History of Whitey Ford in Timeline
"Whitey" Ford, nicknamed "the Chairman of the Board", was a legendary pitcher for the New York Yankees. During his 16-year MLB career, he achieved numerous accolades including 10 All-Star selections, six World Series championships, a Cy Young Award, and a World Series MVP. He is the Yankees' all-time leader in wins and several other pitching categories. Ford's exceptional career led to his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
1920: Low Career ERA
Whitey Ford's 2.75 career earned run average is the third-lowest among starting pitchers who began their careers after the start of the live-ball era in 1920.
October 21, 1928: Whitey Ford's Birthday
Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford, nicknamed "the Chairman of the Board", was born on October 21, 1928. He would go on to become a famous American professional baseball pitcher.
1947: Signing with the Yankees and Nickname Origin
After signing with the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947, Whitey Ford was nicknamed "Whitey" while in the minor leagues due to his light blond hair.
1947: Signing with the Yankees
Whitey Ford signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947.
July 1, 1950: Major League Debut and Early Success
Whitey Ford began his Major League Baseball career with the Yankees on July 1, 1950. He started his career with nine consecutive wins, garnering MVP votes and the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award despite pitching only 112 innings.
1950: Major League Debut
Whitey Ford made his major league debut with the New York Yankees in 1950.
1951: Marriage to Joan
Whitey Ford married Joan at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Astoria in 1951.
1951: Start of Military Service
Whitey Ford's baseball career was put on hold in 1951 when he entered the United States Army to serve during the Korean War era.
1952: Continuing Military Service
Whitey Ford continued his service in the United States Army during 1952.
1953: Return to the Yankees
Following a two-year stint in the United States Army during the Korean War, Ford rejoined the Yankees in 1953.
1953: Return to Yankees and Uniform Number Change
Upon returning to the Yankees in 1953, Whitey Ford changed his uniform number from 19 to 16, a number he would wear for the rest of his career. His return expanded the Yankee's "Big Three" pitching staff to a "Big Four".
1954: First All-Star Selection
Whitey Ford was selected for his first AL All-Star game in 1954.
1955: Leading the American League
In 1955, Whitey Ford led the American League in both complete games and wins.
1955: Consecutive One-Hit Games
Whitey Ford pitched back-to-back one-hit games in 1955, tying a record held by multiple pitchers.
1956: Last Surviving Member of 1956 Championship Team
At the time of his death in 2020, Whitey Ford was the last surviving member of the 1956 World Champion New York Yankees.
1956: Another Leading Year
Whitey Ford's dominance continued in 1956 as he led the American League in both earned run average and winning percentage.
1956: Tying AL Strikeout Record
Whitey Ford, an effective strikeout pitcher, tied the American League record for consecutive strikeouts in 1956.
1958: Breaking His Own Strikeout Record
In 1958, Whitey Ford again tied the American League record for consecutive strikeouts, matching his own achievement from 1956.
1958: Leading the AL in ERA
Whitey Ford led the American League in earned run average in 1958.
1961: World Series Record and MVP
In 1961, Whitey Ford broke Babe Ruth's World Series record for consecutive scoreless innings, reaching 33+2⁄3 innings. He also won the World Series MVP Award that year.
1961: Cy Young Award and World Series MVP
In 1961, Whitey Ford won both the Cy Young Award and World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
1961: A Change in Management, More Starts, and a Record-Breaking Season
Under new manager Ralph Houk, who promised to play Ford every fourth day regardless of the opponent, Whitey Ford had his first 20-win season in 1961. It was also his first season with more than 30 starts since joining the team. He achieved a career-best 25-4 record and won the Cy Young Award, a feat somewhat overshadowed by the home run race between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. This season also saw him set a new record by pitching 243 consecutive innings without surrendering a stolen base.
1961: Doctoring the Ball in the All-Star Game
Whitey Ford admitted to doctoring the baseball during the 1961 All-Star Game at Candlestick Park in order to strike out Willie Mays. He and Mickey Mantle had run up a substantial tab at Giants owner Horace Stoneham's country club and were promised by Stoneham that he'd pay the tab if Ford struck Mays out.
1961: Claiming No Cheating During the 1961 Season
Whitey Ford maintained that he did not cheat during his 25-win season in 1961.
