Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 378

In 1955, Ford led the American League in complete games and games won; in 1956 in earned run average and winning percentage; in 1958, in earned run average; and in both 1961 and 1963, in games won and winning percentage. Ford won the Cy Young Award in 1961. He likely would have won the 1963 AL Cy Young, but this was before the institution of a separate award for each league, and Ford could not match Sandy Koufax's numbers for the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League.

Some of Ford's totals were depressed by Yankees' manager Casey Stengel, who viewed Ford as his top pitching asset and often

reserved his ace left hander for more formidable opponents such as the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. When Ralph Houk became the manager in 1961, he promised Ford that he would pitch every fourth day, regardless of the opponent. After exceeding 30 starts only once in his nine seasons under Stengel, Ford had 39

in 1961. Indeed 1961 was his first 20 win season, a career best 25–4 record, and the Cy Young Award ensued, but Ford's season was overshadowed by the home run battle between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. As a left hander with an excellent pick off move, Ford was also deft at keeping runners at their base. He set a record in 1961 by pitching 243 consecutive innings without allowing a stolen base.