Ford, Whitey

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'''Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford''' (born October 21, 1928) is a former [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]] who spent his entire 18-year career playing for the [[New York Yankees]]. Besides Whitey his nicknames included "Slick" and "Chairman of the Board."  
 
'''Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford''' (born October 21, 1928) is a former [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]] who spent his entire 18-year career playing for the [[New York Yankees]]. Besides Whitey his nicknames included "Slick" and "Chairman of the Board."  
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Ford holds the record for most wins in [[Yankee]] history, and is best known by baseball fans for his low [[earned run average]]. His lifetime winning percentage was .690, he played in 11 [[World Series]] (winning six) and set the record for most consecutive scoreless innings in the series.  
 
Ford holds the record for most wins in [[Yankee]] history, and is best known by baseball fans for his low [[earned run average]]. His lifetime winning percentage was .690, he played in 11 [[World Series]] (winning six) and set the record for most consecutive scoreless innings in the series.  
  
Off the mound, Ford's carousing with [[Mickey Mantle]] and [[Billy Martin]] was legendary, and he, in many ways, symbolizes the excesses and good fortunes of the Yankees of the 150s and 1960s.  
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Off the mound, Ford's carousing with [[Mickey Mantle]] and [[Billy Martin]] was legendary, and he, in many ways, symbolizes the excesses and good fortunes of the Yankees of the 1950s and 1960s.  
  
 
==Early life==
 
==Early life==

Revision as of 18:44, 20 September 2008

Whitey Ford
Pitcher
Born: October 21 1928 (1928-10-21) (age 95)
New York, New York
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
July 1, 1950
for the New York Yankees
Final game
May 21, 1967
for the New York Yankees
Career statistics
Win-Loss record     236-106
Earned run average     2.75
Strikeouts     1,956
Teams
  • New York Yankees (1950-1967)
Career highlights and awards
  • 8x All-Star selection (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964)
  • 6x World Series champion (1950, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962)
  • 1961 Cy Young Award
  • 1961 World Series MVP
  • 3x AL TSN Pitcher of the Year (1955, 1961, 1963)
  • 1961 Babe Ruth Award
  • New York Yankees #16 retired
Member of the National
Empty Star.svg Baseball Hall of Fame Empty Star.svg
Elected    1974
Vote    77.81 percent

Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford (born October 21, 1928) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who spent his entire 18-year career playing for the New York Yankees. Besides Whitey his nicknames included "Slick" and "Chairman of the Board."

Ford holds the record for most wins in Yankee history, and is best known by baseball fans for his low earned run average. His lifetime winning percentage was .690, he played in 11 World Series (winning six) and set the record for most consecutive scoreless innings in the series.

Off the mound, Ford's carousing with Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin was legendary, and he, in many ways, symbolizes the excesses and good fortunes of the Yankees of the 1950s and 1960s.

Early life

Whitey Ford was born Edward Charles Ford on October 21, 1928 in New York City. At the age of five, his family moved to Astoria, a neighborhood of Queens in New York City, located just a few miles from Yankee Stadium. Although Ford was born during the Great Depression, he did not feel its impact. Ford was the only son of Jim Ford, an employee of Consolidated Edison, a power supply service, and his wife, a bookkeeper.[1] Ford's neighborhood consisted mainly of families that had migrated from Ireland, Italy, or Poland.

Ford stated in his book, "It was a close-knit community, kind of like one big family."[2] His neighborhood was often so congested that it was easy to gather kids for different sports—baseball, stickball, and football being the most commonly played. Growing up, Ford was in the shadows of not one, but three great baseball teams: the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and the New York Yankees. He had been exposed mainly to the Yankees, often attending games at Yankee Stadium with his uncle. At the age of 13, he, along with his friends, formed an amateur baseball team called the 34th Avenue Boys. Five years later, he earned a spot on his high school baseball team, the Manhattan Aviation.

Ford was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947, and played his entire career in a Yankees uniform. Ford claims, "I've been a Yankee for fifty-three years, and I'll be a Yankee forever."[1] He was given the nickname "Whitey" while in the minor leagues for his exceptionally blond hair.

Pitching career

Ford began his Major League Baseball career on July 1, 1950, with the Yankees and made a spectacular debut, winning his first nine decisions before losing a game in relief. Ford received a handful of lower-ballot Most Valuable Player votes despite throwing just 112 innings, and was voted the AL Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News. In 1951 and 1952, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He rejoined the Yankees for the 1953 season, and the Yankee "Big Three" pitching staff became a "Big Four," as Ford joined Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi and Eddie Lopat.

