Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 380

needed something to help me survive. I didn't cheat when I won the twenty-five games in 1961. I don't want anybody to get any ideas and take my Cy Young Award away. And I didn't cheat in 1963 when I won twenty-four games. Well, maybe a little.”

Ford admitted to doctoring the ball in the 1961 All Star Game at Candlestick Park to strike out Willie Mays. Ford and Mantle had accumulated $1,200 in golf pro shop purchases as guests of Horace Stoneham at the Giants owner's country club. Stoneham promised to pay their tab if Ford could strike out Mays. "What was that all about?" Mays asked. "I'm sorry, Willie, but I had

to throw you a spitter," Ford replied.

Ford's 2.75 lifetime earned run average was lowest among starting pitchers whose careers began after the advent of the

live ball era in 1920. Ford's worst earned run average in a single season was 3.24. Ford had 45 shutout victories in his career, including eight 1–0 wins.

In 1999, Ford ranked 52nd on The Sporting News List of Baseball's Greatest Players. He was nominated that year for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Ford was the Yankees pitching coach during the 1964 season. In 1968, he served as the Yankees as first base coach, and in 1974 and 1975 as pitching coach. In 1977, Ford was part of the