This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/10/2024.
In 1993, Michael Jordan had just won his third NBA Championship, a feat rarely accomplished in the game. Shortly after the season his father, whom he respected and was very close with, was tragically murdered at a highway rest area in North Carolina by two teenagers who carjacked his Lexus. The death of his father, alongside exhaustion from the 1992 Olympics and his worldwide celebrity status pushed Jordan into what would be his first retirement from the NBA. On October 6, 1993 Jordan’s retirement announcement became worldwide news with many in shock that he had cut his career short at the height of his success. Only a few months later, Jordan once again made news by signing a contract with the Chicago White Sox and getting assigned to their minor league division. Jordan’s switch to baseball was in honor of his father who always envisioned him as an MLB star. In 1994, Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. He was second on the team in bases stolen. In the off-season, Jordan was invited to participate in the Arizona Fall League. The Fall League is made up of 6 teams featuring top prospects from every MLB team. Jordan was a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions and batted .252 during the season. The Scottsdale Scorpions hat featured in this lot is a rare example that originates from the team and features Jordan’s #45 handwritten on the underside of the hat for player attribution. The hat in our opinion, shows excellent signs of wear with sweat stains throughout. On the inside there is an Arizona Fall League tag, a size tag stating the 7 1/8th size, as well as a New Era tag. The hat has been presented to us as game-used and the proper tagging is present. Accompanied by an LOA from Photo-Match.com, as well as an equipment manager LOA.