Brian Jordan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brian Jordan |
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| Outfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: March 29, 1967 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
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| debut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| April 8, 1992, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, 2006, for the Atlanta Braves | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .282 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 184 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 821 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Brian O'Neal Jordan (born March 29, 1967) is a famous American athlete. He was special because he played two professional sports at the highest level: professional baseball and professional gridiron football. Jordan played as a safety for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1989 to 1991. He also played Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder for teams like the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves from 1992 to 2006. In 1999, he was even chosen as an MLB All-Star.
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Brian Jordan: A Two-Sport Star
Brian Jordan was an amazing athlete from a young age. He was a sports star at Milford Mill High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Later, he went to the University of Richmond. His talent was clear, and he was drafted by two different professional leagues.
Playing Both Professional Sports
In 1988, the St. Louis Cardinals picked Brian in the first round of the MLB draft. The very next year, in 1989, the Buffalo Bills chose him for the NFL draft. This shows how talented he was in both baseball and football!
While he was playing baseball in the Cardinals' minor league system, Jordan also played football. He was a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons from 1989 to 1991. During his football career, he made five interceptions. He even led the Falcons in tackles in 1991.
In June 1992, Brian Jordan made a big decision. He signed a new contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. This contract meant he would stop playing football and focus only on baseball. This ended his impressive football career.
Baseball Career Highlights
Brian Jordan made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on April 8, 1992. For his first few seasons, he played in different outfield positions.
Success with the Cardinals
In 1995, his first full year, Jordan had 145 hits and a .296 batting average. He also hit 22 home runs and had 81 RBI. He continued his success in 1996, hitting .310 with 104 RBI. He was often the team's cleanup hitter, meaning he batted fourth in the lineup.
Jordan was especially good at hitting when there were runners in scoring position. In 1996, he had a .422 batting average with runners in scoring position (RISP). This was the highest mark for the Cardinals since 1974. He also led all of Major League Baseball in batting average when the bases were loaded. In the playoffs that year, he hit .333 in the NLDS. He even hit a game-winning home run in Game 4 of the 1996 NLCS.
After a tough 1997 season due to injuries, Jordan bounced back strong in 1998. He scored 100 runs, hit 25 home runs, and had a career-high .316 batting average.
Time with the Atlanta Braves
His great performance in 1998 helped him get a big contract with the Atlanta Braves. Jordan started strong in 1999, which led to his only All-Star appearance. He finished the season with 100 runs scored and 115 RBI. In the 1999 playoffs, he was a key player. He batted .471 in the NLDS and drove in seven runs for the Braves. He also hit two home runs in the 1999 NLCS.
In 2001, Jordan hit 25 home runs and had a .295 batting average. His strong play in the final games of the season helped the Braves win their tenth straight division title.
Later Career and Retirement
In 2002, Jordan was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had a good season, hitting .285. However, injuries limited his playing time in 2003. He then signed with the Texas Rangers in 2004, but injuries continued to affect him.
In 2005, he returned to the Atlanta Braves. He spent most of this season on the disabled list with a knee injury. He played a limited role in 2006 before going on the disabled list again. Brian Jordan officially retired as a player after the 2006 season.
Career Statistics Overview
Over 15 seasons and 1456 games, Brian Jordan had a career batting average of .282. He hit 184 home runs and had 821 RBI. He also stole 119 stolen bases. Jordan was a good fielder too, with a .988 fielding percentage playing in all three outfield positions and first base.
Life After Sports
After retiring from baseball, Brian Jordan stayed involved with the sport. He worked as a TV analyst for the Atlanta Braves on Braves Live until March 2023. He is also very active in the Atlanta community.
Jordan has his own organization called the Brian Jordan Foundation. He also wrote a children's book called I Told You I Can Play!. This book is partly about his own life. In 2009, he became a television commentator for the Gwinnett Braves, which is a minor league team for the Atlanta Braves.
See also
- List of athletes who played in Major League Baseball and the National Football League
- List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a right fielder leaders
- List of multi-sport athletes
- List of people from Baltimore
