Michael Jordan vs Tim Tebow: Who Was Better At Baseball?

[@BaseballHistorian]

Say what you will about Tim Tebow, but he certainly played baseball.

[@blaketaylor9850]

Ive been seeing your comments everywhere lately also it’s how I found your channel. Keep up the good work.

[@BaseballHistorian]

@@blaketaylor9850 Thanks for the support!

[@kevinmyers440]

What’s funny to me is you’re talking shit about Jordan and you’d never do even close to what he did in the minor leagues against double a competition

[@Recurses]

@@kevinmyers440 wtf are you talking about

[@MrAirZone25]

makes me even more in awe of athletes like Bo Jackson or Deon Sanders, who dominated football and could legitimately play baseball

[@frenchtoast9926]

Bo Jackson is in a different league than Sanders tho he was way better

[@mariokart9227]

Now this is what the people needed to know

[@philwilson609]

Only one right answer to the question of who was better: Who cares?

[@Bigizzy44]

I'm willing to bet that Tim Tebow was better at baseball than 100% of the people who made fun of him for trying

[@benpickard3203]

I'm not an NFL player but I should be able to say that Jamarcus Russel was ass.

[@Ryndaniels_37]

I wasn’t making fun of him, he wasn’t bad just would not be good on the Big Leagues

[@donaldtoonsberry832]

You’d lose that bet. 100%? That’s the dumbest ish I’ve ever heard.

[@owenanderson3425]

Mets should’ve called up Tebow for an mlb debut before he retired

[@Coronet_shop]

I wish they did

[@noahhess4955]

Why?

[@owenanderson3425]

@@noahhess4955 why not? It’s tim Tebow

[@fredcasdensworld]

@@noahhess4955 Because of the novelty factor

[@D1CeYJ1012]

You don’t call someone up cuz they are famous or well liked from the fans. He isn’t Bo Jackson who was a freak of nature.

[@retro_retro_retro]

I never thought I would ever see a video like this.. but I sure am enjoying it!

[@okaytoaster96]

Pre Video Opinion: I think Michael was better at everything than Tebow and Michael started playing bad because pitchers figured out his weak spot. Post-Video Opinion: I think Tebow was a better baseball player than Michael Jordan. (didn't feel like putting an explanation in this one)

[@HkFinn83]

Yeh Jordan was just not very good. Tebow actually had some power.

[@mlbjmaur]

This is a great video, I’ve always wondered this especially when Jordan heads wear number 45 White Sox jerseys

[@jrob1059]

You used a Jazz Chisholm web gem as the graphic for defense, so I officially love you

[@rrameir]

This is such a meme and I love it

[@callmeshaggy5166]

You nailed it saying Jordan had a higher ceiling. All of his trainers and coaches said he probably would get called up had he gotten more experience at the plate

[@blues.baseball.badanxiety]

remember that tebow played baseball at a somewhat higher level than MJ before he played pro ball. MJ hadn't played since childhood

[@rileyoakley7196]

They both last played in high school before they went to the minors, what are you talking about😂

[@coachholden]

Lmaooooooo

[@luisrosales9349]

When I saw Tebow hit that minor league homer on the first pitch: “nice... that makes me happy, that makes me smile”

[@LifeOrbes]

That iCarly T-bo reference lmaoo

[@rogerszmodis]

Tim Tebow needs to change barbers.

[@MildlySlopedRoofsKill]

I’d love to see someone tell MJ that Tebow was a better minor league baseball player than he was and watch his reaction.

[@jhaylonchilds2128]

He’d definitely take that personal

[@MildlySlopedRoofsKill]

@@jhaylonchilds2128 MJ(sitting in his recliner): A KZbinr named Stark Raving Sports said he thought Tim Tebow was a better minor league hitter than I was..... Cuts to MJ taking cuts in a batting cage: And I took that personally...

[@hennylo68]

@@MildlySlopedRoofsKill He'd definitely run to the batting cage.

[@treysimmons799]

He’d be back out there next week

[@kobe_bean1017]

This is the video we didn’t even know we wanted

[@judgebacon-2828]

Thank you for the iCarly reference I loved that

[@d-manhd7182]

Never thought this video would happen but here we go!!!

[@cincinnatipicker]

Tim Tebow isn’t on the same planet as MJ in any sport. Baseball, football, ping pong, anything. Completely different class of athlete

[@bizarrerideii832]

How do you figure?

[@mcray0309]

I know, Tebow is so much better then that Mitchell Jordan guy or whatever his name is

[@eguskino]

Tim Tebow is not one of the most famous people in the world

[@vinnythewebsurfer]

Not even Skip Bayless would touch this debate with a 10ft pole.

[@themiddlecase]

The Mets should've called Tebow up for the 2020 season. I mean, they wouldn't have done any worse than they did in reality.

