Michael Jordan, more popularly known as the basketball GOAT, is one of the most popular athletes in the world. From being a six-time NBA champion to winning 5 NBA MVPs, 2 Olympic Gold medals, and featuring in 14 NBA All-Star teams, MJ’s list of achievements on the court is literally never-ending. Moreover, the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat (which Jordan never played for) retired his jersey number 23 as a display of respect. However, to the surprise of multiple people, his sporting career spread across two sports, basketball and baseball.

Michael Jordan?won three NBA championships from 1991 to 1993. In October 1993, he surprised the world of basketball and, in effect, the entire realm of sports by announcing a sudden and controversial retirement. Coming back with another surprise, in February 1994, MJ signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox. Yes, you read that right. Chicago White Sox, a Major League Baseball team in the American League.

In a conversation with?Sports Illustrated, former Yankee shortstop?Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez?speaks about Jordan’s?“remarkable”?career in baseball and his views on it.

What does A-Rod think about Michael Jordan in the ballpark?

In 1994, Jordan played for?Birmingham Barons?- a double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. However, contrary to his basketball career, his journey with the Barons was modest at best. He scored and batted 51 runs at?0.202?with three home runs and 30 stolen bases.

A-Rod believes that these numbers don’t do justice to MJ’s entire baseball career. Seeing that, A-Rod adds that the numbers shadow the confidence, risk, and effort that came with his sudden shift to baseball. A-Rod?says,?“I thought that what he tried to do in baseball is one of the greatest accomplishments in his career. He?s getting on a bus and playing Double-A. That?s one of the hardest leagues to play in because that?s where all the great pitching goes, the fire ballers throwing north of 95 miles an hour.”

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In the first month of his baseball career, Jordan maintained a 13-game hitting streak. However, given his magnificent basketball career, the bar was set too high for his baseball career. A-Rod said,?“Because you?re Michael Jordan, you?re going to be judged on a completely unfair barometer.?For him to have a hitting streak, to hit north of.200, and to steal so many bases, I just thought it was remarkable.”

And finally, despite criticism all around Jordan, A-Rod says,?“I can tell you that people in the game, people that really understood baseball, they looked at it as an awesome accomplishment.”?This statement is powerful, given A-Rod’s accomplished background in baseball and multiple supposed experts who would say otherwise.

Why Did Jordan Quit Baseball and Go Back to Basketball?

All things considered, MJ’s stint in baseball was short-lived. After a year, in 1995, Jordan decided to part ways with baseball. This was crediting the Major League Strike and uncertainty over his trip to the majors. After going back to the NBA, he won 3 more NBA championships and the rest, as we know, is history.

Unfortunately, when someone is a legend, the expectations are always high. As A-Rod said, Jordan’s career was?“remarkable”. His confidence and hard work, even in the minor leagues, should be an inspiration. And, his baseball career should be celebrated. What do you think about Michael Jordan’s baseball career?

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