(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
IN MEMORIAM
...Whitey Ford...
(1928 - 2020) |
 New York Yankees pitching-legend and Hall of Famer Whitey Ford passed away
Nederlands
 LAKE SUCCESS, Nassau County, New York (USA) -
Legendary lefthanded pitcher Whitey Ford, who played his entire 16-year Major League-career for New York Yankees, won the Cy Young Award and six World Series, passed away on Thursday, October 8 at age 91, less than two weeks before his 92nd birthday.
The pitcher was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.
It was reported that he suffered from dementia for several years.
It was reported that Ford peacefully passed away surrounded by his family while watching Game 4 of his beloved New York Yankees against Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series
New York won with a 5-1 score to force a fifth and deciding game.
On Friday, New York Yankees played with Ford's uniform number 16 on their sleeves to remember to legendary pitcher.
For the fourth time since August 31, a beloved Hall of Famer and Major League-legend passed away.
On Monday, August 31, pitching-great Tom Seaver passed away at age 75.
Less than a week later, on Sunday, September 6, outfielder and Stolen Base-leader Lou Brock passed away at age 81.
On Friday, October 2, legendary St. Louis Cardinals-pitcher Bob Gibson passed away at age 84.
Earlier this year, the baseball-world lost another Hall of Famer when outfielder Al Kaline, who played in 22 Major League-seasons for Detroit Tigers, passed away on April 6 at age 85.
In recent days, baseball-fans had to say a final farewell to three other wellknown former players.
Outfielder Jay Johnstone, who played 20 seasons in the Major League and was also known for his part in the comedy-movie The Naked Gun, passed away on Saturday, September 26 at age 74.
Outfielder Lou Johnson, who worked for 40 years in the organization of the Los Angeles Dodgers, passed away Wednesday, September 30, at age 86.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers relief great longtime Pitching Coach of the club Ron Perranoski passed away on Friday, October 2 at age 84.
Edward Charles (Whitey) Ford was born on October 21, 1928 in Manhattan, New York City.
After attending Manhattan High School of Aviation Trades, Ford attended a try-out of the New York Yankees as a first baseman.
He was advised to start pitching and in 1947, he was signed by the famous club.
Whitey Ford was the second-oldest living member of the Hall of Fame.
The oldest is 93-year old Tom Lasorda.
At age 18, Ford made his professional debut playing in the Minor League-team of the Yankees in the then C-League.
He played in the so-called B-League and A-League in the following two seasons.
Ford then started the 1950 season in Triple-A.
In his three-plus Minor League-season, Ford won 51 games and lost 20.
It was during his Minor League-years that Edward Ford was given the nickname Whitey by his then-Manager Lefty Gomez for his light blond hair.
Gomez also had been a legendary lefthanded pitcher for the New York Yankees for whom he played in 1930-1942.
Gomez was elected into the Hall of Fame two years before Ford.
Whitey Ford was added the Major League-roster in June 1950, then made his debut in the highest league on July 1 at age 21.
On that day, he pitched 4 2/3 inning in relief of starter Tommy Byrne in a 13-4 loss against Boston Red Sox.
He made his next appearance on July 6 as starting pitcher, but then had a no-decision in a 5-4 win against Philadelphia Athletics (now Oakland Athletics).
Ford went on to win nine games in row thereafter.
In his first big league-season, Ford was 9-1 with a 2.81 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 112 innings pitched.
After the season, he was named Rookie of the Year by the sports-magazine Sporting News.
Ford missed the next two seasons (1951-1952) when he served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
Whitey Ford returned to the mound in 1953.
He then was a member of the starting rotation, along with Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi and Eddie Lopat, who were nicknamed 'Big Four'.
In following seasons, Ford moved up from being the fourth starter to becoming the pitching ace and number one pitcher of the Yankees.
He always remained calm on the mound, also during difficult situations, and that earned him the nickname 'Chairman of the Board'.
Legendary Yankee-Manager Casey Stengel named Ford 'Slick', a nickname he also used for Yankee-players Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin.
In his first season back on the mound (1953), Whitey Ford was 18-6 with 110 strikeouts.
From this season on, Ford won 11 or more games in thirteen consecutive seasons.
In ten of these seasons, he won 16 or more games.
In 1954, Ford was chosen for the All Star Game for the first time.
In that season, the lefthander closed with a 16-8 record and 125 strikeouts.
In the 1955 season, Ford led the American League with 18 wins and 18 complete games.
He was 18-7 with a 2.63 ERA and 137 strikeouts that year.
