Air Jordan IX Pinnacle Embraces Jordan’s Baseball Love

As Jordan Brand continues to look forward by adding athletes to its roster of MLB players, it pauses to look back at Michael Jordan’s foray into the sport with a special-edition Air Jordan IX Baseball collection that honors MJ’s love of baseball.

The new pack includes two baseball-specific Air Jordan IX sneakers, one in black and white and the other in hazelnut and sail, both made with leather designed to mimic the quality of a material synonymous with baseball. In fact, the oversized stitching evokes imagery of a baseball mitt across the entire upper.

Each pair comes in baseball card-inspired packaging that leaves the colorway a mystery until opened. Both versions pay tribute to a different aspect of Jordan’s time playing minor league baseball, with a #45 stitched in white onto the back of the black sneaker to represent MJ’s time in Birmingham, Alabama, and a #35 stitched onto the hazelnut colorway to honor his time in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The release includes a companion apparel collection that features a grey Birmingham jersey and a grey cap with a 45 on the front and also a black Scottsdale jersey and a black cap with a 35 on the front.

Jordan Brand entered MLB sponsorship by signing shortstop Derek Jeter in 1999. Since that time, the brand has grown in baseball and currently has an active sponsorship roster of over 10 players, including CC Sabathia, David Price and Dexter Fowler.

The Air Jordan IX baseball collection releases internationally on July 15.

— Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.