The Friday Flashback: Michael Jordan, White Sox Prospect

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on May 18, 2012 5:20PM

First pitch between the Cubs and White Sox is in 40 minutes and today we wanted to look back at a little bit of history regarding the Crosstown Classic.

Before Major League Baseball began interleague play in 1997, the Crosstown Classic was more like a friendly, in soccer terms. The two teams would play one final tune-up for the regular season, alternating between Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park every year. But the starters were pulled early in favor of minor league prospects.

The 1994 Crosstown Classic was notable because of one particular White Sox prospect. Michael Jordan announced in February of that year he was heading to spring training with the White Sox. Ever the cutthroat competitor, Jordan probably had dreams of breaking camp with the main squad. But it soon became obvious that Jerry Reinsdorf was doing Jordan—still grieving the murder of his father a year earlier—a favor by letting him go to AA Birmingham to chase one of James Jordan's dreams for his son.

Which is where we find this video of Jordan playing in the 1994 Crosstown Classic at Wrigley Field. Harry Caray was, in a word, starstruck. And Jordan had one of his best games as a baseball player. Maybe it was the combination of the Friendly Confines, minor league pitching, or the fates and the spirit of James Jordan looking over his son, but Michael Jordan on that day had a Wrigley Field moment for the ages.