In 1993, following his father's passing, Michael Jordan retired from the NBA and decided he would fulfill his father's dream of playing professional baseball. In 1994, Michael Jordan signed with the Chicago White Sox and was assigned to Double-A. From behind the mic, Curt Bloom takes us through the journey that brought the greatest and most famous athlete in the world to minor league baseball.
Game 1 for Michael Jordan
At 7:58 pm on April 8, 1994, Michael Jordan stepped to the plate for the first time as a Birmingham Baron. After missing the season opener due to his participation in The White Sox / Cubs Windy City Classic, Jordan stared down Duke product John Courtright to leadoff the bottom of the 3rd inning.
The First Hit
On Sunday, April 10, 1994, after going hitless in his first two games as a Baron, Jordan found himself 0-for-7 as he prepared to do battle with Knoxville’s Joe Ganote. Jordan breaks his early-season slump with a liner to centerfield on a 1-0 pitch. When he got to the bag, he was greeted by future Heisman Trophy winner, Chris Weinke, who was playing first base for the Smokies.
The First Home Run
On the night of July 30, 1994, Jordan had nearly gone deep in his previous two plate appearances, flying out to deep centerfield in the 4th inning and doubling off the wall in the 6th inning. Now in the 8th, he faced Carolina Mudcats reliever Kevin Rychel in front of 13,751 fans at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. And there it was. Deep to left field. He had done it. For the first time – it was Gonzo Jordan!
One-on-One Interview
Michael was gracious with the media throughout his time in Birmingham, but earning his trust wasn’t going to happen over night. After four months with the club, in mid-August, Michael agreed to sit down for the only one-on-one interview he gave during his time with the Barons.
Video
Curt Bloom recounts his fond memories of the summer of 1994 with CBS42 as The Last Dance debuts.
Curt Bloom sits down with ABC 33/40 to provide an inside look at what life was like during the 1994 season with Michael Jordan.
| 1994 | .202 | 127 | 436 | 46 | 88 | 116 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 51 | 51 | 114 | 30 | 11 |
Jordan's time with the Double-A Barons
- Wore No. 45 for the Barons, the number he wore for his Laney (NC) High School baseball team.
- Assigned to the Barons roster March 31, 1994, setting of a frenzy of interest never before seen in minor league history.
- Jordan joined the Barons April 8 after playing in the Windy City Classic exhibition game April 7 for the White Sox against the Cubs, where he was 2-5 with 2 RBI ... started in right field in 1st official pro game for the Barons against Chattanooga ... flew out in first at-bat vs. John Courtright and went 0-3 in front of 10,359 fans and 130 members of the national and international media.
- Collected first hit (8th at-bat) off Joe Ganote of Knoxville, a single in the 3rd inning April 10 at the Hoover Met (now known as Regions Park) ... the 2-hit day started a 13-game hit streak from April 10-26 (.378, 17-45).
- Drove in 1st run, a bases loaded single which scored Steve Sax, and stole 1st base April 11 vs. Knoxville.
- The JordanCruiser made its debut April 14 as the bus took the Barons to Chattanooga for the first road trip of the season ... contrary to popular belief, Jordan did NOT buy the bus, but his likeness did.
- Drove in first of seven game-winning runs on the season April 28 at Huntsville with a 7th-inning double ... it broke a 4-4 tie and gave the Barons a 9-4 win.
- Ended one of the wildest finishes in club history on July 6 ... Barons were no-hit by Huntsville's Steve Wojciechowski through 8 innings ... Barons rallied in the 9th and pulled within 5-3 with the bases loaded and 2 out ... Jordan hit a grounder to third, which was thrown away into right field, clearing the bases for a 6-5 win.
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Michael Jordan stepped into the box for his third professional game on April 10, 1994. He had three NBA MVPs and three championship rings to his name, but he also had a .000 average.
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In February 1994, four months after the first of his three retirements from the NBA, Michael Jordan signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. Jordan had last played baseball as a high school senior in 1981. His father, James, who was murdered the previous summer, had always wanted Jordan to be a baseball player. "You tell me I can't do something," Jordan said, "and I'm going to do it."