Eventually Ford went from the No. 4 pitcher on a great staff to the universally acclaimed No. 1 pitcher of the Yankees, becoming known as the "Chairman of the Board" for his ability to remain calm and in command during high-pressure situations. He was also known as "Slick" for his craftiness on the mound, which was essential because he did not have an overwhelming fastball. His ability to throw several other pitches effectively gave him pinpoint control. Nonetheless, Ford was an effective strikeout pitcher for his time, tying the then-AL record for six consecutive strikeouts in 1956, and again in 1958. Ford pitched two consecutive one-hit games in 1955 to tie a record held by several pitchers.

In 1955, he led the American League in complete games and victories. The following year he led the league in earned run average and winning percentage. Again in 1958, he sat atop the league in earned run average. In both 1961 and 1963, he was first in games won and winning percentage. Ford won the Cy Young Award in 1961; he likely would have won the 1963 AL Cy Young, but this was before the institution of a separate award for each league, and Ford could not match Sandy Koufax's numbers for the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League. He would also have been a candidate in 1955, but this was before the Award was created.

Some of Ford's numbers were depressed by Yankees manager Casey Stengel who viewed Ford as his top pitching asset, and often reserved his ace left-hander for more formidable opponents such as the Tigers, Indians and White Sox. When he became manager in 1961, Ralph Houk promised Ford he would pitch every fourth day, regardless of opponent; after exceeding 30 starts only once in his nine seasons under Stengel, Ford had 39 in 1961. A career-best 25-4 record and the Cy Young Award ensued, but Ford's season was overshadowed by the home-run battle between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. As a left-hander, Ford was also adept at keeping runners at their base: he set a record in 1961 by pitching 243 consecutive innings without allowing a stolen base.

Career Statistics

YearTeamGGSIPHERBBSOWLSVERA
1950NY2012112873552599112.81
1953NY32302071876911011018603.00
1954NY34282101706610112516822.82
1955NY39332531887411313718722.63
1956NY3130225187628414119612.47
1957NY241712911437538411502.58
1958NY3029219174496214514712.01
1959NY35292041946989114161013.04
1960NY332919216866658512903.08
1961NY39392832421019220925403.21
1962NY3837257243836916017802.90
1963NY3837269240825618924712.74
1964NY3936244212585717217612.13
1965NY37362442418850162161313.24
1966NY22973792024432502.47
1967NY77444089212401.64
CareerNY4984383170276696710861956236106102.75

Whitey Ford won 236 games for New York (career 236-106), still a franchise record. Red Ruffing, the previous Yankee record-holder, still leads all Yankee right-handed pitchers, with 231 of his 273 career wins coming with the Yankees. Other Yankee pitchers have had more career wins (for example, Roger Clemens notched his 300th career victory as a Yankee), but amassed them for multiple franchises. David Wells tied Whitey Ford for 13th place in victories by a lefhander on August 26, 2007. Among pitchers with at least 300 career decisions, Ford ranks first with a winning percentage of .690. Among those with at least 200 decisions, only Pedro Martínez ranked ahead of him; at the end of the 2006 season, Martinez stood at .691. In 1958, his career record stood at 100-36, the highest percentage for a pitcher with at least 100 wins. Ford's career percentage cannot be attributed solely to being on a good team: The Yankees were 1,486-1,027 during his 16 years; without his 236-106, they had 1,250 wins and 921 losses, for a won-loss percentage of .576. Ford was thus 114 percentage points higher than his team's record net of his record.

Ford's 2.75 earned run average is the lowest among starting pitchers whose careers began after the advent of the Live Ball Era in 1920. Ford's worst-ever ERA was 3.24. (Hoyt Wilhelm, primarily a reliever during his career, leads all post-1920 pitchers in ERA at 2.52.) Ford had 45 shutout victories in his career, including eight 1-0 wins.

World Series

Ford's status on the Yankees was cemented by the World Series. Ford was New York's Game One pitcher in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964 World Series.

1950 World Series Ford did not start until game 4, but earned the victory and clinched the series against the Phillies in the process.

1953 World Series Whitey Ford pitched in game four, earning the loss. However, he again took the mound in game 6 and tossed seven innings of one-run ball; however, relief pitching faltered and Ford would have to settle for a no-decision. However, he again pitched in a clinching game and pitched marvelously.

