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Frank Thomas was one of the best players in Chicago White Sox history. Michael Jordan was not. However, while Jordan's skills on the baseball diamond didn't quite match up to his greatness on the basketball court, there's no denying that the Chicago Bulls legend had the physical tools of an elite athlete.
Jordan reportedly turned down a major league contract from the Oakland Athletics to play with the White Sox in 1994. And while Jordan ended up playing with the Birmingham Barons — the Double-A affiliate of the White Sox — the NBA superstar did show up to spring training for the major league team.
Thomas, who was just coming off his first All-Star season in 1993, recalled what it was like to have the Bulls icon at spring training that year.
“It was a freak show,” Thomas told Chuck Garfien on the White Sox Talk Podcast. “It was exciting for the team because we had so many people watching the games every day and so much fanfare, but it was a little crazy. It wasn’t a typical spring training. There were a lot of eyes on the White Sox that spring.”
Jordan — who was coming off his first three-peat with the Bulls that year — never reached the majors. However, he did play 127 games for the Barons, during which he matted .202 with 51 RBIs, 30 stolen bases and three home runs.
“It was crazy. I’d never seen so much media in spring training ever,” Thomas added. “We had as much media as they do at the World Series. That’s how crazy it was. The first week he was there, I’ve never seen so many cameras and people trying to get stories about Michael Jordan playing baseball.
As for Frank Thomas, the Big Hurt would have one of his best seasons in 1994 as he batted .353 with 38 home runs and 101 RBIs. Thomas also led the league with a .729 slugging percentage and would win American League MVP.
