Nike Set to Honor Michael Jordan’s Controversial Career Path With New Drop in 8 Months

Michael Jordan in baseball? Yes, that’s what he did after his first retirement from basketball in 1993, which shocked the whole world. After all, he was in his prime. Just one month after retiring, he signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox to play on their Minor League Baseball team, the Birmingham Barons.

As it is going to be three decades since his baseball career began, His Airness is now releasing new sneakers with the Air Jordan brand to commemorate his time with the Barons.

The Jordan Barons are making a comeback!

The sneakers are called the Air Jordan 1 Low OG ‘Barons’. It spots the team’s colors of white, black, and grey. Although the shoes can be deceiving, with the black and white in the front resembling the J1 Panda’s, the rear of the shoe is grey, along with the Nike Air branding on the tongue, which makes them unique.

The shoe is made of the iconic leather material and is very breathable because of the perforations on the toe box. Although the brand has previously released different versions of the Barons, this is the first time the fans will be getting one in a low top.

According to Sneaker Bar Detroit, the Jordan 1 Low Barons are estimated to be released in July 2024 with a price tag of $140. The shoes depict Michael Jordan’s legacy in the baseball world and his time with the Birmingham Barons.

Was Michael Jordan good at baseball?

While Jordan’s short stint with the Barons can be deemed unsuccessful at first glance, a detailed look at his output can say otherwise. Mike batted 0.202 with 3 home runs, 51 runs batted in, and 30 stolen bases for the Barons in 1994. While these numbers seem mediocre, the bases he stole were the second most on the team at the time.

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Michael Jordan was just a rookie in baseball, so he had a lot to learn. The manager of the Barons at the time, Terry Francona, once revealed that if MJ had played at least three seasons in the league, he could have earned himself a spot on the Major League teams. However, not all what-ifs could be answered because he didn’t play long enough.

“But there’s something else that people miss about that season. Baseball wasn’t the only thing he picked up. I truly believe that he rediscovered himself, his joy for competition. We made him want to play basketball again,” said Francona. And it seems he wasn’t wrong. Before his first retirement, ‘MJ’ said, “When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense of, to prove something as a basketball player, it’s time for me to move away. It’s not because I don’t love the game.”

In March 1995, Jordan returned to basketball, after which he led the Bulls to three more NBA titles- 1996, 1997, and 1998.

What do you think of the new shoes from Michael Jordan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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