Whitey Ford started his first World Series game at the age of 21 against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1950. He came within one out of a complete game shutout but was shot down by an error.
The New York Yankees were leading 5-0 when Willie Jones led off the ninth with a single.
Ford then plunked Del Ennis to put Phillies on first and second.
Dick Sisler forced Ennis at second for the first out. Jones moved to third.
Ford struck out the dangerous Granny Hamner, bringing up Andy Seminick. The burly catcher had great power, but he could be out-pitched.
The Yankees left-hander checked the runners at first and third, went into the stretch and delivered a high fast ball that Seminick just missed getting the good wood onto. He hit a deep fly ball to Gene Woodling in left field.
The usually reliable Woodling lost the ball in the sun and dropped it, allowing Jones and pinch-runner Ken Johnson to score.
Casey Stengel went out to the mound to talk to the rookie, and decided to give him another chance to get the third out.
When Mike Goliat singled to bring the tying run to the plate, Casey Stengel brought in Allie Reynolds. The Yankees “Super Chief” struck out pinch-hitter Stan Lopata.
As the great Harold Moskowitz (John Sterling)-who was only two years old at the time-would say, “Ball game over, World Series over. Thuuuh Yankees win. Thuuuh Yankees win.”
Ford pitched a magnificent game. Even Andy Pettitte would have been proud to have done it.
If not for Woodling’s error, Ford would have pitched a seven-hit complete game shutout in the final game of the World Series. Never dominating but always in charge, Ford struck out seven, walked one and hit a batter.
The Yankee Stadium crowd booed vociferously when Stengel took Ford out of the game. In 1950, it meant something to pitch a complete game. As amazing as it may seem today, pitchers were actually evaluated on whether or not they usually completed what they started.
Rookie Whitey Ford was not upset that Stengel took out the game. He told James P. Dawson of the New York Times
“When Casey came out after Woodling lost Seminick’s drive, I was afraid he was going to take me out, and I didn’t want to leave. If he had it would have been all right. He hasn’t made a mistake yet. But I wanted to stay and he let me.To me, it was like pitching any other game.”
That’s what made Ford so great.
He was never awed by a situation. He was never flustered. He was the same whether he was pitching in a spring training game of the potential last game of the World Series.
Ford has the most wins and the most defeats of any pitcher in World Series history. It is highly unlikely that anyone will surpass his 10 wins.
Many fans become quite upset when today’s media state that Andy Pettitte has the most postseason wins without qualifying the statement. Pettitte has 18 postseason wins, but he won only five World Series games-half as many as Ford.
Throughout most of his career, Ford was criticized for not pitching enough complete games. In 1961, when he won 25 games, it was considered a negative that he completed only 11 of his 39 starts.
Mel Allen, Phil Rizzuto and Red Barber, three announcers who could have taught Harold Moskowitz a thing or two, informally used the term “save” when Luis Arroyo replaced Ford in the late innings. It was later determined that Arroyo, one of the greatest of all relief pitchers for one season, saved 29 games in 1961. He pitched 119 innings.
Ford appeared in 11 World Series. He had a 2.71 ERA. His career ERA was 2.75. It really was true. All starts were equally important to Ford.
Reference:
Dawson, James P. “Bombers’ Heroes Mobbed By Mates: Ford, Berra and DiMaggio are Besieged in the Clubhouse.” New York Times. 8 Oct. 1950. p. S2.