Unfortunately, the national perspective of MJ’s baseball skills was driven largely by Sports Illustrated’s infamous “Bag it Michael!” cover. Yet S.I. ran that in mid-March during spring training, just a bit more than a month into Jordan's time in baseball.
Jordan hit only .149 in spring training, but his improvement throughout 1994 was steady and significant, making S.I.’s cover — already mean-spirited — seem downright wrong. (They even tried to make amends in '98, to no avail, as MJ never gave the mag another interview.)
Jordan hit only .149 in spring training, but his improvement throughout 1994 was steady and significant, making S.I.’s cover — already mean-spirited — seem downright wrong. (They even tried to make amends in '98, to no avail, as MJ never gave the mag another interview.)
Jordan hit only .149 in spring training, but his improvement throughout 1994 was steady and significant, making S.I.’s cover — already mean-spirited — seem downright wrong. (They even tried to make amends in '98, to no avail, as MJ never gave the mag another interview.)
That said, in his first two months in the minors, Jordan saw quickly two things: his potential, and just how humbling the game could be.
That said, in his first two months in the minors, Jordan saw quickly two things: his potential, and just how humbling the game could be.
That said, in his first two months in the minors, Jordan saw quickly two things: his potential, and just how humbling the game could be.
After failing to get a hit his first two games, Jordan ripped off a 13-game hit streak from April 10 to April 26. He hit .378 during that stretch (17-45), drove in five runs and stole six bases. That was the good side.
Just as quickly, he slumped. Hitting .327 at the end of the streak, with a peak of .333, Jordan’s average plummeted under .200 by the first week of June.
Jordan acknowledged deep doubts during this period. But he ultimately pushed through, I think in part because of what is ingeniously alluded to in this “Johnny Kilroy” commercial: that he just wanted to play a game away from the NBA grind.
Never was that dichotomy more stark than May 18, 1994. Jordan went 0-4 with two strikeouts, but was smiling. His former Bulls teammates, meanwhile, dropped one of the most infamous games in Bulls history: the Hubert Davis - Hue Hollins - Scottie Pippen game.
Jordan's troubles continued through the end of July. He was hitting .186, had driven in 37 runs, had zero home runs, and struck out 2.26 times for every walk. That all changed July 30, when he hit his first home run.
Jordan's first home run came the day before what would have been his father’s 58th birthday. https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1115120208753115141
Whether the home run triggered something in MJ or was the sign of the turnaround, everything changed. After hitting .150 in May, .188 in June and .148 in July, Jordan hit .276 in August.

“This is like the fourth quarter for me,” he said. “This is when I want to be my best.”
From July 30 through the end of the season, Jordan hit .267 with three home runs. He improved his SO to BB ratio just a bit, increased his RBI per at-bats, and dragged his average back above the Mendoza Line, finishing the year at .202.

The drought was over. From @SamSmithHoops:
So again, when people look at MJ’s baseball career and blurt out “He was terrible! He hit .202!” they obscure two facts:

1. The inherent difficulty of hitting .202 at his age and experience.

2. The late-season burst that brought his average back to that point to begin with.
A month after his time with the Barons ended, Jordan went to the Arizona Fall League and the Scottsdale Scorpions. This is a league that his Barons manager Terry Francona called “probably a notch above Class Double A.”
In Arizona the competition was better and so was MJ. Among his teammates was Nomar Garciaparra, who made his double-A debut in 1995 and hit the same .267 as MJ’s finish of his AA campaign. Granted, these are different sample sizes, but it’s a fair reminder of MJ’s improvement.
Jordan finished his time in Scottsdale hitting .252 (31 of 123), again improving his SO-BB ratio, scoring more runs per at-bat and reducing his fielding errors.

