Michael Jordan baseball stats: Here's how His Airness fared when he took a break from NBA
When Michael Jordan retired from basketball for the first time, he tested his luck in a different sport. Following the tragic passing of his father, the Chicago Bulls icon stepped off the hardwood to pursue his dream on the baseball diamond.
While Michael Jordan was an elite NBA talent, the same could not be said for his baseball skills. He remained in Chicago to play for the White Sox organization. However, he never made it up to the MLB level.
After trying out for the White Sox in spring training, it was clear Jordan wasn't ready for the pros. The organization sent him down to the minor leagues, where he'd play for their Double-A affiliate.
In total, Jordan played 127 games for the Birmingham Barons. He finished with a .209 batting average and .290 on-base percentage in 497 plate appearances. Jordan ended up hitting three home runs in his career and brought in 51 RBIs.
Jordan's dream of baseball did not last long as he decided to hang up his cleats after just one season. Shortly after, he made a triumphant return to the Chicago Bulls.
Michael Jordan made the right decision to come back to the NBA
There is no denying that Michael Jordan had good intentions when it came to his dreams of playing baseball. That being said, he made the right decision to step away after a year and return to the NBA.
When Jordan retired for the first time, the Chicago Bulls were the top team in the league. They were fresh off completing a three-peat, with their star guard easily being the best player in the league. To this day, some still believe that if he didn't retire that the Bulls would have won at least eight titles in the 1990s.
The results speak for themselves when it comes to why Jordan should never have left. Even after not playing for a year, he quickly returned to an elite level. In the 17 games he appeared in during the 1994-95 season, Jordan averaged 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
As most know, in his first full year back, Jordan quickly reclaimed the top spot in the league. Alongside Scottie Pippen, he led the Bulls to three more championships from 1996 to 1998. Cementing themselves as arguably one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.
In the end, Jordan's failed run at a baseball career is just a tiny blemish on his historic resume.