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 on May 19, 1952, is a retired American baseball player. People often called him "Disco Dan." He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1975 to 1985. He played for the Minnesota Twins, California Angels, and Baltimore Orioles.
Ford was the main right fielder for the 1983 World Series Champion Orioles team. During his career, he played 1,153 games. He had a batting average of .270. He also hit 121 home runs and had 566 runs batted in (RBI).
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Dan Ford's Early Life
Dan Ford grew up in Los Angeles, California. He went to John C. Fremont High School there. Before playing professional baseball, he served in the United States Army.
Playing Baseball in the Major Leagues
Starting His Professional Career
The Oakland Athletics picked Dan Ford in the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 18th player chosen overall. Ford spent four years playing in the minor leagues for the Athletics.
In 1974, he 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, Ford made history at the newly fixed Yankee Stadium. He hit the very first home run there. This happened during a game against the New York Yankees.
Later, on August 10, 1979, Ford achieved a rare feat. While playing for the California Angels, he hit for the cycle against the Seattle Mariners. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game.
Joining the Baltimore Orioles
In 1978, Ford moved from the Twins to the California Angels. A few years later, in 1982, he was traded again. This time, he joined the Baltimore Orioles.
Ford played a key role in the Orioles' 1983 championship season. On May 18, 1983, he hit a home run that was the only hit and run for his team. This home run stopped another pitcher from throwing a no-hitter.
Later that year, Ford hit another important home run. It was during Game 3 of the 1983 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. This helped the Orioles win the World Series that year.
Later Career and Retirement
Ford played for the Orioles for four years. However, he spent a lot of time on the disabled list due to injuries. He had several knee surgeries during this time.
In 1985, his season was cut short because of another knee surgery. 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
Images for kids
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Dan Ford playing for the Baltimore Orioles.