1961: Leading the AL and Winning the Cy Young Award
Whitey Ford won the Cy Young Award in 1961, a year in which he also led the American League in both games won and winning percentage.
May 1963: Quitting Smoking
After pitching a shutout, Whitey Ford publicly announced he had quit smoking in May 1963, citing his doctor's advice to imagine bus exhaust whenever he thought about smoking.
1963: Leading the AL Again
In 1963, Whitey Ford once again led the American League in both wins and winning percentage. He likely deserved the Cy Young Award, but at the time it was only awarded to one pitcher across both leagues.
1963: Admitting to Possible Cheating in 1963
While Whitey Ford claimed he didn't cheat during his Cy Young Award-winning season in 1961, he admitted to possibly cheating "a little" during his 24-win season in 1963.
1964: Yankees Pitching Coach
While still an active player, Whitey Ford served as the Yankees pitching coach in 1964.
1964: Last All-Star Selection
Whitey Ford was selected for his eighth and final AL All-Star game in 1964.
August 1966: Circulatory Surgery
In August 1966, Whitey Ford underwent surgery to address a circulatory problem in his pitching shoulder.
May 1967: Final Start and Retirement Announcement
Whitey Ford announced his retirement from baseball at the end of May 1967 at age 38, having only pitched one inning in what would be his final start that same month.
1967: Retirement
Whitey Ford retired from professional baseball in 1967 after a 16-year career with the New York Yankees.
1968: Yankees First Base Coach
In 1968, Whitey Ford served as the New York Yankees' first base coach.
1974: Hall of Fame Induction and Number Retirement
Both Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. The Yankees also retired Ford's number 16.
1974: Return as Pitching Coach
Whitey Ford returned to the Yankees as pitching coach in 1974.
1974: Induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame
Whitey Ford was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
1975: Yankees Pitching Coach (Post-Retirement)
After his retirement as a player, Whitey Ford again served as the Yankees pitching coach from 1974 to 1975.
1975: Continued as Pitching Coach
Whitey Ford continued his role as the Yankees pitching coach in 1975.
1977: Broadcasting and APSPL Commissioner
In 1977, Whitey Ford was part of the broadcast team for the Toronto Blue Jays' first game. He also began serving as commissioner of the American Professional Slow-Pitch Softball League (APSPL).
1984: Long Island Sports Hall of Fame
Whitey Ford was inducted into the Long Island Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.
1987: Monument Park Plaque Dedication
In 1987, the Yankees dedicated a plaque in Whitey Ford's honor in Monument Park.
1994: Ford Road in Mississauga
A road in Mississauga, Ontario, was named Ford Road in honor of Whitey Ford in 1994.
1999: Sporting News Recognition and All-Century Team Nomination
Whitey Ford was ranked 52nd on The Sporting News' list of Baseball's Greatest Players in 1999. That same year, he was nominated for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
2000: Postseason Record Broken
Mariano Rivera surpassed Whitey Ford's record for consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason in 2000.
2000: Whitey Ford Field Dedication
The ballfield in Astoria, Queens, overlooking the East River on 26th Avenue, between 1st and 2nd Streets, was named Whitey Ford Field at a Yankee Stadium ceremony in 2000.
2002: Whitey Ford's Cafe Opens
Whitey Ford opened "Whitey Ford's Cafe", a sports-themed restaurant and bar near Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, New York, in 2002. It closed down less than a year later.
2008: First Pitch at All-Star Game
Whitey Ford threw the first pitch at the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
2015: The Greatest Living Yankee
After Yogi Berra's death in 2015, George Vecsey of The New York Times proposed that Whitey Ford was now "The Greatest Living Yankee".
2015: Residences in Long Island and Florida
As of 2015, 86-year-old Whitey Ford was splitting his time between his homes in Long Island and Florida.
October 8, 2020: Whitey Ford's Death
Whitey Ford passed away on October 8, 2020, at the age of 91.
2023: ERA Compared to Modern Pitchers
As of 2023, only Clayton Kershaw and Jacob deGrom have lower career earned run averages than Whitey Ford among starting pitchers whose careers started after the live-ball era began in 1920.
