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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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Brian O'Neal Jordan (born March 29, 1967) is a former American athlete who was a professional in two different major sports: baseball and football. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons from 1989 to 1991. He also had a long career as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1992 to 2006.
Jordan played for several MLB teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves. He was so good at baseball that he was chosen for the MLB All-Star Game in 1999. It is very rare for an athlete to play at the highest level in two different sports.
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A Two-Sport Star
Jordan was a gifted athlete from a young age. He was a sports star at Milford Mill High School in Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating, he went to the University of Richmond, where he continued to play both baseball and football.
His talent was noticed by professional teams in both sports. In 1988, the St. Louis Cardinals picked him in the first round of the MLB draft. The next year, the Buffalo Bills of the NFL drafted him. He was cut by the Bills but was soon signed by the Atlanta Falcons.
For three years, Jordan did something amazing. He played as a defensive back for the Falcons in the fall and winter. Then, he played baseball in the Cardinals' minor league system during the spring and summer. In his short NFL career, he had five interceptions and four sacks. In 1991, he was one of the best players on the Falcons' defense.
In 1992, Jordan had to make a big choice. The St. Louis Cardinals offered him a large contract to play only baseball. He accepted the offer and ended his football career to focus on becoming a full-time baseball player.
St. Louis Cardinals
Jordan made his MLB debut with the Cardinals on April 8, 1992. For his first few seasons, he played in different outfield positions. By 1995, he was playing every day and had a great year. He hit 22 home runs and had 81 runs batted in (RBIs).
His best year with the Cardinals was 1996. He had a high batting average of .310 and drove in 104 runs. He was especially good in important situations. With runners on base ready to score, his batting average was .422, a team record at the time. In the playoffs that year, he hit a game-winning home run to help his team.
After a tough 1997 season due to an injury, Jordan bounced back in 1998. He hit 25 home runs and had a career-high batting average of .316.
Atlanta Braves
Jordan's excellent 1998 season earned him a big contract with the Atlanta Braves. In his first year with the Braves in 1999, he played so well that he was selected for the All-Star Game. This is an honor given to the best players in the league. He finished the season with 115 RBIs.
He was also a star in the playoffs. In a series against the Houston Astros, he had the game-winning hit in a long 12-inning game. He helped lead the Braves to the World Series, which is the championship of baseball.
In 2001, Jordan once again played a key role. He hit 25 home runs and helped the Braves win their division after a close race with other teams.
Later Career and Retirement
In 2002, Jordan was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had a good season with them but began to have more injuries in 2003. He later played for the Texas Rangers in 2004.
He returned to the Atlanta Braves in 2005. By this time, he was an older player and injuries limited his playing time. He used his experience to help the team as a part-time player. Jordan retired from baseball after the 2006 season, ending a long and successful career.
Life After Baseball
After retiring, Jordan did not leave the world of sports. He became a TV analyst for the Atlanta Braves, sharing his knowledge of the game before each broadcast. He also started the Brian Jordan Foundation to help children in the Atlanta community.
Jordan wrote a children's book called I Told You I Can Play! The book is based on his own life and his journey of playing two sports.
Career Highlights
Over his 15-year baseball career, Jordan was a solid and dependable player. Here are some of his key stats:
- Batting Average: .282
- Home Runs: 184
- Runs Batted In (RBIs): 821 (meaning he helped his teammates score 821 times)
- Stolen Bases: 119
In 38 playoff games, he hit 6 home runs and had 27 RBIs, showing that he often played his best in the most important games.
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
