By Nebai Esaias for MLBbro.com
Tony Todd is sharing his most precious possession with the world. Todd is displaying his gifted and game-used Michael Jordan autographed bat to Louisville Slugger. The Louisville Slugger is a museum and factory tour attraction located in Louisville, Kentucky’s “Museum Row”, part of the West Main District of downtown. Todd will take a trip over to Kentucky on June 26.
The bat is a Louisville Slugger, model C-271, 34 inches, 32 ounces, with a light coat of pine tar on the lower handle. It’s the bat he used to produce two hits in an Arizona Fall League game with the Scottsdale Scorpions in 1994. That was the year he signed with the Chicago White Sox and announced he was retiring from the NBA.
“The reason I’m sharing this particular bat with the public is because it represents a pivotal character in Michael Jordan’s life. The bat for many fans is not only an iconic piece of baseball history, but of sports history overall. It’s a token of one of the most successful and well-known athletes in history and his undying love for the game of baseball.”
Todd’s friend, William Fuller, who was a four-time Pro Bowl defensive end and North Carolina alum, offered him to visit MJ when he was playing with the Seattle Scorpions. Jordan actually recognized Todd from the movie “Little Big League”, where he played the role of Mickey Scales, which caught Todd by surprise.
“For me it was an honor because I was standing next to one of the best actors in the business in Morris Chestnut and I was just so happy that he acknowledged the both of us.”
After Jordan’s conversation with Todd concluded, he decided to gift him an autographed signed bat. Todd was in awe of this gesture by Jordan.
“I felt totally in Heaven. I could not believe that one of the greatest athletes was gifting me an item such as a game-used bat where he received two hits and my emotions were in a state of shock.”
Despite Todd’s amazing resume where he starred in “Little Big League” and was a stuntman in Black Panther 1 and 2, his acting career came unexpectedly. One day, Todd stopped by Santa Monica’s Marine Park and saw over 200 people. Curious, Todd walked over to the scene and was told that these people were auditioning for an acting gig.
Todd pleaded to audition for the gig because he believed that his experience of playing baseball would give him an edge over his competitors. After finally convincing the producers of the Little Big League to audition — his baseball prowess stood out — landing him the role of Mickey Scales.
“If I could not play baseball I would have never been in that film. I would have never got the opportunity to be a part of one of the best baseball movies ever. I took a chance on myself and won because I was not supposed to be at the audition, it was all the man upstairs.”
Todd’s message to the world is to “never quit” and “if you believe you can achieve.”
These beliefs put Todd in the position to have one of the rarest sports memorabilia items in the world from one of America’s greatest icons.
