Sept. 25, 1963 - Whitey Ford, backed by a varsity nine such as manager Ralph Houk had been able to field only nine times this season, gained his 24th victory last night as the Yankees downed the Angels, 8-1, at Yankee Stadium. For the first time since June 1, the Yankee skipper found it possible to play his full complement of regulars. Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Tom Tresh (pictured) patrolled the outfield. The Joe Pepitone-Bobby Richardson-Tony Kubek-Clete Boyer infield was intact, and with Elston Howard catching Ford, you might say the sparse crowd of 7,405 got a preview of what the Yankee lineup will be for the first game of the World Series against the Dodgers at the Stadium next Wednesday. Ford worked seven scoreless innings, allowed six hits, and struck out nine. He was relieved in the eighth by Ralph Terry. Opposed by Bo Belinsky, the playboy southpaw recently recalled from Hawaii, the Yanks scored four times in the first. The first three runs tallied on a bases-loaded triple by Howard. The fourth run followed as Pepitone beat out a drag bunt down the first-base line and Howard scored. Howard belted a second triple in the sixth off Julio Navarro and scored on a single by Boyer. Next week, it will be like old times — the Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series. And the Broadway oddsmakers, who also have long memories, have established the Bronx Bombers as the 6½-7½ (7-5 man-to-man) choice in the Fall Classic. Since it is a foregone conclusion that southpaws Whitey Ford and Sandy Kourax will be the opening game pitcheres, the books have tabbed the Yankees as the 6-7 (13-10 man-to-man) to win the first game.
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