William Brown Ford (October 14, 1915 – April 6, 1994) was an American professional baseballpitcher who appeared in one Major League Baseball (MLB) game with the Boston Bees in 1936. His major-league appearance was not listed in official baseball records until 2003, due to a record-keeping error that credited his lone appearance to a similarly named Bees pitcher, Gene Ford.
On the last day of the 1936 season, September 27, Ford made his major-league debut, appearing as the starting pitcher for the Boston Bees against the Philadelphia Phillies at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. Still only 20 years old, he was the fifth-youngest MLB player that season.[1] After the Braves batted and took a 1–0 lead in the top of the first inning, Ford failed to retire a single batter, walking all three batters he faced in the bottom of the inning.[2] He was relieved by Guy Bush, who allowed two of the inherited runners to score—those two runs were charged to Ford. Bush wound up pitching nine innings of relief, and won the game for the Braves, 7–3.[3][4] Ford never played in another major-league game, leaving him with an earned run average (ERA) of infinity for his lone appearance.
From 1937 through 1941, Ford played for 10 different teams in Minor League Baseball, mostly at the Class C and Class B levels.[5] After compiling a 3–6 record and 7.30 ERA as a pitcher in 1937, Ford played as an outfielder and first baseman for the remainder of his career.[5] Records, which are incomplete for the era, show that he had a .300 batting average in 110 games during 1939 while playing for the McKeesport Little Pirates, a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates.[5]
Ford's draft registration card of October 1940 indicates he was again attending Penn State,[6] and he was listed as a senior majoring in physical education in the college's 1941 yearbook.[7] Ford later resided in Glassport, Pennsylvania; he owned a coal company in West Elizabeth and a golf course in Forward Township.[8] He died on April 6, 1994, aged 78, and was survived by his wife and three children.[8] He was buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.[9] His obituary did not mention his brief MLB career.
Statistical re-discoveryedit
Ford's appearance with the Bees did not appear in any official MLB records during his lifetime. In 2003, research by Rick Benner of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) discovered that Bill Ford's September 27, 1936, appearance had been incorrectly attributed to fellow-pitcher Gene Ford, who had appeared in one game for Boston earlier that year.[10] The official records were corrected to show that Gene Ford pitched in one game for the 1936 Bees (on June 17),[10] and Bill Ford also pitched in one game for the 1936 Bees (on September 27).[4]
Ford's re-discovery as an MLB player is particularly unusual. Although researchers will very occasionally find a previously undocumented major-league player to add to the official records, such players are usually from the 19th century. Finding one who played as late as 1936 is extremely rare.
^"Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. October 1940. Retrieved September 24, 2022 – via fold3.com.
^La Vie. Pennsylvania State College. 1941. p. 78. Retrieved September 24, 2022 – via PSU.edu.
^ ab"William B. Ford, owned Riverview Golf Course". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 9, 1994. Retrieved August 17, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
^"William Ford". Retrosheet. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
^ ab"St. Louis Cardinals 10, Boston Bees 2 (2)". Retrosheet. June 17, 1936.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
May 01, 2024
bill, ford, pitcher, other, people, with, similar, names, william, ford, disambiguation, william, brown, ford, october, 1915, april, 1994, american, professional, baseball, pitcher, appeared, major, league, baseball, game, with, boston, bees, 1936, major, leag. For other people with similar names see William Ford disambiguation William Brown Ford October 14 1915 April 6 1994 was an American professional baseball pitcher who appeared in one Major League Baseball MLB game with the Boston Bees in 1936 His major league appearance was not listed in official baseball records until 2003 due to a record keeping error that credited his lone appearance to a similarly named Bees pitcher Gene Ford Bill FordFord c 1941PitcherBorn 1915 10 14 October 14 1915Buena Vista Pennsylvania USDied April 6 1994 1994 04 06 aged 78 Jefferson Pennsylvania USBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 27 1936 for the Boston BeesLast MLB appearanceSeptember 27 1936 for the Boston BeesMLB statisticsWin loss record0 0Earned run averageinfiniteStrikeouts0TeamsBoston Bees 1936 Contents 1 Biography 2 Statistical re discovery 3 References 4 External linksBiography editFord was born October 14 1915 in Buena Vista Pennsylvania He attended Pennsylvania State College and played on the Penn State baseball team Listed at 6 feet 2 inches 1 88 m and 200 pounds 91 kg he threw and batted right handed On the last day of the 1936 season September 27 Ford made his major league debut appearing as the starting pitcher for the Boston Bees against the Philadelphia Phillies at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia Still only 20 years old he was the fifth youngest MLB player that season 1 After the Braves batted and took a 1 0 lead in the top of the first inning Ford failed to retire a single batter walking all three batters he faced in the bottom of the inning 2 He was relieved by Guy Bush who allowed two of the inherited runners to score those two runs were charged to Ford Bush wound up pitching nine innings of relief and won the game for the Braves 7 3 3 4 Ford never played in another major league game leaving him with an earned run average ERA of infinity for his lone appearance From 1937 through 1941 Ford played for 10 different teams in Minor League Baseball mostly at the Class C and Class B levels 5 After compiling a 3 6 record and 7 30 ERA as a pitcher in 1937 Ford played as an outfielder and first baseman for the remainder of his career 5 Records which are incomplete for the era show that he had a 300 batting average in 110 games during 1939 while playing for the McKeesport Little Pirates a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates 5 Ford s draft registration card of October 1940 indicates he was again attending Penn State 6 and he was listed as a senior majoring in physical education in the college s 1941 yearbook 7 Ford later resided in Glassport Pennsylvania he owned a coal company in West Elizabeth and a golf course in Forward Township 8 He died on April 6 1994 aged 78 and was survived by his wife and three children 8 He was buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery in Elizabeth Pennsylvania 9 His obituary did not mention his brief MLB career Statistical re discovery editFord s appearance with the Bees did not appear in any official MLB records during his lifetime In 2003 research by Rick Benner of the Society for American Baseball Research SABR discovered that Bill Ford s September 27 1936 appearance had been incorrectly attributed to fellow pitcher Gene Ford who had appeared in one game for Boston earlier that year 10 The official records were corrected to show that Gene Ford pitched in one game for the 1936 Bees on June 17 10 and Bill Ford also pitched in one game for the 1936 Bees on September 27 4 Ford s re discovery as an MLB player is particularly unusual Although researchers will very occasionally find a previously undocumented major league player to add to the official records such players are usually from the 19th century Finding one who played as late as 1936 is extremely rare References edit Bill Ford Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved March 14 2014 Bees and Phils Even Up in Doubleheader The Boston Globe September 28 1936 p 10 Retrieved September 24 2022 via newspapers com Boston Bees at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score September 27 1936 Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved March 14 2014 a b Boston Bees 7 Philadelphia Phillies 3 1 Retrosheet September 27 1936 a b c William Ford Minor Leagues Statistics Baseball Reference com Retrieved September 24 2022 Draft Registration Card Selective Service System October 1940 Retrieved September 24 2022 via fold3 com La Vie Pennsylvania State College 1941 p 78 Retrieved September 24 2022 via PSU edu a b William B Ford owned Riverview Golf Course Pittsburgh Post Gazette April 9 1994 Retrieved August 17 2017 via newspapers com William Ford Retrosheet Retrieved August 17 2017 a b St Louis Cardinals 10 Boston Bees 2 2 Retrosheet June 17 1936 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Ford pitcher amp oldid 1214913821, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
