Today in MLB History: Mariano Rivera Breaks Whitey Ford Record
On this day in (October, 13 2000) in MLB History, Mariano Rivera, extending his streak to 33.1 innings, breaks the 38 year-old record of Whitey Ford for consecutive scoreless frames in postseason play when the Yankees defeat the Mariners, 8-2, in Game 3 of the ALCS. The Yankees’ Hall of Fame lefty had established the record from 1960 to 1962 with 33 innings as a World Series starter.
We lost another two MLB Hall of Famers over the past week. Joe Morgan (Cincinnati Reds, MLB Commentator) passed yesterday and Whitey Ford (New York Yankees) died last Friday. Including Bob Gibson and Tom Seaver(eBay) this marks four MLB Hall of Famer passing over the past several weeks. 2020 has been unforgiving.
“Joe wasn’t just the best second baseman in baseball history, he was the best player I ever saw and one of the best people I’ve ever known. He was a dedicated father and husband and a day won’t go by that I won’t think about his wisdom and friendship. He left the world a better, fairer, and more equal place than he found it, and inspired millions along the way.”
Johnny Bench
Joe Morgan was not only a Hal of Fame baseball player, but was a highly successful baseball announcer renowned around the world for his engaging TV broadcast work with ESPN and beyond. Morgan was someone that generations of sports fans got to know through his broadcasting and major league career.
“I grew up on Long Island, not too far from Yankee Stadium. I was a Yankee fan since I was five or six years old. To think when I was 21 years old I’d be playing with [Joe] DiMaggio and [Yogi] Berra against guys like Stan Musial and Roy Campanella, it’s just something I can’t fathom. It’s just been great.”
Whitey Ford (excerpt from his Hall of Fame speech)
The left-hander Whitey Ford, nicknamed “The Chairman of the Board” by batterymate Elston Howard, went 236-106 with a 2.75 ERA during his 16 years with New York, winning his only Cy Young Award in 1961. Ford, whose .690 winning percentage is the highest of any pitcher with at least 150 victories in the Modern Era, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
