White Sox Talk Podcast: Michael Jordan's first batting practice with White Sox, this recent edition of the White Sox Talk Podcast. Was Michael Jordan good at baseball? Although Michael Jordan had a successful professional basketball career, the sport of baseball was his first love. There was no media circus like a Michael Jordan media circus. It turned out to be Michael Jordan. “After everybody got finished, we were having dinner, a few cocktails,” Harrelson said. He was there, full-throated, interested, never missed a day, punctual, on time, and had a real interest in wanting to play Major League Baseball.”. We also have a wide selection of White Sox Shirt options, for when you need to slip into something a little more comfortable. He went 0-for-3 with a sac bunt and struck out to end the game. Thursday marks the 25th anniversary of one of the biggest Chicago sports stories of all time, as Bulls great Michael Jordan officially changed sports and signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox. $38.50. The SI editors upped the anti-ante with a cover billing that read, "Bag It, Michael: Jordan And The White Sox Are Embarrassing Baseball." They chose poorly, … Jordan played one season in the minors for the White Sox By R.J. Anderson Jul 15, 2020 at 2:45 pm ET 1 min read Today, you could probably still get one in that same range on eBay. When Jordan scored 63 in a playoff loss to the Celtics, I was at school at the University of Michigan. For comparison, here's what one of those unlicensed, cheap-looking cards looked like: So what happened on July 25, 1990, after batting practice? When the Bulls won their first title over the Lakers, I was with my two brothers and a number of friends at my place in Chicago, ready to celebrate. Michael Jordan Chicago White Sox Men's Black Backer T-Shirt - Sure you can go around and tell everyone how dedicated you are to the Chicago White Sox, but there is a much easier way to get your point across. “Now, they are giving out the awards, and they said, ‘For the long drive contest ...’, “I pushed my chair back from the table, started to get up and they said 'Michael Jordan, 323.’ I looked at him and he looked at me and just started to smile. Michael Jordan's only baseball game at Wrigley Field: A look at his clutch RBI in White Sox-Cubs exhibition It was an exhibition, but Jordan got the Wrigley crowd, including Harry Caray, fired up After Michael Jordan took batting practice July 25, 1990, at Comiskey Park, several MJ baseball cards flooded the market. Bill MeltonThe White Sox third baseman from 1968-75 was asked by then-general manager Ron Schueler to help a player out offensively during the 1993 offseason. "His attempt was there. Jordan hit .202 at Double-A Birmingham in his only season, and was slated for a spot at Triple-A Nashville this April. CHICAGO -- I still remember many key moments from Michael Jordan’s storied Chicago Bulls basketball career, even though I sometimes have trouble remembering what I had for lunch on Thursday. 20 years ago today, Michael Jordan signed with White Sox to produce our Summer of Jordan (photos) Updated Jan 14, 2019; Posted Feb 07, 2014 Michael Jordan's Season With Barons -- Feb. 7, 2014 1991 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Chicago White Sox #SP1 Baseball Card. He said, 'Let's get these groceries paid for and let's get out of here.' I must have opened at least 30 to 40 packs and never pulled one of these Jordan cards, though I eventually bought one on its own. Famed White Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak even asked Jordan upon his arrival if he was serious about playing. 23,” Hostetler said. Not exactly Hall of Fame numbers, but fairly amazing for someone who gave up baseball in high school. And then we went back to his place and got him settled.”. Michael Jordan Mitchell & Ness Chicago White Sox Authentic Cooperstown Jersey XL Sale Price: $90.00. At a buck a pack (often $1.29), it could take quite a bit of allowance money to get one. “I was stunned. “So, I started to appreciate him more as I grew up.”