Good writeup here of his Scorpions time: https://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/michael-jordan-in-the-arizona-fall-league-in-1994/
Jordan finished his time in Scottsdale hitting .252 (31 of 123), again improving his SO-BB ratio, scoring more runs per at-bat and reducing his fielding errors.Good writeup here of his Scorpions time: https://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/michael-jordan-in-the-arizona-fall-league-in-1994/
Jordan finished his time in Scottsdale hitting .252 (31 of 123), again improving his SO-BB ratio, scoring more runs per at-bat and reducing his fielding errors.Good writeup here of his Scorpions time: https://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/michael-jordan-in-the-arizona-fall-league-in-1994/
Jordan finished his time in Scottsdale hitting .252 (31 of 123), again improving his SO-BB ratio, scoring more runs per at-bat and reducing his fielding errors.Good writeup here of his Scorpions time: https://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/michael-jordan-in-the-arizona-fall-league-in-1994/
At this point, opinion on his prospects as a future major leaguer remained low for the most part. Some predicted that any future rise in the sport for Jordan would be the result of a publicity stunt by the White Sox, with the sport hurting due to the ongoing strike.
Jordan and Francona remained more positive, if pragmatic and tempered. Jordan himself was honest about his shortcomings (“thinking too much”) but added upper-body weight — one source said 20 pounds — and maintained his determination.
Jordan and Francona remained more positive, if pragmatic and tempered. Jordan himself was honest about his shortcomings (“thinking too much”) but added upper-body weight — one source said 20 pounds — and maintained his determination.
Jordan and Francona remained more positive, if pragmatic and tempered. Jordan himself was honest about his shortcomings (“thinking too much”) but added upper-body weight — one source said 20 pounds — and maintained his determination.
From Dec. of ‘94 to Feb. of ‘95, the odds were good that Jordan would start the 1995 season with the triple-A Nashville Sounds. Jordan bet on himself, joining a golf club in early February, while Sox GM Schueler said MJ would have to “fall on his face” to go back to Birmingham.
From Dec. of ‘94 to Feb. of ‘95, the odds were good that Jordan would start the 1995 season with the triple-A Nashville Sounds. Jordan bet on himself, joining a golf club in early February, while Sox GM Schueler said MJ would have to “fall on his face” to go back to Birmingham.
From Dec. of ‘94 to Feb. of ‘95, the odds were good that Jordan would start the 1995 season with the triple-A Nashville Sounds. Jordan bet on himself, joining a golf club in early February, while Sox GM Schueler said MJ would have to “fall on his face” to go back to Birmingham.
In February of 1995, the Sox officially promoted Jordan to the triple-A Nashville Sounds. Schueler noted that if Jordan showed similar improvement in ‘95 as he did ‘94, the team would look hard at bringing him to the majors.

There was only one problem: the strike.
The MLB strike that had canceled the 1994 World Series was still raging as the ‘95 season approached. A number of minor league players were concerned about being squeezed to become replacement players — Jordan in particular.
A showdown was shaping up: the owners and management on one side, the major leaguers on the other, with the minor leaguers as the pawn. As everyone, especially Reinsdorf and Schueler, should have known, Michael Jordan was nobody’s pawn.
On March 2, 1995, the tension snapped. Jordan was among 30 minor leaguers who refused to play in spring games as replacement players. They were banished to a lesser locker room. Jordan left camp.

The Bulls, meanwhile, were 28-30, sixth in the East.
On March 2, 1995, the tension snapped. Jordan was among 30 minor leaguers who refused to play in spring games as replacement players. They were banished to a lesser locker room. Jordan left camp. The Bulls, meanwhile, were 28-30, sixth in the East.
On March 2, 1995, the tension snapped. Jordan was among 30 minor leaguers who refused to play in spring games as replacement players. They were banished to a lesser locker room. Jordan left camp. The Bulls, meanwhile, were 28-30, sixth in the East.
On March 2, 1995, the tension snapped. Jordan was among 30 minor leaguers who refused to play in spring games as replacement players. They were banished to a lesser locker room. Jordan left camp. The Bulls, meanwhile, were 28-30, sixth in the East.
Remember, MJ leaving baseball took place less than a month after the Bulls tried and failed to trade Scottie Pippen to the Clippers.

Now, suddenly, their reunion seemed plausible. https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1084656910358536192
Very quickly, MJ began working out with the Bulls. The city, and the basketball world at large, was in a stir. It looked as if MJ would finally be back on the court.
MJ's moves caught everyone so much by surprise that Nike had to quickly put the kibosh on a new Spike Lee commercial, the first Nike did promoting MJ as a baseball player.

Per screen graphics, this was shot in late November 1994, but it appears to have aired in March '95.
With MJ now seemingly unemployed and practicing with the Bulls, the hype was through the roof. Kudos to @Crayestout for cutting through the noise and breaking the return story: https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1107508573460942848
On March 18, Jordan wrote the fax-heard-round-the-world: “I’m Back.” He started for the Bulls the next day. The rest is history. https://twitter.com/readjack/status/975434728940670976
Jordan's return to the Bulls kicked off an amazing ironman stretch, as he played in 357 of 358 possible games from his baseball return to his last shot.

The White Sox, meanwhile, won 86 games in 1996, their best season during MJ's 2nd Bulls stint. https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1097245139016343552
And in the 24 years since he left baseball, Mike hasn't given up the love of the game. Here he is in the late 2000s legging out a triple in a softball game, complete with a cigar.

Never change, 🐐. Never change.

(Credit: )
That's all folks! Just remember: MJ turned himself into a baseball player. He wasn't perfect, and he wasn't finished. But as Spike Lee reminded us, he was trying.

