On Feb. 1, 1995, Michael Jordan was the projected left fielder for the AAA Nashville Sounds while Scottie Pippen was desperate to get himself traded off the Bulls.
45 days later, on March 18, they were reunited.
This is the day-by-day account of those 45 days.
A thread.
45 days later, on March 18, they were reunited.
This is the day-by-day account of those 45 days.
A thread.
Last year, @nbcschicago & I teamed up to tell the full story of “I’m Back.” I wanted to show how close MJ came to staying in baseball and how close Pip came to getting traded. I love the piece, but a bare bones look at the daily events is compelling too.
nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/…
nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/…
What we have here is a confrontation with a scary truth: the 2nd three-peat came very close to not happening. A look at the daily events by stripping away the narrative reveals how a major piece of Chicago sports history changed day by day.
Here, then, is a near-daily accounting of those crucial 45 days, from Feb. 1, 1995, to March 18 — 26 years ago tomorrow. I won’t hit every day, but we’ll be close.
s/o to @mikedyce.
readjack.substack.com/p/the-last-dan…
s/o to @mikedyce.
readjack.substack.com/p/the-last-dan…
February 1, 1995
⚾ Jordan applies for, and receives, a membership to The Golf Club outside Nashville for $20,000
🏀 Bulls are 22-21, 6th seed in the East
🏀 Pippen has been part of trade rumors all January
🏀 Sam Smith Tribune column: Keep Phil, Trade Scottie.
⚾ Jordan applies for, and receives, a membership to The Golf Club outside Nashville for $20,000
🏀 Bulls are 22-21, 6th seed in the East
🏀 Pippen has been part of trade rumors all January
🏀 Sam Smith Tribune column: Keep Phil, Trade Scottie.
February 2
🏀 Bulls lose by 22 to the Kings. Scottie scores 22. Bulls are 22-22.
The team's 68 points is the third fewest in team history.
🏀 Bulls lose by 22 to the Kings. Scottie scores 22. Bulls are 22-22.
The team's 68 points is the third fewest in team history.
February 3
🏀 Chicago Stadium is torn down. MJ views this as an emotional nail in his basketball coffin.
🏀 Chicago Stadium is torn down. MJ views this as an emotional nail in his basketball coffin.
February 4
⚾ The Sox AAA affiliate Nashville Sounds haven’t announced MJ, but everyone is expecting it
⚾ Sounds ticket sales up 15%
⚾ As the MLBPA strike continues, Sox GM Ron Schueler says MJ will not be a replacement player: "He doesn’t want to, and I wouldn’t let him.”
⚾ The Sox AAA affiliate Nashville Sounds haven’t announced MJ, but everyone is expecting it
⚾ Sounds ticket sales up 15%
⚾ As the MLBPA strike continues, Sox GM Ron Schueler says MJ will not be a replacement player: "He doesn’t want to, and I wouldn’t let him.”
February 5
🏀 Bulls are in shambles, as the Trib publishes a devastating profile of Jerry Krause, by @mkisaacson. She quotes an anonymous NBA agent:
“Even a lesser player wouldn’t want to deal with the Bulls right now unless he has absolutely no other options.”
🏀 Bulls are in shambles, as the Trib publishes a devastating profile of Jerry Krause, by @mkisaacson. She quotes an anonymous NBA agent:
“Even a lesser player wouldn’t want to deal with the Bulls right now unless he has absolutely no other options.”
February 8
⚾ A potential problem is brewing around whether the White Sox and the MLBPA will each try to use MJ as a bargaining chip against the other. Schueler again stresses that he won't force any minor leaguer to cross the union and be a replacement player, including MJ.
⚾ A potential problem is brewing around whether the White Sox and the MLBPA will each try to use MJ as a bargaining chip against the other. Schueler again stresses that he won't force any minor leaguer to cross the union and be a replacement player, including MJ.
February 9
🏀 Bulls wrap six-game Western road swing before the All-Star break, losing four of their final five games. They are 23-25, 6th in the East. Scottie is on his way to being 1st team All-NBA and 1st team All-Defensive while being the NBA's 89th-highest-paid player.
🏀 Bulls wrap six-game Western road swing before the All-Star break, losing four of their final five games. They are 23-25, 6th in the East. Scottie is on his way to being 1st team All-NBA and 1st team All-Defensive while being the NBA's 89th-highest-paid player.
