Michael Jordan considered himself a rookie at White Sox spring training

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After nine seasons in the NBA, nine All-Star appearances, eight scoring titles, three MVPs, three championships and a pair of gold medals at the Olympics, in 1994, Michael Jordan considered himself a rookie.

Indeed, though, that’s what he was when he made the move from basketball to baseball. Jordan might have been the greatest basketball player ever, but he showed up for spring training with the White Sox in 1994 without a lick of pro baseball experience.

He was truly starting from the bottom.

“I’m not trying to wear my image on my sleeve,” said Jordan, one of the few people in the world who could have literally done just that. “I’m a rookie, and I’m willing to take the necessary steps to understanding and getting their respect.

“I’m not coming trying to steal the show from them, even though you guys (in the media) are doing a pretty good job of that. I just want to fit in as one of the team. I want to work hard as one of the team. Certainly I want to take their instructions and criticism as a team and then try to improve that.

“I consider myself the lowest on the totem pole right now.”

RELATED: Michael Jordan didn't just ride the bus in the minor leagues — he drove it

It’s odd to think that Jordan in the middle of the Bulls’ dynasty would ever be “the lowest on the totem pole,” but as he made the shocking and improbable transition to baseball in 1994, he was dwarfed in that game. Heck, he was dwarfed, in terms of baseball accomplishments, at his own spring camp, where White Sox slugger Frank Thomas was the reigning AL MVP.

But when it came to attention, no one surpassed Jordan.

“A spring training like you could never imagine,” former White Sox outfielder Mike Huff said. “Think about how many times you go to a spring training for Major League Baseball and you have Ted Koppel and ‘Nightline’ showing up to ask questions about a teammate of yours. It's just mind-boggling.”

For more behind-the-scenes tales from Michael Jordan's baseball career, listen to this recent edition of the White Sox Talk Podcast.

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