Michael Jordan: Encyclopedia II - Michael Jordan - Baseball career

Michael Jordan - Baseball career

After retiring from basketball, Jordan spent the next year pursuing a childhood dream: professional baseball. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox of the American League (AL), reported to spring training, and was assigned to the team's minor league system. He had an unspectacular professional baseball career for the Birmingham Barons, a Chicago White Sox farm team, batting .202 with 3 HR, 51 RBI, 30 SB (tied-5th in Southern League), 11 errors and 6 outfield assists. He led the club with 11 bases-loaded RBI and 25 RBI with runners in scoring position and two outs.

Jordan, who cited his father's love for baseball as his motivation for trying the sport, was criticized by journalists and other observers for his foray. Some felt that his below-average performance tarnished his legacy as an NBA superstar, while others argued that Jordan had used his influence with Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf to take a spot on the Barons that could have been filled by a "true" minor-leaguer. One of his teammates did remark that Jordan could not hit a curve ball with an ironing board.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Baseball career", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki