Michael Jordan’s name is synonymous with greatness. Jordan is known as the best basketball player of all time, and his legendary figure makes him not just an athlete, but an icon. From his 90s Chicago Bulls dynasty to his incredibly successful shoe brand, Jordan remains a cultural phenomenon today.
The “Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe Reimagined” will feature AIR JORDAN text on the ankle, as seen in this early photo with Michael Jordan. There will be no other changes to the shoe (no aging/yellowing, standard leather material )” – @sneakernews
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There’s always a heated debate among fans about whether Michael Jordan and LeBron James are the best players in NBA history. This debate may not be settled, as both camps are adamant about which player they believe is better and who had a greater impact on the game of basketball.
That being said, there was a time when Jordan’s career trajectory could have been completely different. In the book, Michael Jordan: Life According to Roland Lazenby, many in the Hall of Famer’s family believed Michael could become a superstar baseball player.
Michael’s father, James Jordan, and his cousin, William Henry Jordan, saw potential in the Chicago Bulls star when he was just 12 years old. William once described a game he saw Michael play against his own son and said the future basketball star struck out all 12 batters he faced. This performance convinced him that Michael would one day become a star player.
“Michael Jordan’s Babe Ruth League baseball coach Dick Nair said of Jordan… ‘I don’t care what you did to him, he wanted to be No. 1’ – @Coach_Campbell
Dick Nel, who coached Michael in the Babe Ruth League, said the young Jordan reminded him of another Hall of Fame talent, Derek Jeter. Nel said Jordan’s ability to jump to first base reminded him of the New York Yankees captain. “He was named Mr. Baseball in North Carolina,” Neher said, explaining Jordan’s prowess at shortstop.
Michael Jordan did play minor league baseball, with mixed results
Although Jordan was known as an elite player as a kid, the Chicago Bulls superstar finally got the chance to play America’s pastime at the professional level. Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA in 1993 after his father was murdered.
As if his retirement wasn’t surprising enough, Jordan once again shocked the sports world in 1994 by agreeing to a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. In his only season in the minor leagues, Jordan played in 127 games, batting .202 with three homers, 51 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.