February 10
⚾ Schueler believes Sox players will cross strike line
🏀 Pippen says at All-Star media session on Friday that he’s “hoping” he gets traded. Says playing for the Suns — the ASG host city — would be “paradise”
⚾ Schueler believes Sox players will cross strike line
🏀 Pippen says at All-Star media session on Friday that he’s “hoping” he gets traded. Says playing for the Suns — the ASG host city — would be “paradise”
February 11
⚾ Schueler says it again: MJ won’t be a replacement player.
🏀 Pippen: Tells Craig Sager during All-Star Saturday that he hopes he is traded. There is a rumor that Pip will go to the Suns in a package for fellow All-Star Dan Majerle. No one knows where it started.
⚾ Schueler says it again: MJ won’t be a replacement player.
🏀 Pippen: Tells Craig Sager during All-Star Saturday that he hopes he is traded. There is a rumor that Pip will go to the Suns in a package for fellow All-Star Dan Majerle. No one knows where it started.
February 12
⚾ Schueler: “If (MJ) keeps making the same improvement he’ll make it awfully tough on us not to bring him up in September.”
⚾ Reinsdorf: “He’s got to make significant progress this year...”
⚾ Jordan: “People thought I’d embarrass myself, and that hasn’t happened.”
⚾ Schueler: “If (MJ) keeps making the same improvement he’ll make it awfully tough on us not to bring him up in September.”
⚾ Reinsdorf: “He’s got to make significant progress this year...”
⚾ Jordan: “People thought I’d embarrass myself, and that hasn’t happened.”
February 15
⚾ MJ reports to spring training in Sarasota, even though position players aren’t due until Feb. 21
🏀 Bulls beat the Bullets in first game after the All-Star break
⚾ MJ reports to spring training in Sarasota, even though position players aren’t due until Feb. 21
🏀 Bulls beat the Bullets in first game after the All-Star break
February 17
🐐 MJ celebrates his 32nd birthday
⚾ Pitchers and catchers report to Sox camp
🏀 Bulls beat the Pistons to get back to .500
🐐 MJ celebrates his 32nd birthday
⚾ Pitchers and catchers report to Sox camp
🏀 Bulls beat the Pistons to get back to .500
February 18
⚾ Jordan says that he supports the union, and that he understood from Sox management that he would not be “put in the predicament” of playing in games with replacement players
🏀Bulls go to Milwaukee for first of five-game road swing, lose by seven
⚾ Jordan says that he supports the union, and that he understood from Sox management that he would not be “put in the predicament” of playing in games with replacement players
🏀Bulls go to Milwaukee for first of five-game road swing, lose by seven
February 19
Big day.
⚾ MLBPA's Donald Fehr sets strike rules: anyone, including minor leaguers, who appears in exhibition games will be considered a strikebreaker
⚾ Schueler wants MJ in exhibitions
⚾ MJ won’t cross union
🏀 Surprise! Scottie started his own Suns trade rumors
Big day.
⚾ MLBPA's Donald Fehr sets strike rules: anyone, including minor leaguers, who appears in exhibition games will be considered a strikebreaker
⚾ Schueler wants MJ in exhibitions
⚾ MJ won’t cross union
🏀 Surprise! Scottie started his own Suns trade rumors
February 20
⚾ The MLBPA might try to keep Jordan, the only minor-leaguer with true marquee value, out of replacement games
⚾ AAA OF Dann Howitt reports to camp but says he won’t be a replacement player, adding, “I want to be like Mike.”
🏀 Bulls lose to Hornets
⚾ The MLBPA might try to keep Jordan, the only minor-leaguer with true marquee value, out of replacement games
⚾ AAA OF Dann Howitt reports to camp but says he won’t be a replacement player, adding, “I want to be like Mike.”