Enjoy my '96 Bulls book and Chicago sports history IG below. s/o to @_newspapers & YouTube. https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1114823666850783233
My biggest takeaway from this #MichaelJordan baseball thread? His steadily improving batting average.

1994 spring training: .149
1994 AA, Barons: .202
1994 Arizona Fall League, Scorpions: .252

Check out his AA progress:

May: .150
June: .188
July: .148
August: .276

Amazing.
Ohhhhhh snap here we go. Steve Wulf!

H/T @GeorgeYedinak for sending me this http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26449232/the-true-story-michael-jordan-brief-promising-baseball-career
The truth about Michael Jordan's MLB prospects: 'I swear, he was going to the majors'

Nowadays, fans look upon Michael Jordan's foray into another sport 26 years ago as a whim and conclude that his baseball career was a bust. They could not be more wrong.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26449232/the-true-story-michael-jordan-brief-promising-baseball-career
The work @inallairness does on his MJ podcast is INVALUABLE.

Interviews with players and journalists + deep-dive research.

Here he is with @Stehny doing a single, hourlong episode strictly on MJ’s comeback game, 3/19/95.

🐐 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nba-history-michael-jordan-era-more-in-all-airness/id568743612#episodeGuid=b3ba1c15731b4b88a3fa80a96565624f
‎NBA History: Michael Jordan-era & more (In all Airness) on Apple Podcasts

‎Basketball · 2020

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nba-history-michael-jordan-era-more-in-all-airness/id568743612#episodeGuid=b3ba1c15731b4b88a3fa80a96565624f
What was @ScottiePippen doing while MJ was playing baseball?

Turning himself into an MVP, that's what.

Take a look at Scottie's remarkable, inspiring, history making and totally thrilling 1994 season.

A thread. https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1129774043438231557
On Feb. 1, 1995, Michael Jordan bought a $20,000 membership to a Nashville golf club as he prepared for baseball.

On Mar. 18, he was on the Bulls.

The 45 days that drove MJ back to the NBA.

My latest, at @NBCSChicago.

Thank you to @mikedyce 👊 https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
‘I’m Back’: The 45 days that drove Jordan back to the NBA

The true story of the 45 days that drove Michael Jordan back to basketball in 1995, culminating in his legendary press release that read simply "I'm back."

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
I've interviewed two members of the dynasty Bulls.

And now I've been interviewed by one member of the dynasty Bulls.

@Will_Perdue32 and I chop it up about all things MJ's comeback, now at @NBCSChicago.

Thank you @thetonygill!
Awesome thread by @Crayestout about how she broke the story of MJ’s comeback.

This is a lesson for all journalists: https://twitter.com/crayestout/status/1240292780116717569?s=21
Left: Michael Jordan announces his retirement from baseball, March 10, 1995 — 379 words

Right: Michael Jordan announces his return to basketball, March 18, 1995 — 2 words

https://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba

@NBCSChicago @NBCSBulls @mikedyce @thetonygill
Left: Michael Jordan announces his retirement from baseball, March 10, 1995 — 379 wordsRight: Michael Jordan announces his return to basketball, March 18, 1995 — 2 words https://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba @NBCSChicago @NBCSBulls @mikedyce @thetonygill
Left: Michael Jordan announces his retirement from baseball, March 10, 1995 — 379 wordsRight: Michael Jordan announces his return to basketball, March 18, 1995 — 2 words https://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba @NBCSChicago @NBCSBulls @mikedyce @thetonygill
Journalism is collaborative. Thank you to:

* @jadande
* David Climer (RIP)
* Bob Greene
* David Halberstam (RIP)
* @mkisaacson
* @Crayestout
* @inallairness
* Craig Sager (RIP)
* @LeeShappell
* @SamSmithHoops
* @PWSullivan
* @byPhilTaylor
* @WulfESPN https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
‘I’m Back’: The 45 days that drove Jordan back to the NBA

The true story of the 45 days that drove Michael Jordan back to basketball in 1995, culminating in his legendary press release that read simply "I'm back."

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
March 19, 1995: the new era begins.

The full story of how we went from under .500 to "I'm back." Now at @NBCSChicago:

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
These quotes from @SteveKerr & @TheJetOnTNT on why the Bulls would not have won 8-straight if MJ didn’t retire are on point.

