Flight Archives

The Air Jordan 9 has the unique distinction of being the first shoe made while Jordan was “retired.”

The shoe released during the 1993-1994 NBA season, the same season Jordan spent away from the game playing for the Birmingham Barons Double AA baseball team. Luckily, Jordan wore three of the four original basketball pairs.

Multiple pictures exist during the 1992-1993 playoff run where Jordan is wearing a black and white pair. However, unlike later releases, Jordan did not wear them in a playoff game – in this case, most likely listening to Tinker Hatfield’s request. We saw him wearing the ‘Olives’ and ‘Powder Blues’ in an Upper Deck photo and Champs advertisement, respectively. The Air Jordan 9s are featured on the statue dedicated to Jordan outside the United Center in Chicago. Jordan wearing the 9s on the statue has created some confusion as to why chosen.

Jordan wore a cleat pair throughout the minor league baseball season and during the 1994 Arizona Fall League. The black and white pair featured a ‘45’ on the back, his baseball number, and number when returning to the NBA in 1995.

Interestingly enough, Nike still advertised the shoe. The series of “Johnny Kilroy” commercials alluded to a fake retirement. They aired throughout the 1993-1994 season and featured numerous celebrities commenting on Jordan’s ‘retirement’ and speculating why or why not he might be “playing.”

Nike also brought back Mars Blackmon for a baseball commercial featuring Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., and Bill Buckner all stating the phrase “but he’s tryin.’” The commercial didn't directly tie to the shoe.