Michael Jordan's 1994 Game Worn Air Jordan IX Baseball Cleats

Following his first retirement from basketball in 1993, Michael Jordan pursued his lifelong passion for baseball, joining the Birmingham Barons—the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox—in 1994. Jordan appeared in 127 games for the Barons, recording 88 hits, including 17 doubles, one triple, and three home runs. He drove in 51 RBIs, stole 30 bases, walked 51 times, and posted a .202 batting average. During this memorable season, Jordan wore this pair of Air Jordan 9 Baseball Cleats.

Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan 9 marked a symbolic new chapter in Jordan’s career. While the model was created as a basketball shoe, Nike produced special cleated versions for Jordan’s time on the baseball field. The Air Jordan 9 was conceived as a tribute to Michael Jordan’s global influence, a design so rooted in his international stature that it was nearly named the Air Jordan International. Presented in black leather, the shoes feature minimalist uppers with a one-pull lacing system and “Air Jordan” embroidered across the tongues. The heels display Jordan’s number 45 alongside a globe encircling the Jumpman logo. When first released, the Air Jordan 9 was the lightest and most responsive Air Jordan ever made. This pair, size 13.5, features cleated soles and exhibits signs of wear consistent with use.

These game-worn cleats were obtained by Ed Smith, a fellow minor league player who suited up for the Orlando Cubs. According to Smith, Jordan appreciated that he was one of the few players who showed restraint and treated him like a teammate rather than a celebrity by hounding him constantly with autograph requests. As a gesture of gratitude, Jordan gifted Smith these very cleats.

The shoes are accompanied by photographs of Jordan and Smith and a letter from Ed Smith.