Thank you @davidaldridgedc & @MrMichaelLee for the story.

https://theathletic.com/1684191/2020/03/19/im-back-25-years-later-michael-jordans-return-still-electrifies/

My take: https://readjack.wordpress.com/2016/05/19/there-could-never-be-an-8-peat-no-jordan-suspension-why-michael-jordan-needed-baseball/

“I’m back”: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
These quotes from @SteveKerr & @TheJetOnTNT on why the Bulls would not have won 8-straight if MJ didn’t retire are on point.Thank you @davidaldridgedc & @MrMichaelLee for the story. https://theathletic.com/1684191/2020/03/19/im-back-25-years-later-michael-jordans-return-still-electrifies/My take: https://readjack.wordpress.com/2016/05/19/there-could-never-be-an-8-peat-no-jordan-suspension-why-michael-jordan-needed-baseball/“I’m back”: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
These quotes from @SteveKerr & @TheJetOnTNT on why the Bulls would not have won 8-straight if MJ didn’t retire are on point.Thank you @davidaldridgedc & @MrMichaelLee for the story. https://theathletic.com/1684191/2020/03/19/im-back-25-years-later-michael-jordans-return-still-electrifies/My take: https://readjack.wordpress.com/2016/05/19/there-could-never-be-an-8-peat-no-jordan-suspension-why-michael-jordan-needed-baseball/“I’m back”: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
These quotes from @SteveKerr & @TheJetOnTNT on why the Bulls would not have won 8-straight if MJ didn’t retire are on point.Thank you @davidaldridgedc & @MrMichaelLee for the story. https://theathletic.com/1684191/2020/03/19/im-back-25-years-later-michael-jordans-return-still-electrifies/My take: https://readjack.wordpress.com/2016/05/19/there-could-never-be-an-8-peat-no-jordan-suspension-why-michael-jordan-needed-baseball/“I’m back”: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
If MJ doesn’t retire, I think we 4-peat and then lose to Orlando in ‘95. If we’re lucky, we lose to Houston in ‘95.

But MJ and Scottie needed time apart. Horace still leaves after ‘94. Maybe Scottie forces a trade after ‘95 and Krause obliges. https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1240818702343450625?s=21
With no Scottie in ‘96, there’s no need to risk a move for Rodman. Orlando breaks thru and wins in ‘96. MJ and Phil are free agents. The Knicks throw them both huge offers. All bets are off.

That’s what my story is about. Nothing is certain. https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
‘I’m Back’: The 45 days that drove Jordan back to the NBA

The true story of the 45 days that drove Michael Jordan back to basketball in 1995, culminating in his legendary press release that read simply "I'm back."

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
One element lost in the MJ comeback retrospectives is how much uncertainty there was about whether Jordan would be JORDAN again. These were all headlines in the Tribune on March 19, 1995, the day of his first game back:

http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
One element lost in the MJ comeback retrospectives is how much uncertainty there was about whether Jordan would be JORDAN again. These were all headlines in the Tribune on March 19, 1995, the day of his first game back: http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
One element lost in the MJ comeback retrospectives is how much uncertainty there was about whether Jordan would be JORDAN again. These were all headlines in the Tribune on March 19, 1995, the day of his first game back: http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
One element lost in the MJ comeback retrospectives is how much uncertainty there was about whether Jordan would be JORDAN again. These were all headlines in the Tribune on March 19, 1995, the day of his first game back: http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
One element lost in the MJ comeback retrospectives is how much uncertainty there was about whether Jordan would be JORDAN again. These were all headlines in the Tribune on March 19, 1995, the day of his first game back: http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
That said, I think people in the league had a better sense of how great Jordan would be after baseball. Larry Brown straight up threw his Pacers and everyone else under the bus:

"No offense to my team, but the Bulls will win the NBA championship."

http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
That said, I think people in the league had a better sense of how great Jordan would be after baseball. Larry Brown straight up threw his Pacers and everyone else under the bus:"No offense to my team, but the Bulls will win the NBA championship." http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
That said, I think people in the league had a better sense of how great Jordan would be after baseball. Larry Brown straight up threw his Pacers and everyone else under the bus:"No offense to my team, but the Bulls will win the NBA championship." http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
Maybe it was MJ's 52 he dropped in Scottie's charity game in Sept. 1994. Maybe it was just a belief in him. Maybe it was common sense within basketball.

But people in the NBA were much more bullish on MJ post-baseball than the press, or even fans.

http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
Maybe it was MJ's 52 he dropped in Scottie's charity game in Sept. 1994. Maybe it was just a belief in him. Maybe it was common sense within basketball.But people in the NBA were much more bullish on MJ post-baseball than the press, or even fans. http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
Maybe it was MJ's 52 he dropped in Scottie's charity game in Sept. 1994. Maybe it was just a belief in him. Maybe it was common sense within basketball.But people in the NBA were much more bullish on MJ post-baseball than the press, or even fans. http://nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/michael-jordan-im-back-fax-1995-nba
You can follow @readjack.
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