In the early 1990s, Michael Jordan was the face of basketball. The basketball superstar wowed fans with his relentless play style and jumping ability.  Jordan’s talents helped his team, the Chicago Bulls, win three consecutive NBA championships from 1991-1993.  Jordan’s immense success and dominance seemed like a permanent fixture of the NBA, which made Jordan’s 1993 announcement one of the most shocking moments in sports history.

On this day, October 6th, in 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA to pursue a career in baseball. Jordan admitted to media sources that he lost a desire to play the game of basketball and that the loss of his father earlier in the year also contributed to the decision. Jordan signed to a contract with a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in 1994. With the Birmingham Barons, Jordan batted .202, hit 3 home runs and 51 RBIs.

Jordan continued his minor league baseball career until announcing a return to the NBA during the 1995 season.  Jordan’s basketball prowess had not been lost and Jordan quickly took back his role of on-court dominance.  Jordan led the Bulls to three more consecutive championships during the 1996-1998 seasons.