Yankees Legend Whitey Ford Dies At 91

Legendary Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford passed away Friday, according to a statement issued by the New York Yankees. “The Chairman of the Board was one of the best lefties to ever toe the rubber,” the Yankees said on Twitter. “He will be deeply missed.”

Ford spent 16 years as a Yankee and won six World Series over that span. He was a ten-time all-star who finished with 236 wins and a Cy Young in 1961. The Chairman was the Yankees game one World Series pitcher in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964. It was during that 1961 Cy Young Award season when he threw 14 scoreless innings and won World Series MVP.

“Guess how my spouse greeted me,” Ford said to the media after breaking Babe Ruth’s World Series scoreless innings streak during the 1961 series. “‘Why haven’t you asked me to join you in Cincinnati?’ she wanted to know. Never mentioned anything about the ball game. Just like a wife, huh?” Ford joked to the New York media.

Ford served in the Army from 1951 to 1952 during the Korean War. The story goes that Ford obtained a 13-day furlough after serving five months in the military and used the time to marry Joan Foran on April 14,1951. They celebrated 69 years of marriage in April.

It was the wedding reception when Ford met rookie Mickey Mantle for the first time. Joe DiMaggio and other Yankees players brought 19-year-old Mantle along for the celebration. That started a lifelong friendship.

“My family lost a great friend and a truly wonderful person,” Ford said of Mantle after his passing in 1995. “Now that both Mickey and Billy [Martin] are gone, I’ll never have friends like them again in my life.”

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. pic.twitter.com/2KDi4V9SeA

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 9, 2020