🏀 Bulls lose to Hornets
February 22
🏀 Pippen is nearly traded to the Clippers in a massive deal (my explanation below with @LaurenceWHolmes)
🏀 Deal falls thru when Ron Harper tells Scottie how terrible life is with the Clips
🏀 Bulls are 4-6 in the month, game under .500
🏀 Pippen is nearly traded to the Clippers in a massive deal (my explanation below with @LaurenceWHolmes)
🏀 Deal falls thru when Ron Harper tells Scottie how terrible life is with the Clips
🏀 Bulls are 4-6 in the month, game under .500
February 23
🏀 NBA trade deadline: After two months of trade rumors involving nine teams, Pippen is not dealt
⚾ MLBPA announces three union meetings upcoming to explain strike to players, and MJ says he won't attend any of them
🏀 NBA trade deadline: After two months of trade rumors involving nine teams, Pippen is not dealt
⚾ MLBPA announces three union meetings upcoming to explain strike to players, and MJ says he won't attend any of them
February 25
⚾ Schueler and Reinsdorf turn up the heat on players to cross the picket line
⚾ Schueler: “No more than 10 players” will be exempted from playing
⚾ Jordan says he’s a minor leaguer, here to do what minor leaguers do. “I’m here to follow everybody else.”
⚾ Schueler and Reinsdorf turn up the heat on players to cross the picket line
⚾ Schueler: “No more than 10 players” will be exempted from playing
⚾ Jordan says he’s a minor leaguer, here to do what minor leaguers do. “I’m here to follow everybody else.”
February 26
⚾ For the first time, the Sox send a minor league player home from camp when he refuses to play in spring games as a replacement player: fifth-year pitch Barry Johnson, 25.
🏀 Bulls lose to Orlando by two, drop to 26-29
⚾ For the first time, the Sox send a minor league player home from camp when he refuses to play in spring games as a replacement player: fifth-year pitch Barry Johnson, 25.
🏀 Bulls lose to Orlando by two, drop to 26-29
February 27
⚾ Schueler will consider sending MJ home if he doesn’t cross the picket line. He gives minor leaguers until March 2 to make their decision about replacement games.
⚾ Jordan expects he’ll ‘probably’ be sent home if he refuses to play
🏀 Bulls beat the Nets
⚾ Schueler will consider sending MJ home if he doesn’t cross the picket line. He gives minor leaguers until March 2 to make their decision about replacement games.
⚾ Jordan expects he’ll ‘probably’ be sent home if he refuses to play
🏀 Bulls beat the Nets
March 1, 1995
⚾ Jordan says he's 85% sure of what he will do about the strike
⚾ Schueler turns up the heat again: the former “10 players are exempt” edict is gone. No one is exempt.
⚾ 10-15% of White Sox season ticket holders have asked for refunds.
🏀 Bulls beat the Heat
⚾ Jordan says he's 85% sure of what he will do about the strike
⚾ Schueler turns up the heat again: the former “10 players are exempt” edict is gone. No one is exempt.
⚾ 10-15% of White Sox season ticket holders have asked for refunds.
🏀 Bulls beat the Heat
March 2
History-changing day.
⚾ Trib runs huge story on MJ's upcoming baseball season and the progress he's making...
⚾ ...and then MJ and Schueler feud and Jordan jumps in his Range Rover and leaves camp, never to return.
What happened?
History-changing day.
⚾ Trib runs huge story on MJ's upcoming baseball season and the progress he's making...
⚾ ...and then MJ and Schueler feud and Jordan jumps in his Range Rover and leaves camp, never to return.
What happened?
March 2, continued
While MJ's Sox teammates thought that the Jordan-Schueler feud was about Schueler relocating all non-replacement players into a crummier locker room, it was actually personal: Schueler told MJ that he had to park outside of the players lot.
While MJ's Sox teammates thought that the Jordan-Schueler feud was about Schueler relocating all non-replacement players into a crummier locker room, it was actually personal: Schueler told MJ that he had to park outside of the players lot.
March 3
⚾ Sox players witness MJ's private jet fly over spring. Schueler says his absence is irrelevant since minor league camp doesn’t open until March 9.
March 4
🏀 Bulls beat the 76ers in Philly, 106-94. They are 29-30. Phil is still considering not returning after '96.
⚾ Sox players witness MJ's private jet fly over spring. Schueler says his absence is irrelevant since minor league camp doesn’t open until March 9.
March 4
🏀 Bulls beat the 76ers in Philly, 106-94. They are 29-30. Phil is still considering not returning after '96.
March 5
🏀 Bulls return home for a three-game homestand that would start the next night. I don’t have the exact date, but MJ called B.J. Armstrong early one morning to go to the Berto Center for a one-on-one.
Could be this date, or the 7th. But we're in range for the return.
