The New York Yankees will pay a fitting tribute to Whitey Ford during Friday’s ALDS Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Yankees will wear Ford’s No. 16 on their left sleeve to commemorate the Hall of Fame legend. The 16 will be placed above the initials HGS, which are being worn to remember the late Hank Steinbrenner.
“I’ll be honored to wear that 16 on my chest,” reliever Zack Britton said, per RADIO.COM Sports MLB Insider Bob Nightengale, although it will be on the sleeve.
Ford had passed away his Long Island home at the age of 91 on Thursday night surrounded by his family while watching the Yankees.
“I feel like there was some comfort in that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before the game.
Coincidentally, the Yankees-Rays winner-take-all game is the only baseball game being played on Friday. Gerrit Cole will take the mound on three days’ rest for the first time in his career – something Ford had done 156 times in his career, posting a 2.97 ERA.
Perhaps an even better tribute would be a Whitey-like appearance from Cole.
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