1955 World Series Five of the previous seven Brooklyn Dodgers' series defeats came at the hands of the New York Yankees. This year, however, proved to be different as the Bronx Bombers fell to the Dodgers for the first time in six games. Whitey Ford pitched in game 1 and game 6 of the series, going 2-0. In game 1, Whitey pitched 8 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs, but keeping his team ahead throughout the game. After dropping three straight games, the Yankees went back to Ford in game 6, and Ford delivered with a four hitter, sending the series to a game seven.

1956 World Series A chance for redemption presented itself to Ford and the Yankees. In game 1, however, Ford was hammered for five runs, and a loss. He redeemed himself in game 3, however, as he tossed a complete game. The Yanks would go on to win in seven and reclaim the championship from their crosstown rivals.

1957 World Series Whitey Ford opened the series against the up and coming Milwaukee Braves with a complete game 3-1 victory. In game 5, Ford tossed seven innings of one run ball, but was bested by the Braves pitcher, losing 1-0. The Yankees would go on to lose in seven games to the Braves.

1958 World Series Whitey Ford opened the '58 Series with seven solid innings, but received a no-decision as the game went into extra innings, turning the tide against the Yankees. Again in game 4, Ford tossed seven innings of three run ball; however, his counterpart tossed a shutout, earning Ford the loss. He again took the mound in game 6, but managed to last only one inning, allowing five hits and two runs before being replaced. The Yankees would go on to win the series, however, in seven games.

1960 World Series In the 1960 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Stengel held Ford back until Game Three, a decision that angered Ford. The Yankees' ace won both his starts in Games three and six with complete-game shutouts. As a result, Ford was unavailable to relieve in the last game of a surprising Yankees loss at the hands of Bill Mazeroski. He hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, winning the game—and the Series—for the Pirates. Ford always felt that had he been able to appear in three of the games instead of just two, the Yankees would have won. Upper management may have agreed: Stengel was fired following the Series.

1961 World Series Whitey Ford tossed a two-hit, complete-game gem to open the '61 Series against the Reds. In game 4, Ford, combined with Yankee relievers, tossed a shutout, and brought the Yanks one win away from another series title. The Yankees would defeat the Reds in five games.

1962 World Series Whitey opened the series with a complete game, 2-run spectacle. He pitched again in game four; however, he received a no-decision in the Yankees loss. Ford allowed five runs in game 6, however, allowing the Giants to send the series to a game seven—a Yankee victory.

1963 World Series Whitey Ford was dominated thoroughly by Sandy Koufax as he dropped the first game of the series for the Yanks. In game 4, Whitey Ford pitched better, allowing 2 runs over seven innings; however, he was again outmatched by Koufax, 2-1, absorbing his second loss of the series, and a Dodgers sweep of the Yanks.

1964 World Series Whitey Ford loss his third consecutive World Series start to open the series against the St. Louis Cardinals. This would be Ford's last World Series appearance as he succumbed to his shoulder injury.

For his career, Ford had 10 World Series victories, more than any other pitcher. Ford also leads all starters in World Series losses (8) and starts (22), as well as innings, hits, walks, and strikeouts. In 1961 he broke Babe Ruth's World Series record of 29 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. (The record would eventually reach 33 2/3, and stood for four decades until Mariano Rivera broke it in 2000.) Ford won the 1961 World Series MVP. In addition to Yankee Stadium, Ford also pitched World Series games in seven other stadiums:

  • Ebbets Field (1953 and 1956)
  • Milwaukee County Stadium (1957 and 1958)
  • Forbes Field (1960)
  • Crosley Field (1961)
  • Candlestick Park (1962)
  • Dodger Stadium (1963)
  • Busch Stadium (1964)

Ford also appeared on eight AL All-Star teams between 1954 and 1964. One NL batter who was always happy to see him was Willie Mays, who at one point had seven consecutive hits off Ford.

Retirement

Whitey Ford's number 16 was retired by the New York Yankees in 1974

Ford ended his career in declining health. In August 1966, he underwent surgery to correct a circulatory problem in his throwing shoulder. In May 1967, Ford lasted just one inning in what would be his final start, and he announced his retirement at the end of the month.

Legacy

Ford wore number 19 in his rookie season. Following his return from the army in 1953, he wore number 16 for the remainder of his career. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1974 with his longtime pal and Yankee teammate Mickey Mantle. At that time, the Yankees retired his number 16. On August 2, 1987, the Yankees dedicated plaques for Monument Park at Yankee Stadium for Ford and another left-handed pitcher who reached the Hall of Fame, Lefty Gomez; Ford's plaque calls him "one of the greatest pitchers ever to step on a mound."

