Longtime New York Yankees pitcher Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford, also known as the Chairman of the Board, passed away yesterday just 12 days shy of what would have been his 92nd birthday. No cause of death has been released.
Ford was arguably the greatest pitcher in New York Yankees history as evidenced by his 236 career wins, the most of any Yankees pitcher, and 10 wins in the World Series, the most by any pitcher in MLB history. Ford is certainly among the greatest left-handed pitchers in MLB history.
Born in Manhattan, Ford grew up in the Astoria section of Queens. He signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947. Nicknamed Whitey by Lefty Gomez (another Yankees pitching legend who was managed him in the minor leagues), Ford would make the club in 1950 and made an immediate impact going 9-1 with a 2.81 ERA tossing 10 complete games and two shutouts in only a dozen starts. Ford would finish runner up in AL Rookie of the Year balloting to Walt Dropo of the Boston Red Sox. This was not too disappointing as Ford would earn his first of six World Series rings.
After missing the 1951 and 1952 seasons due to military commitments, Ford pick up where he left off in 1953 winning 18 games and another World Series ring. In 1954, Ford would be named to his first of 10 AL All-Star teams. He would earn the AL ERA title in both 1956 and 1958, posting marks of 2.47 and 2.01, respectively.
Ford's best season came in 1961. While that season was remembered for Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle's pursuit of Babe Ruth's then single season home run record, Ford earned a career high 25 wins and 283 innings pitched (both of which also led the AL) en route to his only Cy Young Award - which at the time was awarded to only pitcher for both leagues.
Nicknamed the Chairman of the Board by his longtime battery mate Elston Howard, Ford would retire following the 1967 season. In 16 seasons with the Yankees, Ford went 236-106 with an ERA of 2.75 compiling a winning percentage of .690 - the best in the modern era of MLB. Ford would be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974, his second year of eligibility with 77.4% of the vote. He would inducted alongside his old teammate and friend, Mickey Mantle.
Following his playing career, Ford served as the Yankees first base coach in 1968 and would later return as the team's pitching coach in 1974 and 1975. Ford tried his hand at broadcasting with the Toronto Blue Jays during their expansion season in 1977. Aside from appearances at Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium, Ford largely kept out of the limelight splitting his time between Long Island and Florida.
Ford is the fourth Hall of Famer to pass away in less than six weeks. Tom Seaver, another New York pitching legend, died on August 31st with St. Louis Cardinals' greats Lou Brock and Bob Gibson passing away within a month of each other. Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline also passed away in April in this awful year that is 2020.
Ford's passing comes only hours before the Yankees take the field for the fifth and deciding game of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. Gerrit Cole, a pitcher many believe would be Cooperstown bound one day will toe the rubber for the Bronx Bombers. Perhaps some devine inspiration will be in order this evening. R.I.P.
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