Whitey Ford to speak at Bobby Dolan Dinner

New York Yankees pitching legend Whitey Ford will be the featured speaker at the 19th annual Bobby Dolan Baseball Dinner.

The event hosted by the University of Nevada on behalf of the Wolf Pack baseball team will be held Monday, Feb. 3 at the Silver Legacy.

Hosted cocktails will be held at 6 p.m., with a steak dinner at 7 p.m. A memorabilia auction will be held during the event.

Tickets are $150 for adults ($90 tax deductible) and $75 for youths 14 and under ($30 tax deductible). Tables of 10 cost $1,500. Tickets go on sale Dec. 20 and can be purchased by calling the athletic association, 784-4870.

One word best describes Ford -- legendary. For was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974 with best friend and teammate, Mickey Mantle.

Ford was the money pitcher for the Yankees in the 1950s and early 1960s, earning him the nickname, "Chairman of the Board." In 11 of his 16 seasons, Ford finished with an earned run average below 3.00, with his highest being 3.24.

The left-handed pitcher finished with a lifetime record of 236-106, giving him the best winning percentage (6.90) of any pitcher in the 20th century. Ford's winning percentage was usually higher than the team's. He posted 45 career shutouts including eight 1-0 wins.

Ford won the 1961 Cy Young Award -- at a time when only one award was given for both leagues -- and set many World Series records. Ford pitched for 11 pennant-winning teams.

He ranks first all-time in the World Series for wins (11), games and games started (22), innings pitched (146) and strikeouts (94). He pitched 33 consecutive scoreless innings in the World Series to break Babe Ruth's record of 29 2/3.

Ford was bon on Oct. 221, 1928. He and his wife, Joan, live in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.