Hall of Fame New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford, who had the highest winning percentage of any pitcher in the 20th century, passed away on Thursday at his home on Long Island at the age of 91.
The cause of death was not known, according to the Associated Press.
Ford pitched from 1950 to 1967 in the major leagues exclusively with the Yankees and went 236-106 with a 2.75 ERA, winning his only Cy Young Award in 1961.
“Today all of Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Whitey Ford, a New York City native who became a legend for his hometown team,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. “Whitey earned his status as the ace of some of the most memorable teams in our sport’s rich history. Beyond the Chairman of the Board’s excellence on the mound, he was a distinguished ambassador for our National Pastime throughout his life. I extend my deepest condolences to Whitey’s family, his friends and admirers throughout our game, and all fans of the Yankees.”
Nicknamed the “Chairman of the Board,” Ford died 12 days shy of what would have his 92nd birthday.
“The Yankees are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Whitey Ford,” the Yankees said in a statement. “Whitey spent his entire 16-year career as a Yankee. A 6x WS Champion and 10x All-Star, The Chairman of the Board was one of the best lefties to ever toe the rubber. He will be deeply missed.”
Ford was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
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