Dan Ford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dan Ford |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 19, 1952 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 12, 1975, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 31, 1985, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .270 | ||
| Home runs | 121 | ||
| Runs batted in | 566 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Darnell Glenn Ford (born May 19, 1952) is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He was known by the nickname "Disco Dan". He played in Major League Baseball, mostly as an outfielder, from 1975 to 1985. He played for the Minnesota Twins, California Angels, and Baltimore Orioles. Dan Ford was the starting right fielder for the 1983 World Series Champion Orioles team. During his career, he played in 1,153 games. He had a batting average of .270, hit 121 home runs, and had 566 runs batted in (RBI).
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Dan Ford grew up in Los Angeles, California. He went to John C. Fremont High School. Before starting his baseball career, he served in the United States Army.
Joining Professional Baseball
The Oakland Athletics picked Dan Ford in the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 18th player chosen overall. He spent four years playing in the minor leagues for the Athletics.
Major League Career Highlights
In 1974, Dan Ford was traded to the Minnesota Twins. He became a regular player for the Twins for the next four seasons.
Memorable Moments with the Twins and Angels
On April 15, 1976, Dan Ford made history. He hit the very first home run at the newly fixed-up Yankee Stadium. This happened in a game against the New York Yankees.
Later, on August 10, 1979, while playing for the California Angels, Ford achieved a rare feat. He hit for the cycle against the Seattle Mariners. Hitting for the cycle means a player hits a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game.
Joining the Baltimore Orioles
In 1978, Ford was traded from the Twins to the California Angels. A few years later, in 1982, he was traded again. This time, he joined the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles had wanted him for a while.
World Series Champion with the Orioles
Dan Ford played a key role in the Orioles' 1983 championship season. On May 18, 1983, he hit a home run in the eighth inning. This home run was the only hit and the only run of the game, helping the Orioles win 1-0.
Ford also hit a home run in the World Series itself. He hit it off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton in Game 3. The Orioles went on to win the World Series that year, making Dan Ford a champion.
Later Career and Retirement
During his four years with the Orioles, Dan Ford faced many injuries. He was often unable to play due to being on the disabled list. In 1985, he had knee surgery, which was his fourth knee surgery since 1979. He played his last Major League game in May 1985. The Orioles released him in January 1986, and he retired from baseball.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
