Whitey Ford returned to the New York Yankees in 1953 after missing the 1951 and 1952 seasons defending freedom.
He had an excellent sophomore season, winning 18 games while losing only 6 with a 3.00 ERA, a 124 ERA+ and a 1.435 WHIP.
It has been almost forgotten, but during the early part of his career, Ford had spells of control problems, as illustrated by his 110 walks and only 110 strikeouts that year (is it possible that he hadn’t developed his “scuff” ball yet?}.
The Yankees won their fifth consecutive pennant and once again faced the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series.
After losing the first two games at Yankee Stadium, the Dodgers returned t Ebbets Field and won the third game. Ford started the fourth game against the enigmatic Billy Loes.
Ford lasted one inning, but it might not have been entirely his fault.
After Loes retired the Yankees in order, Jim Gilliam led off the Dodgers first with a towering fly ball down the right field line that appeared to well in the range of Hank Bauer.
Moving into foul territory in front of the Dodgers bullpen bench, Bauer waited for the ball, but much to Ford’s chagrin, at the last second, the ball veered about three feet into fair territory, eluding Bauer.
The ball bounced into the stands for a ground rule double.
The Dodgers scored three runs in the inning to take a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish on their way to a 7-3 victory.
Manager Casey Stengel yanked Ford, sending out right-hander Tom Gorman to pitch the second inning.
Left-handers never fared too well in Ebbets Field and Stengel thought that the Yankees still could come back since it was early in the game.
With the Series tied at two games, the Yankees won the fifth game. Back at Yankee Stadium the next day, Ford started the game that could clinch the Yankees fifth consecutive World Championship.
This time, things turned out differently for Ford.
Carl Erskine, who had set a World Series record by striking out 14 Yankees in the third game, started against Ford. The Brooklyn right-hander was working on only two days rest and it showed.
The Yankees had a 3-0 lead after two innings. It might have been 4-0 but in the bottom of the second, Ford tagged up late from third base on a 400-foot drive hit by Yogi Berra. He was thrown out at the plate.
The Dodgers didn’t score off Ford until the sixth inning. He worked a scoreless seventh and then Stengel made a move that illustrates graphically how the game has changed.
He brought in Allie Reynolds to pitch the eighth inning.
Today, it is an expected move. Most starters are not expected to go more than seven innings, but in 1953, that was not the norm.
The great baseball writer, John Drebinger, not known for hyperbole, wrote
“…Stengel, in a move as startling as any in his brilliant managerial career, withdrew Ford. The bullpen gates opened to reveal the confidently striding figure of Reynolds.”
Taking out a starter who was pitching effectively just wasn’t done.
Ford had pitched seven innings, allowed one run, six hits, one walk and struck out seven.
Stengel’s move almost backfired.
Carl Furillo hit a game-tying two-run home run off Reynolds in the ninth inning to tie the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Billy Martin singled home Hank Bauer to win the World Series. Reynolds was credited with the win.
Even 48 years ago, wins were not a good way to measure a pitcher’s effectiveness.
References:
Snider brook star. (1953, Oct 04). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. S1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/112552428?accountid=46260
Yanks take 5th series in row, record; Martin’s hit in 9th beats dodgers, 4 to 3. (1953, Oct 06). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/112757669?accountid=46260