Last Thursday evening, Whitey Ford passed away at the age of 91 in his Long Island home surrounded by his family while watching his team play on the television. Although this is devastating news to baseball fans around the world, I honestly can't think of a better way to go.
2010 National Chicle Relics #NCR-WF
Unfortunately, I never had the honor of watching him play. He pitched his final MLB game five years before I was born. But I have a feeling that I would have rooted for him had I been born a decade or two earlier.
1960 Topps #35
I've always liked his personality and admired the fact that he stayed with the New York Yankees his entire career which spanned sixteen seasons over eighteen years. What happened the other two years? He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. What's not to like? Throw in the fact that he's a lefty and it doesn't get better than that.
2001 Topps Team Topps Legends Autographs #207
2001 Topps Archives Reserve Rookie Reprint Autographs #ARA2
2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Autographs #FFA-WF
Except it does. Ford is a Yankee legend and a World Series hero for their fans.
1956 Topps #240
According to this tribute video on ESPN, he received the nickname... Chairman of the Board because he was the guy you wanted on the mound for the big game. He was great under pressure.
2003 Topps Tribute World Series Subway Series Fan Fare Tokens #SSF-WF
2002 Topps Heritage Grandstand Glory #GG-WF
He pitched 33⅔ consecutive innings in the World Series without allowing a run, which is still a record to this day. He also holds the record for most World Series wins (10), starts (22), innings pitched (146), and strikeouts (94).
1962 Topps Bucks #NNO
During those sixteen seasons with the New York Yankees, he pitched in eleven different World Series and won titles in 1950, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, and 1962.
1967 Topps #5
The New York Yankees are the most successful franchise in MLB history and Ford is their all-time leader in wins (236), innings pitched (3,170⅓), games started (tied w/Andy Pettite), and shutouts (45).
In that regards, he's the best of the best.
1991 Topps Archives #86
1991 Topps Archives #82
1991 Topps Archives #207
Rest in peace Whitey. Although if what they say in that video is true... I'm sure Billy and Mickey met you at the gates with a case of cold beer and you're still partying five days later. But when you're ready... enjoy your rest. You have earned it.
Happy Tuesday and sayonara!
Yeah, I'm happy to say he was my father's generation. Great player who kind of gets overshadowed by guys like Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, and Dimaggio.
ReplyDeleteOne of the b r st World Series pitchers of All- Time. I wouldn't mind getting his 1967 Topps card.
ReplyDeleteGood Job. 👍
My dad talks alot about Whitey Ford. I was also pretty sad about Joe Morgan's recent passing.
ReplyDeletehere here! RIP
ReplyDeleteReally nice autograph collection, but I think I like the jersey relic the most! I love those old old Yankee jerseys that are more cream colored than today's whites.
ReplyDeleteGreat tribute post Fuji, you've got a fantastic collection of Ford there. That trio of certified autographs is pretty stunning!
ReplyDeleteRIP, Whitey. I rarely see his cards discussed in collecting circles, so this was a very welcome post.
ReplyDeleteNice tribute. Hearing the nickname "Chairman of the Board" reminds me that is how he was always introduced on Old Timers Day, which reminded me that there was no Old Timers Day this year.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Whitey.
ReplyDeleteI asked my dad about him, who saw him pitch a lot back then. He describes him as "subdued-but he always got the job done. Overshadowed by a team full of stars. Chairman of the board and getting the job done says it all."
ReplyDeleteelliptical man - he was part of my father's generation too. and as much as it saddens me to say this... he was a closet yankees fan.
ReplyDeletejohn sharp - my copy of his 67t card is a little beat up, but i'm not complaining
big tone - heard about morgan too. the year just keeps getting worse and worse
johnnys trading spot - hope he really did go watching the yankees game. if it's true, he went out doing something he loved
the lost collector - that jersey swatch is really nice. love that old flannel
shoeboxlegends - thanks. i wish i would have started collecting him a few years earlier. but i'm happy with it
nick - thanks nick. i'd love to see more whitey ford posts. actually posts about anyone from that era would be welcomed
bo - hopefully there'll be an old timers day in 2021. maybe they'll do a tribute to whitey
gtt - yup
adam kaningher - those yankees teams were just loaded with stars. my father talks more about football, but i did get him to open up about baseball a few years ago. that's when he revealed to me that he liked rooting for the yankees of that era.
Really nice post, Mark. And a great selection of cards, too, that you have. I really like the 1856 and 1960. I just have his last Topps card, the '67.
ReplyDeleteThose topps bucks are so cool. I need to get one
ReplyDeleteMickey & Billy must have atoned something fierce to make it anywhere near those pearly gates. Whitey Ford is The Fifth Beatle in Terms of Yankee Legends
ReplyDeletepeter k steinberg - i'd love to get a slabbed copy of his 1967 card, but it's not super high up on my priority list. i did just pick up a signed copy of his 1960 topps card though
ReplyDeletesport card collectors - yeah, the ford is my only copy. i should look into picking up a few others myself
xavier higgins - i sure hope so. i'd like to think they're all hanging out together again
R.I.P. Whitey. 2020, time for you to end.
ReplyDeleteLots of class, with Whitey. Sad to lose all these old timers recently.
ReplyDelete