12/21/24
August 03, 2010
Whitey Ford Never Started an "Ultimate" Game: Surprised?
posted by mjkredliner to baseball at 12:52 PM - 18 comments
I missed the point of the article.
posted by yzelda4045 at 01:35 PM on August 03, 2010
Was that article written by a 9th grader?
posted by holden at 01:42 PM on August 03, 2010
I think the point was that Whitey Ford never pitched in Game 7 of the World Series and this some how makes him overrated. Seems like an arbitrary measure of greatness.
posted by apoch at 01:50 PM on August 03, 2010
Was that article written by a 9th grader?
A teacher for 39 years. Bleacher Report is fan authored, so it's a crapshoot.
posted by rcade at 01:59 PM on August 03, 2010
I . . . really don't get it.
posted by yerfatma at 02:09 PM on August 03, 2010
What's not to get? Whitey Ford isn't as great as you think he is because he never won 20 games in a seasons except when he did and because his managers never thought he was good enough to start game 7 of a World Series even though not all the series he pitched in went seven games.
It couldn't be clearer!
posted by Jugwine at 02:42 PM on August 03, 2010
I'm glad someone finally got it right. Frankly, I'm getting tired of all the "Whitey Ford is the greatest ever" talk that's been going on lately...
posted by MeatSaber at 02:49 PM on August 03, 2010
I . . . really don't get it.
Perhaps it means that Whitey Ford never made a sweet catch like this one.
And if he was any good, he'd have been brought home from Korea in '51.
posted by tahoemoj at 03:01 PM on August 03, 2010
What garbage! Bob Gibson NEVER pitched the third game of a World Series and I can prove it. Another bum?
posted by rchugh at 04:06 PM on August 03, 2010
I myself was surprised to find out that Whitey never started the 7th game of a World Series. Just sorta took it for granted he had a time or two...Sure wasn't passing judgement on Whitey's skills or his career (It did get a couple of spofi members I haven't heard much from to comment. Heh.).
Who the hell is Kris Burmen ?
posted by mjkredliner at 04:12 PM on August 03, 2010
Who the hell is Kris Burmen ?
Could he have meant him?
posted by BornIcon at 04:30 PM on August 03, 2010
This article is so fucking terrible, I don't know where to begin to criticize it.
To save myself from rambling on, I'll just focus on the "ultimate game" bullshit.
The Yankees played a seventh game of the World Series seven times during Ford's tenure.
The Chairman of the Board never, repeat, never started an "ultimate" game.
It makes no sense to "save" your best pitcher for game 7 if you need to win in game 6 to get the 7th game, or you can win the series in the 6th game. No manager with a brain will "save" a pitcher for the 7th game.
Whitey Ford pitched in 11 World Series with the Yankees.
The number of times they went to 7 games: 7 times.
1955: Ford won game 6, which forced game 7. That seems like an "ultimate game" to me.
1956: Ford pitched games 1 and 3 (which was a complete game on 2 days rest). Maybe he's got nothing left in the tank.
1957: Game 7 was pitched by Don Larsen, who the previous year had thrown a perfect game in the playoffs. I'm betting the manager was "playing a hunch" (which backfired).
1958: Ford lost game 6, which forced game 7.
1960: Ford won game 6, which forced game 7. That seems like an "ultimate game" to me.
1962: Ford started game 1, 4 and 6. There is no way he's also starting game 7.
1964: Only started game 1, and got hammered and left with an injury. There is no way he's going to pitch in game 7.
I see at least 2 instances where he pitched an "ultimate game" (must win), and 2 more where he pitched with a chance to clinch the series (in game 6).
posted by grum@work at 04:55 PM on August 03, 2010
Sportsfilter: It couldn't be clearer!
posted by justgary at 05:01 PM on August 03, 2010
A guy I work with said that this argument is like saying a perfect game isn't as great an accomplishment, because the pitcher faces the bottom of the order in the 9th...
posted by MeatSaber at 10:03 PM on August 03, 2010
I'll just focus on the "ultimate game" bullshit.
Yeah, using his rationale Gene Larkin was better than Kirby Puckett.
posted by chris2sy at 11:33 AM on August 04, 2010
Yeah, using his rationale Gene Larkin was better than Kirby Puckett.
You saying he wasn't?
posted by BornIcon at 11:58 AM on August 04, 2010
'Ford won the fourth game, and the Yankees had their sweep.'
Should they have played three more just so Whitey could pitch in the seventh?