Starting in December and ending on Opening Day, Joe Posnanski will count down the 100 greatest baseball players by publishing an essay on a player every day for 100 days. In all, this project will contain roughly as many words as “Moby Dick.” Yes, we know it’s nutty. We hope you enjoy.



Michael Jordan was a great basketball star — the greatest ever? — and at age 31, he signed to play minor-league baseball. Jordan had baseball talent. He was a fantastic competitor, maybe the toughest competitor in the history of American sports. He hit .202 in the minor leagues and lasted a year.



Tim Tebow was a great football star — maybe the greatest college quarterback ever — and at age 28, he signed to play minor-league baseball. He’s still out there trying. Tebow has baseball talent. He is a fantastic competitor. He has hit .223 for his minor-league career.



Jackie Robinson was a great football star — one of the...