In the ’90s, no one in the NBA exaggerated more confidence than Michael Jordan, who refused to step down against any challenging scenario. However, upon retiring from the league for the first and transitioning to MLB with the Chicago White Sox organization, the six-time Finals MVP confessed that he wasn’t prepared for the rigors of the big leagues.
MJ came up big but confessed to not being ready for the big leagues
In February ’94, Mike’s signing with the Sox was finalized, and he promptly joined the team for Spring Training. When Jordan took the field in spring for the ‘Windy City Classic’, an exhibition game that pitted the White Sox against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Given the high stake, Jordan stood tall on the big stage, going 2-for-5 with a game-tying RBI double.
With the Spring Camp wrapping up, though one would expect Jordan to boast about his baseball prowess, he did quite the opposition, admitting that he simply wasn’t ready for the big leagues.
“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,” Jordan said. “I’m trying to squeeze five years into eight weeks. It just hasn’t happened the way I wanted it to.”
True to his word, His Airness became a member of the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A minor league affiliate of the White Sox.
Did Jordan have a successful career in baseball?
Jordan was aware of his potential, and given that some might even argue that he wasn’t even ready for Double-A baseball, that opinion is valid. During his stint with the Barons, MJ posted a .202 batting average with a .290 on-base percentage in 497 at-bats.
Though the numbers aren’t impressive, one must also remember the circumstances. Jordan transitioned from competing in the NBA against big athletes to cultivating new skills for success in MLB, attempting to make up for the years away from the baseball field in a mere matter of months.
Furthermore, Terry Francona, who managed Mike during his days in the minor, even explained that if he had committed three years to the endeavor, MJ would have reached the MLB.