Baseball stories

I have friends who always count the days till spring training begins. Now that it’s underway, their thoughts are moving on to their teams’ post-season chances. I’m not a big baseball fan myself, but I appreciate the game’s storied place in American culture.

Michael Jordan, who just turned 50, tried to break into Major League Baseball in 1993. That year my wife and I were in Florida during spring training. Jordan and the White Sox were playing close by, so we decided to attend a game.

Jordan, playing right field, was able to show off his superior athleticism for the unusually large crowd. At one point an opposing player hit a sharp, low line drive far to Jordan’s left. Jordan ran toward it and, at the last moment, made a leaping catch with his six-foot-six frame parallel to the ground.