Randy Ford

Randy D. Ford

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 173 lb.
• School Western Michigan University

• Born March 19, 1958 in Hudson, MI USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Randy Ford reached AA as a player then became a college coach.

Ford was a walk-on in college but went on to go 17-4 with a 2.91 ERA there. As a junior, he made All-Mid-American Conference after a 8-0, 2.04 season in 1979. The Toronto Blue Jays took Ford in the 11th round of the 1979 amateur draft.

Randy debuted as a pro with the '79 Utica Blue Jays, going 7-6 with a 4.50 ERA. He led the New York-Penn League in innings (104), hits allowed (120) and earned runs allowed (52) as well as fielding by a pitcher (33 chances, 0 errors).

In 1980, the Michigan native was 4-12 with a 4.50 ERA for the Kinston Eagles, one loss shy of the Carolina League lead. Back with Kinston the next season, the left-hander went 12-10 with a 3.13 ERA. He tied for 7th in the Carolina League in ERA and led in starts (28). He allowed 162 hits in 187 innings while striking out 154, 14 behind league leader Jeff Bittiger. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star team as the top left-handed pitcher in the loop.

Ford spent 1982 with the Knoxville Blue Jays but struggled with shoulder problems and a 2-4, 5.67 record with one save to end his minor league career. He went back to college to finish his degree in physical education.

From 1985-1988, Ford was an assistant to Fred Decker at Western Michigan University, his alma mater. He then was pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for Penn State for 16 years.

He became head coach at Western Michigan in July 2004 and held that role through 2010. He became an assistant coach at Kellogg Community College [1].

As a coach, he has helped work with John Vander Wal, Matt Mieske, David Aardsma and Nate Bump.

Sources

• 1980-1983 Baseball Guides
• Western Michigan bio