MLB History: Top 100 Players in Baseball History (90-81)
By David Hill
88. Whitey Ford
The New York Yankees have won more World Series titles than any other team in MLB history, in large part due to their three different Golden Ages. During the second period of greatness, Whitey Ford was the backbone of their pitching staff.
The ace of those Yankees squads, Ford was frequently used by Casey Stengel to match up against the opposing team’s ace. While this may have hampered his career production, Ford still proved to be highly successful in that role. He led the American League in wins on three different occasions, made eight All-Star Games and won the Cy Young award in 1961, when he was 25-4 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.180 WHiP, striking out 209 batters in 283 innings.
Ford’s overall numbers could have been even better. He lost two seasons early in his career due to his service in the Army during the Korean War, and spent some time in relief during each season. Yet, he still put together a stellar career, posting a 236-106 record with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.215 WHiP, striking out 1956 batters.
He is also notable for three different reasons. During his career, Ford posted a .690 winning percentage, tied for the third best of all time with 1800’s pitcher Dave Foutz, despite facing against those top pitchers. Ford also posted a 1.64 ERA in his final season at age 38, yet went 2-4 in his seven starts. Finally, he was the player who coined the nickname ‘Charlie Hustle,’ which was meant to poke fun at Pete Rose.
Whitey Ford was one of the better pitchers of his era, even if his raw numbers don’t reflect his abilities. Yet, as the ace of the Yankees during their second Golden Era, he truly showed his value.
Next: The first PED user