Yanks led 4-2 after 5 innings but Ford was driven out in the 6th charged with 5 runs, all earned, and the loss. Ford never pitched in any World Series again.
The Yankees lost games 1, 4, 7. Those are games that Ford could have started. Had the Yankees won just one of them, they would have won the series.
But there were fundamental mistakes that the Yankees made, which cost them dearly.
In game one Ford had an RBI single and two walks but was thrown out at home.
Shortstop Tony Kubek did not play at all and was replaced by Phil Linz. Yankee infielders each made two errors: Linz, Bobby Richardson 2B, Clete Boyer 3B (brother of Cardinal 3B and NL MVP Ken Boyer).
Mickey Mantle made two errors in right field, including allowing the only Cardinal run in game three. Mantle won that game with a home run in the bottom of the 9th.
The biggest problem was game 4. Cardinal Ray Sadecki pitched badly in both his starts, games 1 and 4. In game 4 Yankee cleanup hitter Mantle drove in the second of three first inning runs but was out trying for second base on his hit. That was the only out credited to Sadecki. Yanks led 3-0 after one inning but should have had more.
In the third inning with two out Mantle and catcher Elston Howard walked but Mantle was picked off second P-SS. Another wasted opportunity.
Yanks led 3-0 through 5 innings with lefty Al Downing pitching. In the 6th: single, single, fly out. Then Cardinal shortstop Dick Groat hit a grounder to 2B Richardson that could have been an inning ending double play. Richardson committed an error loading the bases. The next batter, Ken Boyer, homered. 4-3 Cardinals, the final score.
In game 7 Cards scored three runs in the 4th, which included:
- error by Linz
- Cardinal catcher Tim McCarver stealing home
- runner advancing on an overthrow by Mantle from right.
Top 5 Cards led 3-0. Tom Tresh walked, Clete Boyer flied out, Mike Hegan (PH for starter Mel Stottlemyre) walked. Linz batted as the tieing run. Linz flied out to short right ... but Tresh inexcusably got doubled off second ending the inning.
Bottom 5 Al Downing relieved and retired no one:
Lou Brock home run
Bill White single
Ken Boyer double
Downing was replaced by Rollie Sheldon who retired three in a row but allowed both of Downing's runners to score. Cardinals 6-0.
Mantle hit a three run homer in the 6th and Clete Boyer and Linz (his second) homered in the 9th but Bob Gibson held on to win 7-5.
Could Whitey Ford have made the difference? Sure. But fewer Yankee mistakes could have also.
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