Another fine season followed in 1956 when he led the entire Major League with the lowest ERA (2.47) after closing with a 19-6 record.
He struckout 141 batters, threw 18 complete games and finished in third place for the Cy Young Award.
Ford led the Major League again in ERA in 1958, this time with 2.01, and he also led with seven shutouts.
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...Whitey Ford pitching for NY... |
In the nine seasons (1950, 1953-1960) that Ford played for Casey Stengel, the Manager often used his ace only in important games against tougher opponents.
That meant he pitched once in about five days, sometimes seven days.
When his former teammate Ralph Houk took over as Manager in 1961, he used Ford every fourth day regardless of the opponent.
It was in 1961 that Ford had his best season and won the Cy Young Award.
He was 25-4 with a 3.21 ERA and struckout a career-high 209 batters in 283 innings pitched.
Ford led the Major League with his wins, winning percentage (.862), games started (39) and innings pitched.
While Ford was having a great season in 1961, all attention that year was focused on two other Yankee-players.
Outfielders Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle were battling each other for the homerun-lead.
Maris finished the season with 61 homeruns to set a single-season record and breaking the 'unbreakable' record of Yankee-legend Babe Ruth.
This homerun-battle is depicted in the TV-movie 61* (2001), which was directed by Billy Crystal.
In that movie, Barry Pepper played Roger Maris and Thomas Jane played Mickey Mantle.
Anthony Michael Hall played the part of Whitey Ford.
Ford won 24 games in 1963, which was the highest total that season in the American League, as were his 37 starts and 269 1/3 inning pitched.
After the season, he finished in third place for the Most Valuable Player Award.
In 1964, Ford pitched in his tenth and final All Star Game.
In 1959 through 1962, there were two All Star Games in a season.
In 1960 and 1961, Ford pitched in both Games.
In the final years of his career, Ford encountered some health difficulties, as he had a problem in his throwing shoulder.
On 21 May 1967, Ford threw only one inning in what would be his final Major League-start.
In that inning, he walked a batter, gave up a basehit and one run.
After that game, het didn't throw again and he announced his retirement at the end of the month at age 38.
Whitey Ford was known for having a great control.
He never threw a No-Hitter, but in 1955, he threw two consecutive one-hitters.
In his 16-year Major League-career, Whitey Ford pitched in 498 games (438 starts).
The lefthander was 236-106 and also was credited with eleven saves.
In 3.170 1/3 innings pitched, Ford struckout 1.956 batters and walked 1.086.
He finished his career with a 2.75 ERA and 156 complete games.
As a batter, Ford batted .173 with three homeruns.
...Whitey Ford pitching in 1955 World Series Game 1...
...Jackie Robinson steals home and catcher Yogi Berra is angry... |
His 2.75 ERA is the third lowest ever for starting pitchers after 1920.
Only active pitchers Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Jacob deGrom (New York Mets) have lower career ERAs.
Ford is the All-time Yankees-leader in Wins (236), ShutOuts (46), Innings Pitched (3.170 1/3) and Games Started (438).
Whitey Ford played in 11 World Series with New York Yankees, winning six of them (1950, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962).
He was 2-0 in the 1961 Series, giving up no runs in 14 innings and was named the MVP afterwards.
Ford set several World Series pitching-records, including most consecutive scoreless innings (33 2/3) and strikeouts (94).
He also won 10 World Series-games, which is another record.
There is wellknown moment in the 1955 World Series when New York played against Brooklyn Dodgers (the current Los Angeles Dodgers).
Ford won his two starts against Brooklyn, which went on to win the title in seven games.
In Game 1, Ford was the starting pitcher.
In the eighth inning, another legend, Jackie Robinson stole home and a close play followed at the plate.
Home Plate Umpire Bill Summers ruled Robinson safe, while catcher (and yes, also a legend) Yogi Berra angrily argued that he had tagged the sliding runner.
During the 1964 season, while still playing himself, Ford also was the Yankees Pitching Coach.
He was the 1B Coach of New York during the 1968 season in the coaching staff of Manager Ralph Houk, then was the Pitching Coach again in 1974 and 1975.
He ended his coaching career due to health problems, but remained active as an instructor during Spring Training.
...Whitey Ford's...
...Hall of Fame Plaque... |
In his 16-year Major League-career (1950, 1953-1967), Whitey Ford became a legendary pitcher in the rich history of the New York Yankees.
In those seasons, Ford played with numerous wellknown players, some of them becoming legends and Hall of Famers themselves.
