Michael Jordan Got in Trouble for Giving $350,000 to His Teammates During His Baseball Days
Michael Jordan once ‘broke the law’ in a funny way when he bought his Birmingham Barons teammates a $350,000 bus during his time playing baseball.
You probably know Jordan best as the basketball legend who won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls between 1984 and 1998. Many people think he’s the greatest basketball player ever, though others like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kobe Bryant also get mentioned.
But in 1994, Jordan surprised everyone by switching sports. He signed a minor league baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox and played for their Double-A team, the Birmingham Barons. This team helped develop players for the major leagues.
Jerry Reinsdorf, the Bulls’ owner, supported Jordan by paying his basketball salary while he chased his dream of playing baseball after his dad passed away. Jordan played 127 games as an outfielder that season before going back to basketball. He hit for a .202 average, with three home runs and 51 RBIs.
Off the field, Jordan was just as generous. He bought his teammates a fancy $350,000 bus to travel to games in comfort. According to reports, the bus had 35 seats, six TVs, a VCR, and a lounge area at the back.
The best part? Jordan actually jumped behind the wheel and drove the 45-foot bus down the highway, even though he probably didn’t have the right license.
In a 2022 interview, Barons broadcaster Curt Bloom shared the story. He said Jordan took the wheel for a few miles on a completely open highway, driving at about 70 mph. Their regular driver even got up and let him steer.
Bloom joked, “I hope that doesn’t get anyone in trouble. We’re sorry, Department of Transportation, and the statute of limitations has passed.”
When asked why Jordan did it, Bloom laughed and said, “Because he can, and it made a funny story.”