John (Johnny) Ford

A remarkable man near and dear to me passed away on June 17th.

John was the very first ball player I interviewed. I remember how nervous I was driving up to Saskatoon; I kept asking myself if I would know enough 1950s history to have a decent conversation with him. John has a rich history with baseball in Saskatchewan. I would even go as far as to say that he was part of baseball royalty, playing with Emile Francis, Jackie McLeod, Bennie Griggs, Roberto Zayas, Percy Trimont, and Bob Herron. He played in two Global World Series (’55 and 56), into the 1970s as a player and after as a coach/mentor to up-and-coming players. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

John, an American from California, came up in 1953 to first play with the Moose Jaw Mallards, then on to Lloydminster for the Meridians, and finally for the North Battleford Beavers. This is where he met the love of his life, Bev, and here in Saskatchewan, he remained to work and raise his family. He says he was accustomed to the cold by then as he was introduced to it during his tour fighting in the Korean War.

He reminisced about his youth in the sunny state, heading to the local ball diamond with his two best friends to practice and went down to the local deli shop after working up an appetite. For 25c, he and his friends would share a long baguette filled with cheese and meat, and with full stomachs, would then return to play ball. He remembered meeting Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb and added that most MLB ball players were not paid very much back then but played for the love of the game.

I sat at the table for almost three hours with him and Bev, mesmerized by this passionate storytelling, and as I watched him, he transformed into this energetic 20-year-old. He took me by the hand and transported me back to the 1950s with him. I learned so much that day and received such a special gift from him and Bev.

I have a favourite saying: “We are all stories in the end, so make it a good one.” John’s life was incredible, and he experienced so many wonderful things that many only dream of. The gift of stories is that in sharing, they have become passed on, and life continues through them. I had the opportunity to visit him in May, and over coffee he said, “Kid, you gonna write a book?”

Maybe I will, John. Maybe I will.

Thanks for your stories. I will treasure them always.