[@imc440]

I'm always amazed that both were as good as they ended up being. There are legitimate prospects who don't get past AA ball. These guys ignored baseball for years, after playing at the HS level and were more or less passable minor leaguers. Tebow was a pretty good minor leaguer. Making the majors would have been absurd, and who knows, maybe if they'd quit their sports at the age of 24 or so, maybe they would have had a shot. As 30 year olds? To me, the only way you could consider their ventures into the game as "failed" is if you have wildly unrealistically expectations. For Jordan, not even having A ball to get his feet wet, or for Tebow making the AA All Star Team are just incredible achievements.

[@russdawg7665]

I think Tebow could have made it to mlb if he stayed with it but his rep would have always been blamed for him making it.

[@ChosenPlaysYT]

Tebow higher floor. Jordan higher ceiling. Both are incredible to be able to do what they did transitioning to baseball.

[@Menzeta]

if Tebow didnt start playing Baseball at 33 i think theres a big possibility he could have developed his skills to be an above average player, by no means and elite ball player but a power bat for sure. I think it was just too late to chase that dream especially since it was so long since he was on a diamond to begin with, but who knows.

[@epicbaseballhighlights9492]

This video proves that baseball is the hardest sport in the world. Love it.

[@thhhhms]

This is the groundbreaking journalism i subbed for, cheers lads!

[@BloomInTune]

Maybe it's just a twisted part of me, but I'd like to think that if the Mets ownership didn't change hands this past offseason, we may have had Tebow up in the majors. Now that they're actually trying to be good, there's not really any room to bring a guy like him up.

[@matthewzambriski7981]

Tebow retired this year

[@StadiumLandings]

Dope video, I was just thinking about this topic the other day!

[@nohaerrr]

Now these r the questions that need answers to

[@darrylcalhoun6315]

Jordan based on the way u described his career definitely seemed like he had potential if he could find consistency at the plate

[@justmaxproductions]

Not the video we needed, but the one we deserved.

[@lazyidiotofthemonth]

No Tim Teebow was not the best college QB, statistically that would actually be Sam Bradford.

[@azcardguy7825]

Tim Tebow would have made it to the show if he didn’t quit

[@julianbell9161]

Finally, someone is asking the important baseball questions

[@chezgod3166]

This is the best thing that has ever happened in the world

[@donwhiteley3293]

I think you are spot on in the conclusion you came to. Tebow performed better, but Jordan had more potential. Tebow worked hard in his 3 seasons to improve and it showed. He had some power potential, but never hit for a high average. His base running and fielding were both below average even for AA (much less AAA) and didn't appear that they would get much better. A hot-hitting 1st half of the season helped him become a AA all-star, but his ceiling appeared to be fringe big-leaguer. If he didn't break his hand and COVID never happened and he stuck with it, he very well could have been called up to the big leagues a couple of times, but he didn't appear to have the talent to stick at the major league level (think Brian Lesher or Ernie Young). On the other hand, Jordan only had the one season. He also worked very hard and took baseball seriously. After the 13 game hitting streak to start his career that you mentioned, pitchers started throwing him more off speed pitches and his average tanked. He also struck out in nearly half his PA over the next 2 months. However, over the final month and a half, Jordan hit well over .250 and recorded more than half his doubles and both of his HRs. He had clearly turned the corner and started to be able to adjust to off-speed pitches. He would never have become a power hitter, but he showed signs that he could develop into a competent hitter with enough power to keep the defense honest. You also mentioned that Jordan almost made as many errors in 1 season as Tebow did in 3. Tebow made 10 errors in his 1st minor league season while not getting to as many balls as Jordan, then only made 2 in his last 2 years combined. Due to the work he put in, he was able to dramatically cut down on misplays and at least be able to make to plays he was supposed to make. There's no reason to assume Jordan couldn't have done the same thing and cut his errors from the 11 he made in 1994. It's also worth mentioning that Jordan had 6 OF Ast in his 119 games while Tebow totaled 6 in his 3 years in nearly twice as many games. Even though Tebow was a QB, it appeared that Jordan had the better arm. Jordan was also clearly the better baserunner. His SB% was low because he hadn't run the bases at any level for about 15 years at that point. With his speed, intelligence, and instincts, there is every reason to think he could have turned himself into a well above average baserunner/stealer. If he had stuck with baseball, Jordan most likely would have been in the majors by 1996 (if not gotten a Sept call-up in '95). While I don't believe Jordan would have ever been a star at the major-league level, I think he could have had a career as a 4th OF/occasional starter for 5-8 years (depending on how well he aged). My comps would be players like Darren Bragg, Jerome Walton, Rich Amaral, or Luis Polonia.

[@Chris-rg1yi]

Saw Tebow play baseball in my hometown :)

[@mattwakeley]

MJ may have been better, but did he ever use his holy powers to save a guy who had a seizure?

