Michael Jordan's baseball career was a brief but memorable chapter in 1994 after his first NBA retirement,
playing Double-A baseball for the Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox affiliate),
where he batted .202 with 30 steals and 51 RBIs, showing flashes of potential but ultimately retiring in 1995
as the MLB strike intervened and he felt the pull of basketball, returning to the Bulls as a different, more mature player
Though Jordan's baseball debut wouldn't come about until 1994, Upper Deck did manage to work him into their 1991 set as a short print chase card. Collectors were quite shocked that year to see this card featuring Jordan in a White Sox uniform taking batting practice at Wrigley Field before the annual "Windy City Classic" charity game between the Cubs and White Sox in 1990. Little did we know that Jordan would not only suit up for that charity game a few years later on April 7, 1994 but he collected a pair of base hits and knocked in two runs. It continues to be one of his most popular baseball cards. Jordan stepped away from basketball, and opted to try something new -baseball. MJ played baseball up until high school, and he wanted to return to his roots for his father. The Chicago White Sox signed him and the rest became history. The experiment lasted just one year but it was a memorable one for those who witnessed it and followed it.
It became a big deal in the card world as well. All of a sudden there was a fresh spin on Michael Jordan cards with plenty of opportunities. Upper Deck, in particular, took advantage, using Jordan as an anchor for many of their 1994 baseball products. But the history of Michael Jordan baseball cards goes back even further. The 1991 Upper Deck Michael Jordan #SP1 was one of the most coveted cards of the hobby’s peak. Showcasing Jordan taking batting practice at Comiskey, it’s one of the early mainstream chase cards. For those who bought one or two packs at a time, it did seem like a tough card at the time. Still, there’s a lot of nostalgia and novelty surrounding the 1991 Upper Deck Michael Jordan #SP1 today. It might not sell for anywhere close to the amounts it used to, but it’s still one of the most memorable cards from the hobby’s biggest era. The set marked the third year Upper Deck issued a 800-card standard-size set in two separate series of 700 and 100 cards respectively. Cards were distributed in low and high series foil packs and factory sets. Rookie Cards in this set include Jeff Bagwell, Luis Gonzalez, Chipper Jones, Eric Karros, and Mike Mussina. A special Michael Jordan card (numbered SP1) was randomly included in packs on a somewhat limited basis. The Hank Aaron hologram card was randomly inserted in the 1991 Upper Deck high number foil packs.
Arguably Jordan's most recognizable rookie baseball card, the 1994 Upper Deck #19 shows him chasing down a fly ball in his White Sox uniform. Of the handful of Michael Jordan baseball cards to carry the RC tag, the one found in 1994 Upper Deck is probably the most recognized. Emblazoned with a massive Star Rookie banner running down the side, the foil front helps it stand out even further from the regular base cards in the set.
The 2000 SP Top Prospects set was released in late December, 1999 as a 135-card set. The set featured many of major league baseball's top prospects. Each pack contained eight cards and carried a suggested retail price of $4.99. Notable cards included Chin-Feng Chen and Barry Zito.
Jordan's work ethic was legendary, and he was highly respected by teammates and his manager, Terry Francona, for his earnestness and dedication to learning the game. Despite a low batting average, his athleticism was evident in his 30 stolen bases, which was second on the team and demonstrated impressive speed. The "Season of Jordan" created an immense buzz, setting a new home attendance record for the Barons and the entire Southern League.
Michael Jordan joined the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Fall of 1994 to refine his baseball skills against top MLB prospects after a challenging regular season. He hit .252. in 120 at-bats, an improvement over his .202 average with the Barons. Despite having no home runs in the AFL, he recorded five extra-base hits and several stolen bases. He was notably managed by Terry Francona, who later became a two-time World Series-winning manager. Shortly after the AFL season ended, Jordan famously returned to the NBA with a two-word press release: "I'm back".
Beckett ran a grading special in January of 2026, and I figured it was time to get this card graded to protect it for the future. While it scored a 9.5 centering, I’m perfectly fine with a 7.5 Near Mint Plus grade. Jordan baseball memorabilia is just as fun to try to track down as is his basketball relics. The 2002 UD Minor League was a 400-card set released in October, 2002. Each 18-pack Hobby box yielded one game-used card and one autograph. Game jerseys featured 10 cards numbered to 850 with odds 1:18, but the “MJ Game-Worn Flashbacks” were only 5 cards, with the odds of pulling a whopping 1 in 144 packs!
