Whitey Ford, Yankees legend, Army vet, dies age 91
Whitey Ford, 1953
Edward Charles (better known as Whitey) Ford died yesterday at age 91. The New York Yankees legend played 16 years of Major League Baseball for the franchise, was a ten-time All-Star, and six-time World Series champion.
Like many of his generation, he served his country. Having made his MLB debut in July 1950, he won his first nine games, earning Rookie of the Year honors. In 1951 though, when North Korea invaded the South, he he was drafted into the Army. “Army life was rough,” Ford is fond of saying. “Would you believe it? They actually wanted me to pitch three times a week.”
Ford served stateside at Fort Monmouth. His Yankees teammates didn’t forget him either. The entire team showed up at his wedding in 1951, while he was in the Army. Three days later, on April 17, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch against the Boston Red Sox, proudly wearing his Army uniform.
Playing baseball for the Army team for two years, he returned to pro-baseball in 1953 and played until 1967. He still holds several records for the Yankees and is the 20th Century MLB pitcher with the highest winning percentage (.690).
Godspeed, Whitey!
Category: Army, Baseball, We Remember
Sad song, I ain’t lying. There goes another piece of our growing up/older. The age when Sports Figures Loved their Country, Their Fans, and were just there to play the game! Saw this on evening last, was gonna give Commision Wretched FIRST shot at posting the news. CW is a BIG Baseball Fan, he is.
God Speed and Fare Well Whitey, Much respect for your playing ability AND the fact you wore your Country’s Uniform with Pride. I’ll see you on the Other Side, from the Bleachers!
“The age when Sports Figures Loved their Country, Their Fans, and were just there to play the game!”
GOD how I miss those days!
Lots of legends passing away in 2020. Al Kaline, Tom Seaver. Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, and now Whitey Ford.
God’s updating the Heavenly Baseball League roster.
A little snippet about Bob Gibson, sounds like something Yogi would have said./s
“Bob Gibson is the luckiest pitcher I ever saw. He’s always pitching when the other team doesn’t score any runs.” – Tim McCarver
RIP to the Big Man.
Really, REALLY?!?!?!
I’m pretty disgusted at TAH being so insensitive.
“Caucasianey Ford…”
Jesus, You People …
CHipadoodle…OUT!!
Sorry to be a nitpicky bastard, but the war started in June 1950, not 1951.
C’mon. What’s a year between friends?
According to Yankee manager Aaron Boone, the family told him that Ford had passed away while watching the Yankees play on TV.
How fitting.
RIP to “The Chairman of the Board”. I met Whitey several times. He was an acquaintance of my uncle through ties in horse racing. My uncle knew many of the Yankee greats of the 50’s & 60’s from racing at Yonkers, Roosevelt, and Freehold Raceways. When I met him, he was more interested in taking about horse than baseball. He was a legendary player from a legendary team at one of their dominant times in history.