[@Charlie-qy1fc]

A slightly clear reach for you to flash their stolen bases and say Jordan had a MUCH better time going 30/48 compared to 5/9 SBs. Tebow prooobably was just the one who was smart and decided to stop.

[@donaldtoonsberry832]

You’d be completely wrong. You can’t turn around like that. You’ve never played baseball. Also, back in the 90’s, baseball was played much differently. Steals were WAY more common.

[@carasc5]

People here are insane. Coming into AA and AAA and hitting .223 is ridiculously impressive. He was hitting .273 before he got injured, which isn't good enough for the majors but is good enough to be a strong minor league hitter.

[@michaeljoyner6470]

Yep Tebow was a better baseball player!⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾

[@j.d.freivogel6507]

tebow is clear, hitting is the most important part of baseball and he did it a lot better

[@davidmartinez52420]

Jordan was 31 when he played and was further away from when he last played than Tebow was. Puts his stats in perspective.

[@pohorex6834]

We arent arguing who couldve been better, we are arguing who was better when they played.

[@davidmartinez52420]

@@pohorex6834 Right, and the difference in age and when they last played should factor in. Tebow still played better, but Jordan was better than his numbers suggest considering how long it had been since he last played organized baseball.

[@pohorex6834]

@@davidmartinez52420 it shouldve been mentioned, but it shouldnt have been factored in to who played better. Because reality sucks, and nobody cares how long it had been since he played. That doesn't change the outcome, or the stats. This is purely a comparison between the two players, which it did well, and it wouldnt be genuine if we gave phantom points towards MJ because hes older

[@davidmartinez52420]

@@pohorex6834 That's your opinion, and I don't have to share it. Thank you for your input, but please don't tell me what I am or aren't allowed to think. If you don't think a 31 year old batting a little over .200 is impressive after not playing at all for 13 years(in high school, no less), that's your problem.

[@pohorex6834]

@@davidmartinez52420 that isnt how the real world works, especially when comparing skill levels purely. You can say MJ did something more impressive, which is true, but that doesnt change the output and outcome of the play they made. We dont consider people drafted last being successful as greater than those that were drafted 1st, simply because that isnt comparing skill. That's comparing their journey to get there, which has 0 correlation to skill and output, which is being discussed.

[@DwayneIsK1NG]

I NEVER noticed/realized that Teebo from iCarly is named Teebo lol. NEVER REALIZED 😂

[@asianboiman9674]

I got to see tebow on the ponies bc i live near binghampton and got a signed ball as well. It was cool

[@JonPITBZN]

Who would win a baseball tournament between a team of 25 Michael Jordans, 25 Tim Tebows, and 25 Matt Antonellis?

[@NYCHeavyHitz212]

Even if I didn't know about MJ or Tebow, stats show that football players play a lil baseball or two.

[@logandetwiler4483]

2

[@zeroinifnite5730]

Hard to compare two guys like this....Jordan didn't get nearly as much playing time. Tebow showed that he would never be a major leaguer. I still think that Jordan just needed more time.

[@demonkingbadger6689]

Yeah, being somewhat anti-jordan, i still have to admit he was better than Tebow in all but power.

[@datfatcat9323]

It’s funny to compare the GOAT to a huge meme

[@ChrisPFries-kz5vf]

1:46 that pitch was nasty

[@donaldtoonsberry832]

Tebow. Let’s move on from it.

[@deathbackwards7850]

To put forth another argument about difficulty in sports, these 2 guys not being good at hitting balls doesn’t show that it’s the “hardest thing in sports”. They trained for completely different things, and I’d say that their athleticism doesn’t affect how well they can hit a ball, which is largely skill based not athleticism based. If we want to talk about how they would fare in some of the hardest things in sports, let’s try putting them on a bull and ride it or score a goal in hockey, then we can see how well someone out of their sport does in those.

[@moseschannel90]

Did you not watch the 30 for 30 Jordan rides the Bus? Tito is like half of that movie

[@anadraham2995]

Super great vid 💡👍. Faaaaresh

[@BensonJackie]

wait so he only had 2 errors in his next 2 seasons? that’s not bad at all

[@joecoolmccall]

Yeah- I caught that also. But he is probably saying even since he is hypothesizing that Jordan would improve as well if he played more.

[@chadjackson4786]

fun fact jordan had better arizona fall league stats than Mike Trout

[@JonPITBZN]

Also, better basketball stats.

[@JW0885]

“The greatest college football player ever”? That’s a pretty balsey statement right there. But whatever floats your boat. I will however agree that Michael Jordan is the GOAT in the NBA, hands down. But let’s not get carried away with Tebow lol

[@patrickracer43]

I mean, with hitting and baserunning, of course Tebow is a better hitter than Jordan, since Tebow has a more muscular build than Jordan, but Jordan's primary sport is all about running up and down, which gave Jordan an advantage on the bases

[@SamtheBravesFan]

No question that Tebow was better. He had a better overall line at Double-A and was a better fielder despite Jordan's "ability" to steal bases.

[@FlyingDwarfman]

To me, the craziest thing watching the videos of Jordan playing baseball are how... *un*athletic he looks. He is hands down the greatest player in the most purely athletic American sport and could be argued as the greatest pure athlete of all time. Watching him at baseball, though, he looks like a middle schooler -- the kind of kid you look at and see him either growing into his body by the time he turns 20/ 21 or so or tearing one of his knees up at 16/ 17 because he couldn't stabilize his core while running the bases or in the field.

[@trentf4891]

I imagine grass is far more unforgiving than a hardwood floor if you're running all over the place.

[@mcray0309]

Wasn’t Tebow on the 40 man, and not just because he was Tebow.

[@jeremyfratefrate6450]

Deon Sanders and Bo Jackson were just mega athletes to do both

[@MrLawyer711]

Tebow should've been at least a September call-up, granted he wasn't very good but neither were the Mets. so Tebow playing in a big league game would've given the fans a reason to watch a Mets game in September.

[@donaldtoonsberry832]

1 game. I don’t even think they would have sold out.

[@HkFinn83]

I already know it’s difficult to be a major league player, I don’t need to see athletes from totally different sports to fail at it to know that

[@MarkCzmic420]

Cool video

[@MarquisdeSuave]

Why not neither?

[@croke835]

Bo vs Deion next

[@albertjimenez7896]

Given Michael's level of obsessive dedication, it's likely that he would have ultimately ended up being the better player, especially defensively.

[@hachitachi]

...Did you just call Tebow the greatest college football player ever??

[@rolmodel12.]

He did... which, shows why this is more of a baseball channel. Should've said something like, "One of the most popular, and polarizing, college football player's ever." Or ya know, something along those lines. Tebow was not even the greatest collegiate football player at his position, let alone all of 'em. 🤨 Hell of a leader (and story), but not the greatest player ever. But, still better than Jordan, at baseball. By a smidge.

[@Cincinnatus1869]

Generally, if you want to make an athlete look like not so much of an athlete, put him in the batters box or in the field

[@bryantsteury8910]

Christ that Tebow haircut

[@patrickracer43]

I mean, Jordan was supposed to play in the majors but refused to cross the picket line due to the fact that he was the union representative as a member of the Chicago Bulls

[@mrodriguez16ks]

I'd much rather have a baseball signed by Jordan than by Tebow.

[@wess1285]

MJ was also 31 when he came back to baseball and Tebow was 29 (not a big difference but still)

[@fliplife67]

Now if we can convince LBJ to play CFL.

[@collinkelly2420]

There are many who watched Jordan progress before the lockout and thought he could have been much better in the following season

[@rathgrams]

At least Terry Francona made it to the majors

[@noahhess4955]

I think the biggest question is, if they weren’t famous athletes in another sport would they have made the team at all?

[@mrmacross]

I think the answer is obviously no. Every once in a while, pro sports isn't a meritocracy, and these would be two such examples.

[@robertbrown5319]

Both drew a lot of fans to minor league ballparks.

[@jlee175]

Compare him to will Ferrell

[@HeROsiNhEaVeN]

Well done….🙏🏻

[@Shadowkiller-dq2ju]

Michael Jorden was in Space Jam during his baseball career so that’s him better

[@DanielSong39]

Obviously this is not a serious question

[@TylerKrasting]

Here after Tebow signed with the Jaguars

[@matthewdanahy9411]

Bro i love the videos but you talk so quietly. Can you like move up to your microphone more or increase the volume?

[@ripharambe4796]

For the culture

[@dontdoittoyoself6786]

MJ and it’s not even close. MJ was starting to hit right before he called it quits. He was suppose to look good at first when he hasn’t played baseball in years.

[@elfuego233]

I’m at 3:15 and I just got the noti

[@shmoriy]

The last dance went out of its way to desperately try to claim MJ was good 😂 like WAYYYYYYY out of their way.

[@Arccanos]

Tebow...best college player? Whhhhhhhhat? Goodbye.

[@chrissinatra1217]

Mets are jerks for not letting him go pro

[@DanielSong39]

I would take Colin Kaepernick in baseball before either of these two

[@MarkCzmic420]

Don't think Colin played baseball

[@fredcasdensworld]

The answer is: Bo Jackson

[@gkdunch]

i mean, the mets could use tebow in cf this season

[@coolsceance7419]

Tom tebow vs mj who played basketball better

[@azathoth0820]

Fielding pct is a pretty meaningless stat? How so? You make errors your fielding pct is low, you make plays then is high. Is that simple.

[@noahhess4955]

I thought Jordan looked a lot more awkward overall