Whitey Ford
Whitey Ford was Casey Stengel's designated big game pitcher, though curiously he never pitched a crucial seventh game of the World Series, despite the fact that the Yanks played seven of them during his career. A close buddy of Mickey Mantle, Ford was known as "The Chairman of the Board." He won 10 of his 22 World Series starts, including two games in a series three times. He entered the Hall of Fame with Mantle.
| Career Batting Stats |
| G |
AB |
H |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
SLG |
OBP |
OPS |
OPS+ |
| 500 |
1023 |
177 |
91 |
3 |
69 |
3 |
.173 |
.200 |
.256 |
.457 |
64.8 |
|
Quotes From Whitey Ford
"Army life was rough. Would you believe it - they actually wanted me to pitch three times a week."
Where does Whitey Ford rank among baseball greats?
Whitey Ford ranks #28 among the Top 50 all-time at SP. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1961
While Maris and Mantle were making news for busting fences with home runs, Ford led the Yankee pitching staff on one of the greatest teams of all-time. He led the AL with a 25-4 record and 283 innings pitched. He posted a 3.21 ERA, good enough to win with the vaunted Bomber offense. He was awarded the Cy Young award, and followed it up with the World Series MVP as well, on the strength of two wins, six hits allowed in 14 innings, and a 0.00 ERA.
Factoids
Whitey Ford started more games (22), pitched more innings (146), gave up more hits (134), struck out more batters (94), walked more batters (34), and won more games (10), than any other pitcher in World Series history. He also lost eight games - the most ever.
In Whitey Ford's eight World Series losses, the Yankees scored just 18 runs for him — an average of 2.25 per game. In two contests the Yanks were shutout.
Sudden Impact
In baseball history, these pitchers had the most wins in their first 100 decisions for their new teams:
Pedro Martinez, Red Sox 78-22, .780 (1998-2002)
Bill Hoffer, Orioles 76-24, .760 (1895-1897)
Cy Young, Red Sox 75-25, .750 (1901-1903)
Whitey Ford, Yankees 74-26, .740 (1950-1956)
Dwight Gooden, Mets 74-26, .740 (1984-1988)
Lost Seasons
Whitey Ford won nine of ten decisions in his 1950 rookie season. But he spent the next two seasons in the military, before returning for the '53 campaign.
Born
Edward Charles Ford was born on October 21, 1928, in New York, NY.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Major League Debut
7 1,
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1950
Joe Adcock
Gus Bell
Jimmy Piersall
Jackie Jensen
Jim Busby
Chico Carrasquel
Billy Martin
Lew Burdette
Whitey Ford
Nicknames
The Chairman of the Board,Slick
Uniform Numbers
#19 (1950), #16 (1953-1967)
Similar Players
Billy Pierce, Tom Glavine
Related Players
Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose (whom Ford dubbed "Charlie Hustle").
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1973 |
BBWAA |
255 |
67.1% |
1974 |
BBWAA |
284 |
77.8% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1950 World Series
1953 World Series
1955 World Series
1956 World Series
1957 World Series
1958 World Series
1960 World Series
1961 World Series
1962 World Series
1963 World Series
1964 World Series
Post-Season Notes
Whitey Ford never pitched in an ultimate game, though the Yankees played in seven during his career, which seems odd since his manager Casey Stengel often referred to him as the "money pitcher."
In the 1955 World Series, Ford started and won Game One and was saved by Stengel and used in Game Six, where he also started and won ( a complete game four-hitter). In '56 he was rocked in Game One and came back on two days rest to win Game Three. Though he'd pitched just 12 innings in the two games, Casey held him back for the rest of the series as New York won in seven. In 1957 Ford out-dueled Warren Spahn to win Game One, lost Game Five, and was done for the series. In the seventh game of that series, Stengel used three starting pitchers in relief, but not Whitey. In 1958 Spahn beat Ford in Game One and Game Four, giving the Braves a 3-1 lead. After Bob Turley won Game Five, Whitey returned on two days rest to start Game Six. He gave up a run in the first, and after loading the bases in the second inning (Spahn having singled off him), Ford was replaced. The Yankees came back to win the game in extra-innings but Ford was done.
Two years later in 1960, Ford pitched shutouts in Game Three and Game Six, setting up the famous finale which New York lost on Bill Mazeroski's home run. In 1962, under Ralph Houk, Ford started and won Game One against the Giants. Ralph Terry started Game Two, Bill Stafford Game Three and Whitey returned for Game Four. He pitched six innings and left the game tied. Seemingly set up to start Game Seven, Ford was brought back on one-days rest to pitch Game Six, which the Yanks needed to nail down the title. He was tired, and was knocked out in less than five innings, allowing nine hits and five earned runs. The loss forced a Game Seven, which Terry won.
It seems that Ford was a big-game pitcher but he needed his rest. In both 1958 and 1962 he was used on short rest and was beaten. Though he won games on short rest at other times, his managers were unwilling to use him in Game Sevens when he was tired.
Awards and Honors
1961 ML Cy Young
1961 ML WS MVP
Pitching Feats
All-Star Selections
1954 AL
1955 AL
1956 AL
1958 AL
1959 AL
1960 AL
1961 AL
1964 AL
Replaced
In 1950, as a rookie, Ford stepped in as the Yankees fifth starter, really not replacing anyone. When he returned from Korea in 1953, he was their ace, stepping into the shoes of Vic Raschi.
Replaced By
Rookie Fritz Peterson became the Yankees' new lefty in 1966, as Ford finished his career as a starter.
Best Strength as a Player
His willingness and ability to skirt the rules. Ford was a master at doctoring the baseball. He bragged that he could cut a baseball in more ways than any other pitcher. Ford sharpened the edges of his wedding ring and used it to cut slices in the ball, as well as the buckle on his belt. He also had his catchers, including Elston Howard, sharpen their belt buckles. One of his most famous inventions was a "gunk ball" which he loaded with a mixture of baby oil, resin, and turpentine. Several other pitchers, teammates and opponents, claim that Ford taught them how to throw the spitball and cutball.
Largest Weakness as a Player
No glaring weaknesses.
Learn More about Whitey Ford
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