Amongst them are Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra, Clete Boyer, Bobby Brown, Andy Carey, Jerry Coleman, Joe Collins, Ralph Houk, Elston Howard, Tony Kubek, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Billy Martin, Gil McDougald, Johnny Mize, Joe Pepitone, Bobby Richardson, Phil Rizzuto, Bill Skowron and Enos Slaughter and pitchers Ralph Branca, Jim Bouton, Lew Burdette, Al Downing, Don Larsen, Eddie Lopat, Sal Maglie, Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi, Johnny Sain, Mel Stottlemyre, Ralph Terry and Bob Turley.
In his rookie-season, Ford was a teammate of legendary Joe DiMaggio.
In the final years of his career, he also was a teammate of Ruben Amaro, Dick Howser, Bobby Murcer and Roy White.
In 15 of his 16 seasons, Ford was a teammate of Mickey Mantle and the two became close friends.
Other longtime teammates were Howard (13 seasons), Berra (12), Richardson (11), Kubek (10), Skowron (9), Bauer (8), McDougald (8) and Maris (7).
Besides Ford, also inducted into the Hall of Fame from this group of players were Berra, DiMaggio, Mantle, Rizzuto, Slaughter and Manager Casey Stengel.
In 1974, Whitey Ford was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, along with longtime teammate and centerfielder Mickey Mantle.
Also inducted into the Hall of Fame that year, after being elected by the Veterans Committee, were Negro Leagues-legend Cool Papa Bell, first baseman Jim Bottomley, outfielder Sam Thompson and umpire Jocko Conlan.
Later in 1974, the New York Yankees retired Ford's uniform number 16.
A plaque in his honor was dedicated in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park in 1987.
In 1999, Ford was named to the Major League Baseball's All-Century Team.
In 1994, in Missisauga, Ontario (Canada), a road was named after Whitey Ford in an area of the city where several streets are named after Hall of Fame-players.
In 2000, a baseball-field in Astoria, Queens (near New York City) was named Whitey Ford Field.
Whitey Ford also played a small part in a television series.
In 1984, Ford and fellow Yankee Mickey Mantle made cameo appearances in an episode of the crime/drama-series Remington Steel.
The title-role in this series was played by Pierce Brosnan, who in 1995 through 2002 played the role of James Bond in four films.
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...In Memoriam Tribute Whitey Ford by Major League Baseball... |
Hal Steinbrenner, Managing General Partner of New York Yankees, issued the following statement on Friday:
,,Whitey’s name and accomplishments are forever stitched into the fabric of baseball’s rich history.
He was a treasure, and one of the greatest of Yankees to ever wear the pinstripes.
Beyond the accolades that earned him his rightful spot within the walls of the Hall of Fame, in so many ways he encapsulated the spirit of the Yankees teams he played for and represented for nearly two decades.
Whitey was New York tough.
When you couple that with his dedicated service to our country, a deep love for the only team he ever played for, six World Championships, and a genuine personality and charisma that showed throughout his life, it’s no wonder he endeared himself as a legend to generations of Yankees fans everywhere.
While there is comfort knowing Whitey was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing while watching his favorite team compete, this is a tremendous loss to the Yankees and the baseball community.
We have lost our ‘Chairman of the Board,’ and we extend our deepest condolences to the entire Ford family''.
Speaking to the media before Game 5 of the American League Divison Series, New York Yankees-Manager Aaron Boone said:
,,Whitey Ford is a legend in our industry, and certainly here with the New York Yankees.
This is one of those guys that’s a Mount Rushmore guy in the Yankee organization.
He personifies this franchise’s greatness.
I prayed for his family today.
It sounds like his family was around him last night, and I understand he was watching the Yankee game when he passed away.
I feel like there’s some comfort in that''.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred stated on Friday:
,,Today all of Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Whitey Ford, a New York City native who became a legend for his hometown team.
Whitey earned his status as the ace of some of the most memorable teams in our sport’s rich history.
Beyond the Chairman of the Board’s excellence on the mound, he was a distinguished ambassador for our National Pastime throughout his life.
I extend my deepest condolences to Whitey’s family, his friends and admirers throughout our game, and all fans of the Yankees''.
Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said:
,,Whitey Ford anchored the great Yankees teams of the 1950s and ’60s and was the winningest pitcher in the team’s storied history.
A six-time champion and the owner of the most World Series wins by any pitcher, Whitey loved the Hall of Fame, Cooperstown and the legacy that he and his teammates built during the game’s golden era.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family and we will celebrate his life in Cooperstown forever''.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News extends his condolences to the family of Whitey Ford and wishes them a lot of strength with this big loss.
(October 9)
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