Whitey Ford (1928-2020) is best remembered for his 16 year career with the New York Yankees. A left hander, Ford had a win-loss record of 236-106 with 1,956 strikeouts and a 2.75 ERA. Over his career, Ford was a ten time All Star, a Cy Young Award winner in 1961, World Series MVP in 1961, and six time World Series champion.
Ford was named Edward Charles Ford when he was born in Manhattan, New York. After moving to Astoria in Queens, Ford attended public schools, and he later moved to Long Island where he raised two sons and a daughter after marrying. Thus, Ford was born, raised, married, and lived in New York while he spent his entire playing for the Yankees. He was quite the hometown hero. Into his old age, he split time between New York and Florida.
Signing with the New York Yankees on an amateur contract in 1947, Ford would be with the Yankees until 1967. He garnered the “Whitey” nickname in the minors for his light color hair.
Ford got the call up to the Majors on July 1, 1950, and he won his first nine games in a row. Ford finished the season 9-1. Despite his limited playing time, fans and pundits were excited for his career. Whitey even won the Sporting News Rookie of the Year.
However, the Korean War broke out, and Ford left for the United States Army. When Ford returned to the Yankees in 1953, he had plenty to
prove. The Yankees already had a dominating “Big Three” pitching lineup. Many hoped that Ford would make the fourth member of a “Big Four” for the Yankees.
Ford took the team by storm, and he quickly moved to the top as the undisputed best pitcher on a great pitching team. That’s when he earned the famous nickname “Chairman of the Board.”
Sal Maglie of the New York Giants wrote that Ford had a “good curve, good control, a changeup, and an occasional sneaky fastball.” Ford was known for his own style. Instead of a tremendous fastball, Ford is remembered for his several different pitches that had incredible precision.
Ford could have won multiple Cy Young awards. One roadblock were the huge numbers put up by Sandy Koufax, and this was before there were separate Cy Young awards for each league. Furthermore, Ford’s numbers were shortened by the Yankee’s management. He was often saved for the toughest teams. What if Ford had been given a standard schedule? Speculation reigns.
Although he made it to the impressive age of 38, Ford was forced to retire due to health concerns. He began coaching for the Yankees in 1964 as a pitching coach, and he started coaching first base in 1968 after retirement.
His number 16 is retired by the Yankees, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974. Ford died watching the Yankees during Game 4 of the 2020 ALDS.
Whitey Ford was the best pitcher on some of the best baseball teams of all time. He is considered one of the most remarkable Yankees ever. There are plenty of great cards given the time period, and we hope that you find that some of his card do his career justice.
1951 Bowman Whitey Ford Rookie Card
The 1951 Bowman has 324 cards that measure 2 1/16” x 3 ⅛”. Ford is a key rookie on the set, along with Nellie Fox, while Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle are the ultimate keys to the set. Whitey Ford was given the #1 spot even though he was not playing this season. Ford’s nine wins in a row to begin his career had made an impression.
There are over 1300 Whitey Ford cards graded by PSA. In Mint condition, Ford’s card would likely be over $50,000. The most recent sale is
$10,320 for a PSA 8 in September of 2020. $1,000 could get you a PSA 5.
1951 Berk Ross Whitey Ford Rookie Card
It is worth mentioning that the 1951 Berk Ross set technically has the other rookie card of Ford. The Berk Ross is a multi sport set that shows multiple players on each card. Even in Mint condition, it would go for less than $1,000 because it is not a well respected set. If you are on a budget and dying for a high grade Whitey Ford rookie, Berk Ross might be an option.
1953 Bowman Whitey Ford
Bowman came roaring back in response to the unveiling of the 1952 Topps as Bowman’s showing in 1953 had bright, large, vivid photographs. The set has 160 cards which measure 2 ½” x 3 ¾”. There are some great and sought after cards, and Ford’s card is one of them. Ford is at number 153 on the set.
Ford’s card was quite popular after his return from the Korean War. Many people saved his card, and there are over 800 registered by PSA alone today.
The only sale of a Mint condition card found was for $24,018.90 in August of 2005. More recent sales have PSA 8’s varying between $8,000 to $10,000 in 2020. $1,000 should grab you a PSA 7 no problem.
1953 Topps Whitey Ford
The 1953 Topps has 274 cards that measure 2 ⅝” x 3 ¾”. 1953 promised two stunning sets, this second one from Topps. Ford is at number 207 in the set.
There are over 1800 Whitey Ford cards registered by PSA for the 1953 Topps. In Mint condition, Ford’s card would cost around $10,000, but $1,000 will get you close to a PSA 8.
1967 Topps Whitey Ford
This is not the most expensive nor prestigious Whitey Ford card, and it is not a particularly important set. But, 1967 marks the last year of baseball for Whitey Ford. Ford was desperate to keep playing, but Father Time is undefeated. Years later, Ford even admitted to cheating by marking up the ball in his last few times (though he insisted that his seasons in 1961 and 1963 were clean). This card marks the retirement of a great career.
The 1967 Topps Baseball set has 609 cards that measure 2 ½” x 3 ½”. Whitey Ford is a minor key to the set at card #5. There are over 1300 cards registered by PSA. While Gem Mint copies can reach a few thousand, Mint copies are worth a few hundred.
Conclusion
There are many more excellent Whitey Ford cards out there, and most of them are more affordable than the cards listed. Ford appears on a few Bowman sets, plenty of Topps sets (with the notable exception of Ford’s absence on the 1952 Topps), and a few odds and ends such as local or promotional sets.
Whitey Ford is an all time great Yankees, which is the most acclaimed and awarded MLB team in baseball history. He deserves to be remembered, and his cards help fans to do that.