The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 12, 1974, Page Page 8, Image 8
Ford
BY MARK LEARY
Gamecock Staff Writer
Eddie Ford, ex-USC shortstop,
forfeited his senior year of college
baseball to sign a professional
contract over the summer, but
since signing that contract he has
encountered more problems than
he probably anticipated.
Since being drafted on the first
round of the player draft in June by
the Boston Red Sox, Ford has
dropped from Class AA baseball
down to the parent club's in
structional league team.
both Eddie and his father, major
league Hall-of-Famer Whitey
Ford, had hoped Ford would be
drafted by the New York Yankees
and wear the same pin-striped
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uniform that the elder Ford once
had. But the Yankee's belief that
Ford would still be available in the
second round of the draft led to
their passing him by and his
subsequent selection by the Red
Sox.
Since being drafted, problems
have not been few for the young
pro. According to Red Sox official
William C. Crowley, public
relations director, Ford started out
at Bristol in the AA Eastern
League but fell to Elmira in the
lower A New York-Penn League
because of hitting problems.
Numerous scouting reports said
Ford was an excellent fielder but
his hitting was suspect, and these
reports proved truthful as his
hitting in the New York-Penn
League again was weak.
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Crowley pointed out. "Ford has
proven without a doubt that he is a
big league fielder. His play in the
field in both AA and A ball was
excellent."
Now that the New York-Penn
League season is over, the Red Sox
are sending Ford to their in
structional league team in
Sarasota, Fla. "This is not a
demotion by any means," Crowley
said, "Ford will get extensive
batting help from mid
September to December. We send
all of our best prospects to
Sarasota so they can get extensive
help with their various problems."
"We have assigned Sam Mele,
director of the instructional
league, to Eddie, and Eddie
alone," Crowley said. "Making
him into a big league hitter is his
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Ford's future in the Red Sox
organization could be a frustrating
one. The Red Sox presently have a
23-year-old rookie playing short
stop--Rick Burleson-and he is
hitting over .300 and fielding with a
special flair that has him in con
sideration for Rookie of the Year
awards.
Since the average college player,
according to Crowly, takes three
years to reacn the big leagues,
Ford is by no means behind
schedule.
Ford's former college coach,
USC mentor Bobby Richardson,
has nothing but praise for Ford. "I
honestly feel Eddie made the right
decision by electing to turn
professional. College ball is just a
the
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stepping stone for fine athletes like
Eddie," commented Richardson.
Richardson also compared
Ford's problems with his own when
he first turned pro. "I was dropped
from one league to a lower league
because of adapting problems the
same as Eddie's. I was also sent to
an instructional league by the
Yankees," Richardson said, "and
without a doubt it was a great help
to my career.
"Things like that have their
way of working themselves out,"
Richardson added.
Although some questioned
Ford's decision to turn pro bef ore
completing his college career, the
Red Sox obviously don't regret his
move and appear determined to
make their relationship with Ford
a successful one.
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