. In the Arizona Fall League, Jordan ended the season with a batting average of .252. While it seems average, this was against the premier minor league players who were destined for the major leagues.
Someone could look at Jordan’s below average stats and call his time in the minors a flop. However, one could view Jordan’s work ethic to make himself a reputable minor league player and his mission to realize his father’s wish and call his journey a wild success.