. Upper Deck, in a Jan. 18, 1991, article in the Chicago Tribune, said there would be “five to six Jordan cards per 10,800-card case,” which is a really strange way to word it. Though he left basketball for a career in baseball, Michael Jordan still took to the court for pickup games during his time with the White Sox \- and he obliterated the competition. But Schneider also shared an entertaining tale about going grocery shopping with Jordan after they all arrived on his plane to Sarasota, Fla., for Spring Training. “My job was just to show him setups, look at a lot of videos of some guys that I liked, that I thought had good swings, good setups, like John Olerud with Toronto,” Melton said. I had a key and would open up the garage door, he would pull in and I would close the garage door right behind him. Look to your fellow fans at White Sox Shop to find the perfect Michael Jordan Hoodies to showcase your team pride! He treated everybody with respect.”. It is what is referred to in the baseball-card industry as an “insert” card, which is a bonus card outside of the main set. “He said, ‘We want you to teach someone how to catch and throw a baseball,’” Huff remembers. White Sox and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf remains adamant that Michael Jordan would have reached MLB if he didn't return to the NBA. Men's Majestic Chicago White Sox #45 Michael Jordan Authentic White 1976 Turn Back The Clock MLB Jersey. The duo ended up spending more time talking than anything, “which was really good,” Melton said. Arguably the greatest basketball player in NBA history, Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls in 1994 to join the Chicago White Sox AA minor league team, the Birmingham Barons.He batted just .202/.289/.266 and played outfield in his only season in baseball. What about Carlos Martinez, whose bat Michael Jordan used to clobber two home runs in batting practice? Michael Jordan was spotlighted as the White Sox “Secret Weapon.” After taking batting practice, Michael posed in a White Sox uniform for a souvenir poster with all proceeds going to his charity, the Michael Jordan Foundation. It turned out to be Michael Jordan. It was 26 years ago that Jordan retired from basketball and gave baseball a try after signing a contract with the Chicago White Sox, the major league affiliate at the time of the Nashville Sounds. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who watched Michael Jordan lead his Bulls teams to six NBA championships, believes the NBA legend would have made it if he had stuck with baseball. Ken ‘Hawk’ HarrelsonA picture has been making its way around social media since the start of "The Last Dance" featuring Bears coach Mike Ditka, quarterback Jim McMahon, Jordan and Harrelson in an iconic golf foursome. “So, we got in the car, we drove over to Publix, and this was at about 12:30 a.m.,” Schneider said. Also in that Tribune article, there was speculation that an “Upper Deck executive gave between 10,000 to 25,000 (Jordan) cards to selected dealers as a ‘favor.’”, RELATED: White Sox Talk Podcast: Michael Jordan's first batting practice with White Sox. He was invited to spring training and was sent to the Birmingham Barons on March 31, 1994. I’m going back to Orlando.’ And he said, ‘Let’s go play some golf.’ I had the clubs in my trunk, and I said, ‘I’ll meet you out in Gator Creek.’, “He had his hands taped up. “My hope is for him to look back on his time with me saying, 'There’s a guy who was genuine and sincere and was trying to help him to the best of his ability,'” Huff said. 6 watching. I remember thinking like he didn’t get it off. Michael Jordan page at the Bullpen Wiki; More Michael Jordan Pages at Sports Reference. $129.99 $179.99 Add … An early spring White Sox-Blue Jays game in Dunedin, Fla., was the only one on the Jays' schedule to sell out before the game, thanks to anticipation Jordan would be in a Sox uniform that day. Cards from that era were produced in ridiculous numbers and are fairly easy to find. Customizable Michael Jordan Chicago White Sox Last Dance MLB Baseball Jersey NCA. The latest Michael Jordan Stats, Video Highlights, News and more from MiLB.com. After retiring from the National Basketball Association, Michael Jordan surprised the sports world by signing a contract with the Chicago White Sox. Was Michael Jordan good at baseball? Schneider had great stories about Jordan’s intense work ethic and generosity, especially how he looked out for the younger players. Those sorts of things didn’t cross the mind of Jordan, who was there not as Air Jordan, but as a supremely talented athlete and raw baseball player trying to make it in a new sport. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. The image on the back of the card is Jordan in uniform with a glove. There was no media circus like a Michael Jordan media circus. 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