SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
It was a sad night for New York Yankee nation.
It was two fold, for not only were the Bronx Bombers eliminated, 2-1, Friday night in the deciding game five of the American League Division Series of Major League Baseball by the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays, but their Hall of Fame southpaw pitcher, Whitey Ford, died at the age of 91 while watching the prior game four Thursday night with family at his Long Island home in Lake Success, N.Y., one in which New York won to even the series.
In the game itself played at Petco Park in San Diego, it was two home runs to one that brought Tampa Ray the best-of-five series and a best-of-seven Championship Series with the Houston Astros, who earned their spot by turning back the Oakland Athletics in four games. It was the first time Tampa Bay got this far since 2008, and it will remain in San Diego
The winner will meet the National League champion that has the No.1-seeded Los Dodgers taking on the Atlanta Braves at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Tex.
The big blow came in the top of the eighth after 26-year-old utilitaryman Mike Brosseauwent through a 10-pitch at-bat against New York’s vaunted, hard-throwing left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman, before he parked a 100 mph blazer into the stands beyond the reach of leftfielder Brett Gardner in what was only the third hit for the Rays, who finished five games ahead of the Yankees in the Eastern Division.
The Yanks broke a scoreless tie on Aaron Judge’s solo shot into the left-center field seats in the third inning. New York starter, acerighty Gerrit Cole, pitching on three days rest after winning game one, hadn’t allowed a hit until All-Star Austin Meadows homered to tie things at 1-1 in the fifth frame. The 6-foot-7 Judge tried to make a leaping catch but jammed his head into a padded overhang. Cole left that inning after making 88 pitches, striking out nine, walking two and giving up that one hit.
Righthanded reliever Diego Castillo worked the last two innings, allowing one hit and retiring six-of-seven hitters that included a one-two-three ninth. He struck out three for the Rays, who dominated the regular-season series against the Yankees, 8-2. They were up 2-1 in games before New York evened things in game four.
The team wore patches with Ford’s number on their uniforms Friday night for game five.
The Yankees were my beat from 1978 to 1986, but I met up with Ford many times before or after home games. He was personable, a calming voice, and always very encouraging. He’d talk on about every topic, especially baseball and other sports, and possessed great humility. He was modest, never pumped himself up.
More on Whitey Ford: When people talk about their list of the top five pitchers of all time, you usually hear guys mentioned like Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, and then some, but they never say Whitey Ford, but there are others who say they should.
During an era when the Yankees won the World Series so routinely it was joked that rooting for them was like rooting for General Motors, and Ford, their ace hurler, owned the nickname, “Chairman of the Board.” Obviously a great pitcher, Ford is one of those guys that personifies this franchise’s greatness for a team he grew up rooting for.
Whitey’s name and accomplishments are forever stitched into the fabric of baseball’s rich history. He was a treasure, and one of the greatest of Yankees to ever wear the pinstripes. He was New York tough, had a deep love for the only team he ever played for, and owned a genuine personality and charisma that showed throughout his life. It’s no wonder he endeared himself as a legend to generations of Yankee fans everywhere.
The street-smart New Yorker who had the best winning percentage of any pitcher in the 20th century and helped the Yankees become perennial champions in the 1950s and 60s. In recent years, the popular, fan-favorite Ford had suffered from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. His passing was the latest this year of a number of baseball greats — Al Kaline, Tom Seaver, Lou Brock and Bob Gibson, a quartet of legends and Hall of Famers.
On a franchise based in the Bronx defined by power hitters, Ford was considered its greatest starting pitcher. He posted the most wins in the club’s history and still owns the record for World Series victories.
Not big and not overpowering, the wily, crafty Ford played in the majors from 1950-1967, all with the pinstripes and teamed with the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle to win six championships. In the years following his retirement, the soft-spoken Ford was usually a guest of the Yankees, being interviewed in the media room and handing out autographs, sometimes signing his photos.
His wife of 69 years, Joan, and family members gathered with him to watch his Yankees Thursday night, and Joan said that it was late in the game when her husband passed away and New York had maintained its lead.
There were many reactions to the passing of Whitey Ford.
Said present Yankees manager Aaron Boone: “This is one of the guys that’s a Mount Rushmore guy in the Yankee organization. He was one of the guys that personifies this franchise’s greatness. I know he is beloved in this organization by so many people.”
Said Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer: “Today I was asked my favorite pitcher of all time, something that wasn’t often asked, and the answer is Whitey Ford. an honor to call my friend. I had great memories watching him as a kid, made me want to be a big leaguer.”
Said current Yankee relief pitcher Zack Britton: “I’ll be honored to wear that number 16 on my chest, obviously, with just looking up a lot of things that he accomplished not only in his career, but his military service as well. I have a lot of respect for what he accomplished.”
Said former Yankee starting southpaw pitcher Andy Pettitte: “I remember a lot of conversations with Whitey just when he would come around. He was just great for me to have as a young Yankee coming up, and of course was just someone I looked to and wanted to be just like him.”
Said former Yankee teammate Bobby Richardson, the 1960 World Series Most Valuable Player: “He could do it all. He was not just a tremendous pitcher, but he could hit and he could bunt. He was an excellent fielder and he had a great pickoff move.”
RIP Whitey Ford.
