Yankees legend Whitey Ford dies, 91
The beloved player was a six-time World Series Champ, Cy Young winner
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Edward Charles “Whitey” Ford,
the New York Yankees’ winningest
franchise pitcher, passed away at the
age of 91 on Thursday, Oct. 8 on his
Long Island home.
His cause of death has not yet been
announced.
Known as the pressure thriving and
slick “Chairman of the Board” during
many of his sixteen seasons throwing for
the Bombers from 1950 to 1967, Ford’s accomplishments
in pinstripes are fantasies
to even the most outstanding pitchers
of the modern day.
He was a six time World Series champion,
1961 Cy Young winner and World
Series MVP, plus a ten time all star who
put his major league career on hold to
fi ght in the U.S. Army during the Korean
War from 1951-1952.
The great number 16 also surpassed
the consecutive scoreless World Series
innings record previously held by Babe
Ruth during the Bambino’s time with
the Boston Red Sox at 33.
He also holds the the title for most
consecutive World Series wins at 10 and
total strikeouts in the Fall Classic at 94.
That’s along with the Yankees record
for wins at 236, innings pitched at 3,170.1
and shutouts at 45 in addition a plethora
of franchise marks.
A city boy through and through, Ford
was born in Manhattan October 21, 1928
and grew up in Astoria, Queens, later
graduating the Manhattan High School
of Aviation Trades – so naturally the
Yankees signed Whitey as an amateur
free agent in 1947.
The lefty, fastball and curve-style
pitcher had a particularly fond friendship
with outfi elder Mickey Mantle during
his playing career and a similar rapport
with manager Billy Martin.
It was fi tting that both Whitey and the
Mick were inducted into Cooperstown in
1974, Ford earning 77 percent of votes on
his second ballot; he was immortalized
in Monument Park on August 1, 1987.
Whitey briefl y broadcasted for the
Yankees upon his retirement from
baseball, playing into a running joke
that he and Mantle were ‘broke’ and
needed jobs.
“The Yankees are incredibly saddened
to learn of the passing of Hall of
Famer Whitey Ford. Whitey spent his
entire 16-year career as a Yankee. A 6x
WS Champion and 10x All-Star, The
Chairman of the Board was one of the
best lefties to ever toe the rubber. He will
be deeply missed,” said the Yankess on
its offi cial Twitter account.
“He was a treasure, and one of the
greatest of Yankees to ever wear the pinstripes.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,22 OCTOBER 16-22, 2020 BTR
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,” Yankees Managing
General Partner Hal Steinbrenner said
upon the news of Ford’s death.
As fate would have it, he passed just
two days after Deivi Garcia surpassed
Ford as the Yankees youngest ever playoff
starter on Tuesday.
“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.”
Like the Yankees needed anymore
motivation ahead of tonight’s winner
take all ALDS Game 5 against the
Tampa Bay Rays, now it’s time to win
one for Whitey.
Hall of Famer Whitey Ford tips his cap as he
runs onto the fi eld during introductions for
the 65th Old Timers’ Day game before their
MLB interleague baseball game with the
Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium in New
York, June 26, 2011. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine