Dan Ford
Born: 5/19/1952 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1975-04-12 | Final Game: 1985-05-31
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Darnell Glenn Ford
Biography
Dan Ford was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball between 1975 and 1985. Born in 1952, Ford played primarily as an outfielder and was known for his solid hitting and versatility on the field. Over the course of his career, he participated in 1,153 games, accumulating 1,123 hits with a batting average of .270. His offensive contributions also included 121 home runs and 566 runs batted in, highlighting his ability to impact the game both as a contact hitter and a power source.
Ford's playing style was characterized by a combination of speed and power, evidenced by his 61 stolen bases throughout his career. He played during a transformative era in baseball, marked by an increasing emphasis on offensive production and player athleticism. His contributions helped shape the teams he played for, and he left a lasting impression on fans and teammates alike. After retiring on May 31, 1985, Ford's legacy as a reliable position player in the league remains remembered by those who followed his career.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1153 | 4163 | 598 | 1123 | 214 | 38 | 121 | 566 | 61 | 303 | 722 | 0.270 | 0.324 | 0.427 | 0.750 | 4082.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | MIN | AL | 130 | 440 | 72 | 123 | 21 | 1 | 15 | 59 | 6 | 30 | 79 | 0.280 | 733.2 |
| 1976 | MIN | AL | 145 | 514 | 87 | 137 | 24 | 7 | 20 | 86 | 17 | 36 | 118 | 0.267 | 1256.8 |
| 1977 | MIN | AL | 144 | 453 | 66 | 121 | 25 | 7 | 11 | 60 | 6 | 41 | 79 | 0.267 | 403.3 |
| 1978 | MIN | AL | 151 | 592 | 78 | 162 | 36 | 10 | 11 | 82 | 7 | 48 | 88 | 0.274 | 783.4 |
| 1979 | LAA | AL | 142 | 569 | 100 | 165 | 26 | 5 | 21 | 101 | 8 | 40 | 86 | 0.290 | 881.7 |
| 1980 | LAA | AL | 65 | 226 | 22 | 63 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 26 | 0 | 19 | 45 | 0.279 | 264.8 |
| 1981 | LAA | AL | 97 | 375 | 53 | 104 | 14 | 1 | 15 | 48 | 2 | 23 | 71 | 0.277 | 717.6 |
| 1982 | BAL | AL | 123 | 421 | 46 | 99 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 43 | 5 | 23 | 71 | 0.235 | -824.4 |
| 1983 | BAL | AL | 103 | 407 | 63 | 114 | 30 | 4 | 9 | 55 | 9 | 29 | 55 | 0.280 | 446.7 |
| 1984 | BAL | AL | 25 | 91 | 7 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 0.231 | -233.7 |
| 1985 | BAL | AL | 28 | 75 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 0.187 | -347.4 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 34 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0.235 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | WS | BAL | 5 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0.167 |
| 1983 | ALCS | BAL | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.200 |
| 1979 | ALCS | CAL | 4 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.294 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1065 | 987 | 2206 | 49 | 60 | 11 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | MIN | OF | 120 | 103 | 246 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 1976 | MIN | OF | 139 | 134 | 267 | 6 | 9 | 1 |
| 1977 | MIN | OF | 137 | 111 | 205 | 9 | 8 | 2 |
| 1978 | MIN | OF | 149 | 147 | 376 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| 1979 | CAL | OF | 141 | 141 | 332 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| 1980 | CAL | OF | 45 | 44 | 75 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 1981 | CAL | OF | 97 | 94 | 188 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| 1982 | BAL | OF | 119 | 98 | 263 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
| 1983 | BAL | OF | 103 | 100 | 218 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | BAL | OF | 15 | 15 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 2 |
| Center Field | 297 |
| Right Field | 782 |
| Designated Hitter | 62 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Player of the Week | Week of 1979-08-10 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | BAL | AL | $350,000 |
| 1985 | BAL | AL | $450,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $800,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 26th | 1.0 | 392 | 0 |