Michael Jordan_ The Life ( PDFDrive.com )_compressed (1)_compressed

Chapter 5
THE DIAMOND
IN THE MIDST of this family turmoil in 1975, Michael Jordan had an extraordinary
year as a twelve-year-old Little Leaguer. He was named the state’s most
valuable player while throwing two no-hitters in leading his team to a state
championship. Later, in regional play in Georgia, Michael would show his
hitting prowess by driving a ball out of the park in a key moment, a feat that kept
his father smiling for years afterward.
“He used to talk about the time my Little League team was going for the
World Series,” Jordan would remember, “and we were playing in Georgia, and
there was an offer that if anyone hit a homer they’d get a free steak. I hadn’t had
a steak in quite a while, and my father said, ‘If you hit a homer, I’ll buy you
another steak.’ It was a big ball field, and in the fourth inning I hit that sucker
over the center field fence with two on to tie the game, 3–3. We lost it anyway,
4–3, but I’ve never experienced anything in sports like hitting one out of the
park.”
At the time, James Jordan began to entertain the thought that his son was
headed toward the big leagues. William Henry Jordan, a cousin, saw it, too.
“Michael pitched in an all-star game against my son when he was twelve years
old,” he remembered. “You could only pitch four innings under the rules at that
time. He struck out all twelve batters he faced, if I remember correctly. He was
throwing so hard. He pitched for New Hanover and my son played for Pender
County. We were sure that day when we watched him that MJ would be a pro
player.”
Jordan wasn’t just a pitcher. “When he was twelve years old, he was an
outstanding Little League player,” recalled Dick Neher, who later coached
Jordan in Babe Ruth League. “He was lanky. He played shortstop, too. He’d go
over behind third base to dig out a grounder, he’d backhand the ball. You’ve
seen Derek Jeter do this. He’d jump up in the air and throw it over to first. He
was named Mr. Baseball in North Carolina.”