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Whitey Ford, 91, pitcher who epitomized mighty Yankees, dies

Whitey Ford
Whitey Ford
Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra
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LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. - The great New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford has died. A family member tells The Associated Press on Friday that Ford died at his Long Island home Thursday night.

The cause was not known. Ford was called the the “Chairman of the Board.” He had the best winning percentage of any pitcher in the 20th century and helped the Yankees become the game’s perennial champions.

The wily left-hander started in 1950 spent 16 seasons in the majors, all with the Yankees. He was among the most dependable pitchers in baseball history. He won 236 games and lost just 106, a winning percentage of .690.

He helped symbolize the almost machinelike efficiency of the Yankees in the mid-20th century. Whitey Ford was 91.