This jersey is a confirmed photo matched jersey to a minor league game in Michael Jordan’s 1994 season. Sports Investors Authentication originally stated in their LOA that this jersey was photo matched to Jordan’s debut minor league game but have since been informed the photo they used was an undated photo from the 1994 season that was incorrectly labeled as Jordan's debut minor league game. However, please note this is still a confirmed photo matched Michael Jordan Barons game used jersey as described, and as outlined in the LOA attached hereto, but was not his first minor league game.

Michael Jordan sent shock waves through the sporting world in October of 1993 when he announced he was tired of basketball and was retiring. Despite winning his third straight NBA title with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan had had a rough year in 1993 after his father was murdered, and decided to pursue professional baseball, which was his father’s original dream for his son.

Jordan signed with the Southside White Sox in February of 1994 and would report to the White Sox spring training home in Sarasota, Florida. Jordan would be assigned to the Double-A Birmingham Barons for the 1994 season – a season where Jordan would have 3 home runs and 51 RBI. Jordan would make his professional baseball debut on April 8th, 1994 for the Barons as they hosted the Chattanooga Lookouts. More than 10,000 fans packed Hoover Metropolitan Stadium to see Jordan wear an unfamiliar number 45 as the “rookie” took his right field position and a franchise record 467,867 fans would watch Jordan and the Barons home games that season.

Offered here is a Birmingham Barons jersey Jordan wore during his first season as a professional baseball player. Photo matched by Sports Investors Authentication to an undated 1994 minor league game, this Wilson size 48 button-down white with black pinstriped jersey has “Barons” and a paraph sewn on the front, along with Jordan’s number “45” in black and silver tackle twill. The back of this jersey has “45” sewn on in the same black and silver tackle twill and each sleeve has a patch. The left sleeve has the White Sox black diamond with white hanging sock logo patch, while the right sleeve has the MLB 125TH ANNIVERSARY patch. The Wilson size 48 tag is sewn on the inside back collar and this jersey displays outstanding game use. There are dirt stains prevalent on the upper right shoulder and the letters and numbers display puckering, along with some loose stitching. Jordan has signed his name diagonally on the “4” on the back in beautiful contrasting silver marker. A wonderful jersey worn by the greatest basketball player of his or any other era during his two-year hiatus into baseball. This jersey comes with a LOA from Sports Investors Authentication (201101A3), who have conclusively photo matched this jersey to an undated photograph from Jordan’s debut baseball season in 1994. Additionally, there is a COA from Upper Deck Authenticated (UAS17628) for Jordan’s signature.

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