After his career ended, Ford admitted to occasionally cheating by doctoring baseballs in various ways, such as the "mudball," which could only be used at home in Yankee Stadium: Yankee groundskeepers would wet down an area near the catcher's box where Yankee catcher Elston Howard was positioned; pretending to lose balance on a pitch while in his crouch and landing on his right hand (with the ball in it), Howard would coat one side of the ball with mud. Ford would sometimes use the diamond in his wedding ring to gouge the ball, but he was eventually caught by an umpire and warned to stop; Howard then sharpened a buckle on his shinguard and used it to scuff the ball.

In 1999, Ford ranked number 52 on The Sporting News list of Baseball's Greatest Players, and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

In 2008, Ford threw the first pitch at the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Preceded by:
Lemon & Wynn
Estrada & Perry
Ralph Terry
American League Wins Champion
1955 (with Lemon & Sullivan)
1961
1963
Succeeded by:
Frank Lary
Ralph Terry
Chance & Peters
Preceded by:
Billy Pierce
Bobby Shantz
American League ERA Champion
1956
1958
Succeeded by:
Bobby Shantz
Hoyt Wilhelm
Preceded by:
Vern Law
Cy Young Award
1961
Succeeded by:
Don Drysdale
Preceded by:
Bobby Richardson
World Series MVP
1961
Succeeded by:
Ralph Terry
Preceded by:
Bill Mazeroski
Babe Ruth Award
1961
Succeeded by:
Ralph Terry

In 1994, a road in Mississauga, Ontario (Canada) was named Ford Road in Ford's honor. This was in the north-central area of Mississauga known informally as "the baseball zone," as several streets in the area are named for hall-of-fame baseball players. [1]

In 2001, Ford was portrayed by Anthony Michael Hall in the HBO movie, 61*, a Billy Crystal film centered around Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle's 1961 quest to break Babe Ruth's single-season home-run record.

In 2002, Ford opened up "Whitey Ford's Cafe," a sports-themed restaurant and bar next to Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, New York.[3] A replica of the Yankee Stadium facade trimmed both the exterior and the bar, whose stools displayed uniform numbers of Yankee luminaries; replicas of Monument Park's retired uniform numbers lined the hallways, and widescreen TVs were present throughout. Memorabilia featured Bill Dickey's signed glove and John Blanchard's '61 World Series bat, as well as assorted Mickey Mantle mementos, along with jersey tops of Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Al Leiter, and Lee Mazzilli. The main dining area housed a panoramic display of Yankee Stadium from the 1950s, specifically a White Sox–Yankee game with Ford pitching and Mickey Mantle in center field; the Yanks are up 2-0. Waiters and waitresses ared ressed in Yankees road uniforms, with Ford's retired No. 16 on the back.[4] It lasted less than a year before it closed down.[5]

In 2003, Ford was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.

See also

  • List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
  • List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
  • List of Major League Baseball wins champions
  • Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all time

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Nolan, Arthea. Whitey Ford. 2004. New York : Rosen Central. ISBN 0823937844
  2. Ford, Whitey; Pepe, Phil. 1987. Slick: My life in and around baseball. New York : Dell. ISBN 044020108X
  3. Details of Whitey Ford's Cafe from Yahoo! Local.
  4. Peter M. Gianotti, Review of White Ford's Cafe from Newsday, 13 Oct 2002.
  5. Conversation with present owner of Gasho of Japan restaurant, former site of Whitey Ford's Cafe.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Coverdale, Miles. 2006. Whitey Ford: A Biography. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. ISBN 0786425148
  • Ford, Whitey, and Phil Pepe. 2001. Few and Chosen: Defining Yankee Greatness Across the Eras. Chicago, Ill: Triumph Books. ISBN 157243418X
  • Ford, Whitey, and Phil Pepe. 1987. Slick. New York: W. Morrow. ISBN 0688066909
  • Ford, Whitey, Mickey Mantle, and Joseph Durso. 1976. Whitey and Mickey: A Joint Autobiography of the Yankee Years. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 0670763942
  • Nolan, Arthea. 2004. Whitey Ford. New York : Rosen Central. ISBN 0823937844
  • Shapiro, Milton. 1962. The Whitey Ford Story. New York, J. Messner. OCLC 1301020

External links

All links retrieved September 20, 2008.



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