Horace Ford
Born: 7/23/1897 in New Haven, CT, USA
Died: 1/29/1977 in Winchester, MA, USA
MLB Debut: 1919-09-08 | Final Game: 1933-05-08
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Horace Hills Ford
Biography
Horace Ford was a professional baseball player born in 1897, who made significant contributions to the game during his career from 1919 to 1933. Primarily a position player, Ford appeared in 1,446 games and recorded 1,269 hits, showcasing his ability to consistently reach base. He finished his career with a batting average of .263, highlighting his role as a reliable hitter in an era that often emphasized contact over power. While he hit 16 home runs and drove in 494 runs, Ford's game was characterized more by his versatility and ability to contribute in various facets, including his 21 stolen bases, which illustrated his speed on the bases.
Playing during a transformative period in baseball history, Ford navigated the transition from the deadball era to the more offensive-minded approach of the 1930s. His contributions during this time were crucial as the sport began to evolve and embrace a more dynamic style of play. Though not a Hall of Famer, Ford's career reflects the hard-nosed, gritty spirit of early 20th-century baseball, and he remains a notable figure for those who appreciate the game's rich history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1446 | 4833 | 484 | 1269 | 200 | 55 | 16 | 494 | 21 | 351 | 354 | 0.263 | 0.316 | 0.337 | 0.652 | -12428.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | BSN | NL | 10 | 28 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0.214 | 0.0 |
| 1920 | BSN | NL | 88 | 257 | 16 | 62 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 3 | 18 | 25 | 0.241 | -521.6 |
| 1921 | BSN | NL | 152 | 555 | 50 | 155 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 61 | 2 | 36 | 49 | 0.279 | -980.5 |
| 1922 | BSN | NL | 143 | 515 | 58 | 140 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 60 | 2 | 30 | 36 | 0.272 | -1077.1 |
| 1923 | BSN | NL | 111 | 380 | 27 | 103 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 50 | 1 | 31 | 30 | 0.271 | -518.2 |
| 1924 | PHI | NL | 145 | 530 | 58 | 144 | 27 | 5 | 3 | 53 | 1 | 27 | 40 | 0.272 | -1225.6 |
| 1925 | BRO | NL | 66 | 216 | 32 | 59 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 26 | 15 | 0.273 | -298.6 |
| 1926 | CIN | NL | 57 | 197 | 14 | 55 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 14 | 12 | 0.279 | -332.2 |
| 1927 | CIN | NL | 115 | 409 | 45 | 112 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 0 | 33 | 34 | 0.274 | -786.2 |
| 1928 | CIN | NL | 149 | 506 | 49 | 122 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 47 | 31 | 0.241 | -1960.7 |
| 1929 | CIN | NL | 148 | 529 | 68 | 146 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 50 | 8 | 41 | 25 | 0.276 | -1419.9 |
| 1930 | CIN | NL | 132 | 424 | 36 | 98 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 34 | 2 | 24 | 28 | 0.231 | -2491.2 |
| 1931 | CIN | NL | 84 | 175 | 18 | 40 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 0.229 | -707.8 |
| 1932 | BSN | NL | 40 | 95 | 9 | 26 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0.274 | -108.9 |
| 1932 | STL | NL | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | -108.9 |
| 1933 | BSN | NL | 5 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.067 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 4 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2B | 589 | 0 | 1338 | 2009 | 88 | 328 |
| 3B | 5 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 846 | 0 | 1821 | 2644 | 185 | 565 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | BSN | 3B | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1919 | BSN | SS | 8 | 0 | 10 | 25 | 2 | 3 |
| 1920 | BSN | 1B | 4 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1920 | BSN | 2B | 59 | 0 | 122 | 219 | 10 | 21 |
| 1920 | BSN | SS | 18 | 0 | 28 | 65 | 9 | 3 |
| 1921 | BSN | 2B | 119 | 0 | 297 | 417 | 20 | 48 |
| 1921 | BSN | SS | 33 | 0 | 96 | 109 | 6 | 17 |
| 1922 | BSN | 2B | 28 | 0 | 68 | 94 | 3 | 13 |
| 1922 | BSN | SS | 115 | 0 | 267 | 387 | 32 | 58 |
| 1923 | BSN | 2B | 95 | 0 | 213 | 300 | 16 | 61 |
| 1923 | BSN | SS | 19 | 0 | 39 | 52 | 6 | 6 |
| 1924 | PHI | 2B | 145 | 0 | 337 | 543 | 27 | 96 |
| 1925 | BRO | SS | 66 | 0 | 126 | 185 | 11 | 33 |
| 1926 | CIN | SS | 57 | 0 | 152 | 190 | 13 | 57 |
| 1927 | CIN | 2B | 12 | 0 | 21 | 31 | 0 | 5 |
| 1927 | CIN | SS | 104 | 0 | 218 | 323 | 27 | 75 |
| 1928 | CIN | SS | 149 | 0 | 355 | 508 | 25 | 128 |
| 1929 | CIN | 2B | 42 | 0 | 94 | 152 | 5 | 30 |
| 1929 | CIN | SS | 108 | 0 | 239 | 368 | 30 | 86 |
| 1930 | CIN | 2B | 66 | 0 | 152 | 217 | 6 | 45 |
| 1930 | CIN | SS | 74 | 0 | 139 | 198 | 9 | 45 |
| 1931 | CIN | 2B | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| 1931 | CIN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1931 | CIN | SS | 73 | 0 | 107 | 162 | 13 | 41 |
| 1932 | BSN | 2B | 20 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 1 | 7 |
| 1932 | BSN | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1932 | BSN | SS | 16 | 0 | 26 | 48 | 1 | 8 |
| 1932 | SLN | SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1933 | BSN | SS | 5 | 0 | 17 | 23 | 0 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 4 |
| Second Base | 593 |
| Third Base | 5 |
| Shortstop | 845 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tufts University | Medford | MA | 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 22th | 2.0 | 80 | 0 |