Whitey Ford
| Birthdate | 10/21/1928 |
| Death Date | 10/8/2020 |
| Debut Year | 1950 |
| Year of Induction | 1974 |
| Teams | Yankees |
| Position | Pitcher |
A ten-time All Star and six-time World Series champ, Whitey Ford was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1974, his second time on the ballot.
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Original Sport Magazine photo autographed by The Chairman of the Board"
Original Sport Magazine photo autographed by The Chairman of the Board"
Known as “The Chairman of the Board” for his ability to remain calm under pressure, Edward “Whitey” Ford was a Cy Young and MVP Award winning pitcher.
With a a Yankee franchise record 236 wins against just 106 losses, the left-hander’s .690 winning percentage is the highest in baseball history among hurlers with at least 200 decisions.
Ford was also one of the best big-game pitchers in postseason history. The left-hander sparkled when he broke Babe Ruth’s World Series record of 29 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. In 146 innings in the Fall Classic Ford post a 2.71 ERA, .004 better than his regular season mark.
His 1974 induction to Cooperstown was a foregone conclusion.
In the collection is a vintage Sport Magazine photo depicting a young Ford looking wistfully into the distance. The lifetime New Yorker has signed his name boldly across the bottom.
Whitey Ford check from 1989 signed "Edward Ford"
Whitey Ford check from 1989 signed "Edward Ford"
Whitey Ford signed with the Yankees as an 18-year old in 1947 and remained with the club for the rest of his career. Along the way the ten-time All Star won a Yankee record 236 games. In 22 World Series starts he threw 7 complete games and posted a 2.71 ERA.
In the collection is this check signed by the the 1961 Cy Young and MVP. The check is made payable to Southern Bell.
At the bottom of the check, he writes the more legal, “Edward Ford” on the check drawn on July 6, 1989. After the passing of his battery mate Yogi Berra, Ford shouldered the title of “Greatest Living Yankee”. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 91.
My favorite Whitey Ford story goes something like this: The first time Whitey was brought to Yankee Stadium shortly after being signed one of the coaches brought him over to introduce him to Yogi Berra. The coach said, Eddie Ford, I’d like to introduce you to Larry Berra. Whitey went on to say that was the last time either of us were ever called Eddie or Larry in Yankee Stadium.