Dan Ford

Darnell Glenn Ford
(Disco Dan)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
• High School John C. Fremont High School
• Debut April 12, 1975
• Final Game May 31, 1985
• Born May 19, 1952 in Los Angeles, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Dan Ford served in the U.S. Army at the time of the Vietnam War. He made his major league debut with the Minnesota Twins early in the 1975 season and had his first four-run game on July 1st. He hit the first home run at the newly-renovated Yankee Stadium on April 15, 1976.

He was traded to the California Angels before the 1979 season, and had his best season with his new team that year, scoring and driving over 100 runs and hitting for the cycle that August against the Seattle Mariners as the Angels won the first division title in team history. On August 10th, he had the first five-hit game of his career. He hit 2 home runs in the 1979 ALCS, which the Angels lost in 4 games to the Baltimore Orioles. While with the Angels, Dan Ford posed nude for the June 1981 issue of Playgirl.

He later became a member of the Orioles and hit a home run in Game 3 of the 1983 World Series, against Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies, helping the O's on their way to a world title. As his nickname "Disco Dan" implies, he was very much in tune with the styles of the 1970s, and was a bit of a strange fit with the Orioles, a team that was straight-laced and stressed fundamentals, something which Ford had never had much time for. However, he was a good hitter, particularly dangerous against lefties, and manager Earl Weaver could accept a few defensive shortcomings and quirky personality traits from a player who could rake.

He had an extremely closed batting stance. He would stand at the plate turned towards the catcher, with the numbers on his back clearly visible and his feet spread wide apart. He still managed to hit the ball very hard out of that unusual position.

Notable Achievements

• 1975 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 2 (1976 & 1979)
• 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1979)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1979)
• Won a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983

Related Sites

• Dan Ford at the SABR Bio Project