This A’s coach went one-on-one with MJ

This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ Athletics Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.

MESA, Ariz. — Ever surprise what it might have been prefer to go one-on-one with Michael Jordan? A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson has lived it — on a baseball subject.

Nearly 29 years in the past to the day — March 21, 1994 — Emerson squared off on a again subject at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., in opposition to the person extensively seen as the best basketball participant to ever lace them up.

After Jordan signed a contract with the White Sox and attended huge league Spring Training for a number of weeks in 1994, he was reassigned to the membership’s Minor League camp. The plan was to ship him to Double-A Birmingham, however Chicago needed to maintain the famous person in a extra managed surroundings with its personal safety staff and determined to have him first play for Class A Prince William.

Prince William’s first sport with Jordan on the roster got here in opposition to Class A Frederick, an affiliate of the Orioles on the time. Frederick’s beginning pitcher? Emerson, who additionally occurred to be a neighborhood basketball standout at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix.

It was a day that Emerson will always remember, and he took a while on the twenty ninth anniversary of the sport to recount the expertise:

MLB.com: When did you discover out you’d be going through Michael Jordan in that sport?

Emerson: I used to be warming up within the bullpen and lots more and plenty of individuals simply began coming to the again subject. I used to be like, “What’s going on?” I put two and two collectively and I’m like, “Michael Jordan is in this game.” Sure sufficient, there he was. Just think about being at [A’s Minor League Spring Training complex] Fitch [Park] and no less than 1,000 folks jamming in attempting to observe one of many biggest athletes of all time enjoying baseball.

MLB.com: You have been a fairly good basketball participant your self again in highschool, appropriate?

Emerson: Yeah. Don’t quote me on the precise quote of this, however whoever wrote the article that day stated one thing like, “The guy on the mound was All-State and the guy at the plate was All-World: Scott Emerson, an All-State basketball player, was facing an All-World basketball player in Michael Jordan.” I’ve tried to Google and search for it. I’ve acquired the article someplace at house.

MLB.com: I’m certain there was a star-struck-type feeling. At the identical time, you’re aggressive and attempting to make it in professional ball. What goes by your thoughts as you’re seeing Jordan step into the field?

Emerson: Big man. They had a man named Jimmy Hurst they usually had comparable our bodies. I attempted to ascertain going through Jimmy Hurst as a result of I confronted Jimmy the 12 months earlier than. I’m attempting to determine what am I going to do to him. I figured I’d throw him all fastballs. That’s what I did the primary at-bat. In the offseason, I used to be telling all my buddies that I’m going to face Michael Jordan. They have been laughing. But I used to be like, “No, I’m going to face Michael Jordan.” I teased everyone that I used to be going to drill him. But when he acquired up there, the man’s attempting to play the sport that I like. First AB, he beat me. He hit a floor ball into proper subject for a base hit. Second AB, I acquired him. Some of me at all times says I want I may get on the basketball court docket with him for some redemption. I inform this story dwelling in North Carolina, now that anyone that is aware of MJ over there in Charlotte, inform him I would like my redemption. I haven’t acquired it but. Maybe I’ll at some point.

MLB.com: Obviously, he was an athletic man. On the baseball subject, how did he look and transfer as a baseball participant?

Emerson: We all thought, “Wow, this guy can play a little bit.” He may run. Later within the sport, he hit a ball to brief and acquired down the road rather well. This man floats. He’s acquired some energy. Line-drive stroke most likely. We all thought he would turn into an influence hitter. If he was, like, 20, he most likely would have been a Hall of Fame baseball participant. He simply didn’t give himself sufficient time. He was in his 30s on the time. But simply watching that man and being on the identical subject and having the ability to say I competed in opposition to Michael Jordan is a cool feeling. This man, the Jordan model, you say “Jordan” and everyone is aware of what you’re speaking about.

MLB.com: Did you guys have any interactions on the sector?

Emerson: Somewhat bit. I used to be working poles within the outfield. My brother ran Desert Mountain Golf Course as a superintendent and Jordan performed a whole lot of golf there. I informed him and he stated it was probably the greatest programs on the earth. We simply had just a little small discuss.

MLB.com: Did you observe in any respect or test in on how he was doing in his baseball enterprise?

Emerson: I adopted him loads. He ended up enjoying within the Arizona Fall League that 12 months and the Orioles guys have been on the staff, so all of my mates have been with him. I’d see him out from time to time with my buddies. They would invite me to some locations and he’d be there from time to time. It was cool. This man was attempting to be a stud baseball participant. All our guys that performed with him on the Scottsdale Scorpions, Terry Francona was the supervisor, all of them stated he was one of many hardest working guys ever and actually needed to reach baseball. I feel if he would have given himself extra time, he would have been a greater participant. Obviously, he went again to basketball and gained three extra championships.