"The thermometer may dictate his effectiveness these days but Whitey Ford still figures to have more hot days than cold ones. Surgery to correct a circulatory ailment in his left arm now makes him subject to changing temperatures; he loses his feel in cold weather. But on temperate days last season, Whitey was the same craftsman he's been for 14 seasons with the Yankees, as he turned in a 16-13 record. His ERA, though, shot up to 3.25. Now 37, he remains the best won-lost percentage pitcher active in the majors, with 232 career wins against 97 losses."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1966
"Whitey Ford, the winningest pitcher in New York Yankee history, entered the 1966 American League season a lot more confident than he was a year earlier. With the operation to correct a circulatory blockage in his left arm now a season behind him, Whitey is sure that his distinguished career as a Yankee has additional days ahead.
After a slow start in 1965, Ford went on to win a creditable 16 games to pass Red Ruffing's previous high mark as a Yankee.
This is the modest left-hander's twentieth year in the Yankee organization and his 17th in Bomber pinstripes. He has captured almost every honor that comes to a pitcher. Entering the current season, Whitey had posted 232 wins against only 97 losses for a .705 winning percentage, second only to Spud Chandler's record .717. His 44 shutouts are the most of any active American League pitcher. He is the all-time Yankee leader in strikeouts with 1,892 and holds the World Series mark of 33.2 consecutive shutout innings pitched. Ford won the 1961 Cy Young Award, along with both Babe Ruth and Sport Magazine honors of that year as the top Series performer."
-The New York Yankees Official 1966 Yearbook
Played sandlot ball in New York with Police Athletic League.
Attended Manhattan Aviation High School.
Signed by Yankee organization, October 4, 1946.
Pitched two consecutive 1-hitters, September 2 and September 7, 1955.
Struck out 15 in 14 innings, April 22, 1959.
Winner of Cy Young Award, 1961.
Named World Series Most Valuable Player [Babe Ruth Award] by Sport Magazine, 1961.
Holds World Series record, most consecutive scoreless innings (33.2), 1960-1961-1962, including three shutouts: 10-0 and 12-0 against Pirates in 1960 and 2-0 against Reds in 1961.
Named No. 1 American League Pitcher by The Sporting News, 1955, 1961, 1963.
Underwent surgery for a circulatory blockage in his left shoulder, October 1964.
Has most World Series wins (10), lifetime.
Has most World Series games started (22), lifetime.
Has most World Series strikeouts (94), lifetime.
Set Yankee record for most career wins- his 16 in 1965 brought his total to 232, surpassing Red Ruffing's mark of 231.
Other Yankee records held by Ford:
-most shutouts, lifetime (44), also the most by any active American League pitcher.
-most strikeouts, lifetime (1,892).
-highest winning percentage, season (.862), 1961, with a 25-4 mark.
-most consecutive wins (14), 1961, also held by Jack Chesbro, 1904.
-most shutouts, season (8), 1964, also held by Russ Ford, 1910.
-1966 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
No comments:
Post a Comment