🏀 Bulls return home for a three-game homestand that would start the next night. I don’t have the exact date, but MJ called B.J. Armstrong early one morning to go to the Berto Center for a one-on-one.
Could be this date, or the 7th. But we're in range for the return.
March 6
🏀 Bulls beat the Blazers by 20 behind B.J.’s game-high 27 points. So if they met and played each other on March 5, then B.J. took that energy into the Blazers game the next day.
⚾ Ron Schueler is playing it cool, has not spoken with MJ.
🏀 Bulls beat the Blazers by 20 behind B.J.’s game-high 27 points. So if they met and played each other on March 5, then B.J. took that energy into the Blazers game the next day.
⚾ Ron Schueler is playing it cool, has not spoken with MJ.
March 7
🏀 MJ works out at the Berto Center on a non-practice day. This is probably the date where @Crayestout heard “the buzz” of an MJ practice. Per Raye-Stout, only five reporters were on the beat this day.
readjack.substack.com/p/a-conversati…
🏀 MJ works out at the Berto Center on a non-practice day. This is probably the date where @Crayestout heard “the buzz” of an MJ practice. Per Raye-Stout, only five reporters were on the beat this day.
readjack.substack.com/p/a-conversati…
March 8
🏀 Secret no more! Reports of the comeback surface as
MJ practices with the Bulls again
💰 Mirage in Vegas switches Bulls’ title odds from 18-1 to 12-1
🏀 Several hundred rooters gather outside the Omni Chicago Hotel, where MJ has offices, waiting for a glimpse of him
🏀 Secret no more! Reports of the comeback surface as
MJ practices with the Bulls again
💰 Mirage in Vegas switches Bulls’ title odds from 18-1 to 12-1
🏀 Several hundred rooters gather outside the Omni Chicago Hotel, where MJ has offices, waiting for a glimpse of him
March 9
🏀 Tribune: “It’s Michael Mania”
🏀 MJ practices with the Bulls again
🏀 Reinsdorf hasn’t talked to him
⚾ Scheuler doesn’t know what’s happening
💰 Mirage in Vegas switches Bulls’ title odds from 12-1 to 6-1
@670TheScore is buzzing:
🏀 Tribune: “It’s Michael Mania”
🏀 MJ practices with the Bulls again
🏀 Reinsdorf hasn’t talked to him
⚾ Scheuler doesn’t know what’s happening
💰 Mirage in Vegas switches Bulls’ title odds from 12-1 to 6-1
@670TheScore is buzzing:
https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1237532028498612224
March 10
⚾ MJ officially retires from baseball with 8-paragraph statement
🏀 Hawks sell 1,800 tickets for March 25 game hosting the Bulls; Pistons sell 2,000 tickets for April 12 game
🏀 Beat ass on the Cavs… by 23
🏀 Pippen does this:
⚾ MJ officially retires from baseball with 8-paragraph statement
🏀 Hawks sell 1,800 tickets for March 25 game hosting the Bulls; Pistons sell 2,000 tickets for April 12 game
🏀 Beat ass on the Cavs… by 23
🏀 Pippen does this:
https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1240422627820347395
March 11
🏀 Bulls: Lose by 3 to the Lakers despite 40 from Pip
🏀 Drop to 31-31 — this is the last time they’ll be at .500 until starting 4-4 in the ‘97-’98 season
March 13
🏀 Bigsby & Kruthers MJ billboard adds “Yes”
🏀 Jordan back at the Berto Center. 100 reporters attend
🏀 Bulls: Lose by 3 to the Lakers despite 40 from Pip
🏀 Drop to 31-31 — this is the last time they’ll be at .500 until starting 4-4 in the ‘97-’98 season
March 13
🏀 Bigsby & Kruthers MJ billboard adds “Yes”
🏀 Jordan back at the Berto Center. 100 reporters attend
March 15
💰💰💰💰💰 From March 8 to the 15, five companies that Jordan endorsed — Nike, Sara Lee, McDonald’s, General Mills and Quaker Oats — gained a combined $2.6 billion in market value, outperforming the S&P 500
readjack.substack.com/p/the-jordan-i…
💰💰💰💰💰 From March 8 to the 15, five companies that Jordan endorsed — Nike, Sara Lee, McDonald’s, General Mills and Quaker Oats — gained a combined $2.6 billion in market value, outperforming the S&P 500
readjack.substack.com/p/the-jordan-i…
March 16
🏀 At the Berto, a reporter disabled the electronic gate in hopes of keeping MJ from driving in without a word before practice.
