Russ Ford

Born: 4/25/1883 in Brandon, MB, CAN

Died: 1/24/1960 in Rockingham, NC, USA

MLB Debut: 1909-04-28 | Final Game: 1915-08-16

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs

Full name: Russell William Ford

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Biography

Russ Ford was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball during the early 20th century, with a career that spanned from 1909 to 1915. Born in 1883, Ford made a significant impact on the game with his exceptional skill on the mound, culminating in a career record of 99 wins and 71 losses. His earned run average (ERA) of 2.59 underscored his effectiveness, as he struck out 710 batters throughout his tenure while also securing 9 saves. Ford's playing style was characterized by a keen understanding of hitters and a repertoire that made him a formidable opponent during an era that was transitioning away from the deadball period. Competing during a time when the game was evolving, Ford's contributions were crucial in shaping the role of pitchers in the modern game. He played for several teams, showcasing his talent and resilience, and left a lasting legacy that influenced future generations of pitchers. Ford's ability to perform under pressure and his strategic approach to the game positioned him as a noteworthy figure in baseball history, remembered for his achievements on the diamond and his role in the sport's development during a transformative era.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
99	71	199	170	126	15	9	1487.3	1340	428	44	376	710	2.59	0

Career ERA 2.59 vs. league average 2.98 across their career seasons — 13.2% better than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1909	NYY	AL	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3.0	4	3	4	2	9.00	—	-
1910	NYY	AL	26	6	36	33	29	8	1	299.7	194	55	70	209	1.65	2.79 (+41%)	-
1911	NYY	AL	22	11	37	33	26	1	0	281.3	251	71	76	158	2.27	3.37 (+33%)	-
1912	NYY	AL	13	21	36	35	30	0	0	291.7	317	115	79	112	3.55	3.36 (-6%)	-
1913	NYY	AL	12	18	33	28	15	1	2	237.0	244	70	58	72	2.66	3.07 (+13%)	-
1914	BUF	FL	21	6	35	26	19	5	6	247.3	190	50	41	123	1.82	2.93 (+38%)	1967.2
1915	BUF	FL	5	9	21	15	7	0	0	127.3	140	64	48	34	4.52	2.90 (-56%)	-2961.6

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
204	506	55	106	17	8	1	37	14	34	161	0.209	0.262	0.281	0.543	-1682.8

Career AVG .209 vs. league average .256 across their career seasons — 18.2% below league average.

Career OBP .262 vs. league average .323 across their career seasons — 18.9% below league average.

Career SLG .281 vs. league average .339 across their career seasons — 17.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.543 vs. league average 0.662 across their career seasons — 18.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1909	NYY	AL	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1910	NYY	AL	36	96	8	20	1	5	0	7	1	9	33	0.208	.249 (-17%)	.317 (-11%)	.326 (-1%)	.644 (-6%)	-119.6
1911	NYY	AL	37	102	10	20	2	1	0	8	2	3	31	0.196	.266 (-26%)	.336 (-35%)	.356 (-34%)	.693 (-34%)	-605.9
1912	NYY	AL	40	112	15	32	8	0	1	8	2	6	31	0.286	.268 (+6%)	.335 (-4%)	.358 (+7%)	.694 (+2%)	4.0
1913	NYY	AL	33	74	5	12	1	1	0	3	5	7	29	0.162	.259 (-38%)	.325 (-25%)	.345 (-41%)	.670 (-33%)	-389.6
1914	BUF	FL	35	78	10	10	1	0	0	7	3	8	28	0.128	.255 (-50%)	.322 (-35%)	.339 (-58%)	.661 (-47%)	-571.6
1915	BUF	FL	22	43	7	12	4	1	0	4	1	1	9	0.279	—	—	—	—	0.0