Whitey Ford

Professional career

Ford signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947 and spent his entire career with them. While in the minor leagues, he acquired the nickname "Whitey" because of his light blond hair. He made his major league debut on July 1, 1950, winning his first nine decisions before losing a game in relief, and received the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award.

During the Korean War, Ford served in the United States Army in 1951 and 1952, rejoining the Yankees in 1953. Upon his return, he changed his uniform number from 19 to 16, which he wore for the rest of his career. Ford became the Yankees' number-one pitcher, known as the "Chairman of the Board" for his calm command in high-pressure situations, and also as "Slick," a nickname given to him, Billy Martin, and Mickey Mantle by manager Casey Stengel. Lacking an overpowering fastball, Ford relied on pinpoint control and a variety of pitches, tying the American League record of six consecutive strikeouts in 1956 and again in 1958.

He pitched two consecutive one-hit games in 1955, tying a record held by several pitchers. Ford led the American League in complete games and wins in 1955; in earned run average and winning percentage in 1956; in earned run average in 1958; and in wins and winning percentage in both 1961 and 1963. He won the Cy Young Award in 1961 and likely would have won the 1963 AL Cy Young had a separate award for each league existed at that time.

Career statistics

Ford's career winning percentage of .690 ties him with Dave Foutz for the fourth-best in baseball history. His 2.75 earned run average is the third-lowest among starting pitchers whose careers began after the live-ball era in 1920, behind only Clayton Kershaw and Jacob deGrom through 2023. His worst single-season earned run average was 3.24. He appeared on eight AL All-Star teams between 1954 and 1964, posting a 0-2 record with an 8.25 ERA in All-Star games.

Ford holds World Series records for victories (10), losses (8), starts (22), innings pitched, hits, walks, and strikeouts. In 1961, he broke Babe Ruth's World Series record of 29 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, extending the streak to 33 innings, which remains a World Series record. He won the 1961 World Series MVP Award. In World Series play, Ford batted .082 with 4 hits, 4 runs, 3 RBIs, and 7 walks.

Honors and legacy

In 1974, Ford was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Mickey Mantle, and the Yankees retired his uniform number 16. He was elected to the Long Island Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. In 1987, the Yankees dedicated plaques in Monument Park for Ford and Lefty Gomez.

In 1999, Ford ranked 52nd on The Sporting News List of Baseball's Greatest Players and was nominated for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. A road in Mississauga, Ontario, was named Ford Road in his honor in 1994. In 2000, a ballfield in Astoria, Queens, was named Whitey Ford Field at a Yankee Stadium ceremony.

Post-playing career

Ford served as the Yankees' pitching coach during the 1964 season while still a player, and later as first base coach in 1968 and pitching coach from 1974 to 1975. In 1977, he was part of the broadcast team for the first game in Toronto Blue Jays history and began serving as commissioner of the American Professional Slow-Pitch Softball League. In 2002, he opened "Whitey Ford's Cafe," a sports-themed restaurant in Garden City, New York, which closed in less than a year. As of 2015, Ford split his time between homes on Long Island and Florida.

He died on October 8, 2020, at his home in Lake Success on Long Island at age 91, while watching the Yankees play in Game 4 of the 2020 American League Division Series, surrounded by family. He had suffered from dementia for several years. At his death, he was the second-oldest living Hall of Fame member and the last surviving member of the 1956 World Champion New York Yankees.

Did You Know?

• Ford and Mickey Mantle made cameo appearances on a 1984 episode of Remington Steele.
• In 1998, musician Everlast released a CD titled Whitey Ford Sings the Blues and adopted "Whitey Ford" as a nickname.
• Ford was portrayed by Anthony Michael Hall in the HBO movie 61 (2001), directed by Billy Crystal.