It would have been around this time that MJ jumped on Longley’s back and said, “I’m with you guys.”
@inallairness: podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/air…
🏀 At the Berto, a reporter disabled the electronic gate in hopes of keeping MJ from driving in without a word before practice.
It would have been around this time that MJ jumped on Longley’s back and said, “I’m with you guys.”
@inallairness: podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/air…
March 17
🏀 In the final Bulls game without Michael Jordan until 1999, the Bulls mount a 15-point 4th quarter comeback and beat the Bucks 87-86, with @Will_Perdue32 feeding @ScottiePippen for the game-winning dunk. They are now 34-31. The next day...
🏀 In the final Bulls game without Michael Jordan until 1999, the Bulls mount a 15-point 4th quarter comeback and beat the Bucks 87-86, with @Will_Perdue32 feeding @ScottiePippen for the game-winning dunk. They are now 34-31. The next day...
March 18, 1995
26 years ago today.
Michael Jordan had two words for us all.
"I'm back."
26 years ago today.
Michael Jordan had two words for us all.
"I'm back."
And on March 19, MJ started for the Bulls. He would start 357 of the next 358 total games — regular season, playoffs, preseason, All-Star — from March 19, 1995 to June 14, 1998, his final game as a Bull.
And that's all she wrote.
And that's all she wrote.
https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1240759615601721346
This Bulls thread is brought to you by...
My forthcoming book!
Also, my newsletter “A Shot on Ehlo,” where you can get the first look at my research as interviews.
A new batch of letters is imminent. Explore it here: ReadJack.substack.com.
My forthcoming book!
Also, my newsletter “A Shot on Ehlo,” where you can get the first look at my research as interviews.
A new batch of letters is imminent. Explore it here: ReadJack.substack.com.
https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1229245750569205761
Want to learn more about Michael Jordan’s underrated baseball career?
Read this:
Read this:
https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1114810898621837312
Want to learn more about Scottie Pippen’s incredible, MVP-caliber 1994 season?
Read this:
Read this:
https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1129774043438231557
Thanks for reading. I hope you and yours are doing well.
OTD in 1995, Michael Jordan sent the fax-heard-round-the-world:
"I'm back."
The reporter who broke the story?
The great @Crayestout, acting first on a tip from a player's friend, then her own ear (the buzz of an MJ practice), confirmed by Phil and B.J.
"I'm back."
The reporter who broke the story?
The great @Crayestout, acting first on a tip from a player's friend, then her own ear (the buzz of an MJ practice), confirmed by Phil and B.J.
https://twitter.com/readjack/status/975760481284747265
@taelorrrjae Dope hoodie in the profile pic! That's my guy @OGIIISCOOP's story! Love it.
s/o @big6live
s/o @big6live
@muldowney @LoganRhoades appreciate the RTs fellas. here's another you might enjoy:
https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1097236037854728193
On March 19, 1995, Michael Jordan began one of the most dominant stretches in professional sports, with 357 of 358 total games played until the end of the '98 Finals.
🏀 263 of 263 regular season games
🏀 68 of 68 playoffs
🏀 3 of 3 All-Star
🏀 23 of 24 preseason
Age 32 to 35.
🏀 263 of 263 regular season games
🏀 68 of 68 playoffs
🏀 3 of 3 All-Star
🏀 23 of 24 preseason
Age 32 to 35.
From March 19, 1995 — his baseball comeback — to June 14, 1998 — Game 6 of the '98 Finals — Michael Jordan won:
🏆🏆 2 MVPs
🏆🏆 2 All-Star MVPs
🏆🏆🏆 3 Finals MVPs
🏆🏆🏆 3 NBA championships
🏆🏆🏆 3 scoring titles
He was the leading scorer in all 14 playoff series he played.
🏆🏆 2 MVPs
🏆🏆 2 All-Star MVPs
🏆🏆🏆 3 Finals MVPs
🏆🏆🏆 3 NBA championships
🏆🏆🏆 3 scoring titles
He was the leading scorer in all 14 playoff series he played.
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