“If He Had Played Another Year…”: Chicago White Sox Coach Makes a Bold Claim Around Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is one of those very rare ‘designed-to-play’ personalities. You cut off sports from his early life and it is impossible to imagine him excelling at anything else. At the same time, you pick and drop him into any sports field and he will nail it. He has that innate ability in him.

MJ would try many sports back in his school days, but basketball somehow stuck with him. Later in his NBA career, he would always find out time to practice golf whenever his tight schedule allowed. But who knew there was one more sport waiting for him… Baseball!

White Sox coach Jerry Reinsdorf makes a big claim for MJ

MJ was a huge star and hence he could sign a Minor League Baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1994. He joined AA minor league team Birmingham Barons.

ESPN quoted Curt Bloom, Birmingham Barons play-by-play announcer saying, “He has made it very exciting tonight. With the Barons leading 5-1, Jordan steps in for the fourth time … two of his three at-bats were near homers.”

Even the Baseball team owner himself found a great deal of talent in MJ even when it comes to Baseball.

Chicago White Sox owner Mr. Jerry Reinsdorf tells USA TODAY Sports, “Yes, I really do (think that he would have made it, if he would’ve stuck with Baseball).’’ He added, “Maybe as an extra outfielder. Look at what he accomplished. He last played baseball in high school at 17, and at the age of 31, he was playing in AA. We should have started him in A-ball, but the press accommodations weren’t adequate. So, 14 years later, he competed in AA, hit over .250 in the Arizona Fall League.

“If he had played another year, I really believe he would have made the big leagues.’’

Michael Jordan and his stint at Baseball

Or some critics of MJ would instead call it a stunt. But we won’t give them a voice here. Air Jordan had a very special place for his father in his heart. His father would show up on the court to see him play, and those moments when MJ won the NBA Championship with his father’s attendance were just priceless. 

But on July 23rd, 1993, Michael lost his father. Tragically, he was shot dead in the same car which Michael had then recently purchased. This one event singled him out. It put him off and killed something inside him, so much so that he announced an early retirement from Basketball.

He last played Baseball at the age of 17 and then straight at the age of 31 as a very successful NBA Champion with three rings.