Books and articles about Dale Ford

Ford, who has also officiated basketball, was involved in two large controversies. During the 1981 season, he threatened to forfeit the second game of a White Sox-Angels doubleheader at Comiskey Park because of comments made by Chicago broadcaster Jimmy Piersall, which Ford said were inciting the 40,248 in attendance. In 1983 through union counsel Richie Phillips, Ford filed a lawsuit for an unspecified amount against Billy Martin for calling him "a stone liar" in an interview. (RTM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 5, 1983: American League president Lee MacPhail suspends Yankees manager Billy Martin for the 2nd time this season because of continuing abuse of umpires. Martin is suspended for two games for calling umpire Dale Ford "a stone liar" after a July 31st game with the White Sox. He earned a 3-game suspension earlier this year for kicking dirt on umpire Drew Coble. » May 9, 1997: Against the Royals in the 6th inning, the Yankees catch Jay Bell in a rundown when Bell is suddenly called out by umpire Dale Ford, who thinks he passed the preceding baserunner, Jose Offerman. Offerman, however, had been forced out at 3B. Royals' manager Bob Boone argues until the umps agree and put runners back at 2B and 3B and call for a resumption of play. Chili Davis then lines a 2-run single off Kenny Rogers to tie the score. The Royals win 7–5 in 12 innings, with the victory going to Randy Veres. The Yanks protest that the rundown play should not have been reversed. Gene Budig will dismiss the protest, stating that with the rundown there were several scenarios where Bell could have escaped a tag.