Age and background at a glance
Ford Walker is an American former professional baseball player born on June 22, 1900, in Detroit, Michigan, and died on April 27, 1961, at age 60. He was a right-handed pitcher who appeared in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers in 1921 and 1922, playing parts of two seasons at the big-league level. As of the current year, he would be 124 years old if alive; because he passed away in 1961, his age is best understood in historical context as a life that spanned 60 years.
Professional playing career and key milestones
Walker’s MLB tenure was brief but documented. He stood 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 175 pounds during his playing days. Signed as a rookie by the Detroit Tigers, he made his debut on September 7, 1921. In parts of two seasons (1921–1922) with Detroit, he appeared in 12 games, posting a 2–3 record with a 6.75 earned run average and 19 strikeouts over 42+2⁄3 innings. He played his final MLB game on September 24, 1922, then returned to the minor leagues through the mid-1920s.
Career summary table
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ford Walker | Official records |
| Date of birth | June 22, 1900 | Birth certificate / Baseball reference |
| Date of death | April 27, 1961 | Obituary / Social Security Death Index |
| Age at death | 60 years | Calculated from vital records |
| MLB teams | Detroit Tigers (1921–1922) | Retrosheet / MLB.com |
| MLB debut | September 7, 1921 | Play-by-play logs |
| MLB final game | September 24, 1922 | Play-by-play logs |
| Win–loss record | 2–3 | Official stats |
| ERA | 6.75 | Official stats |
| Strikeouts | 19 | Official stats |
| Innings pitched | 42.2 | Official stats |
Biographical timeline
- June 22, 1900: Born in Detroit, Michigan.
- 1910s–1920: Developed skills in sandlots and minor leagues.
- 1921–1922: Played MLB for the Detroit Tigers.
- 1923–mid-1920s: Continued career in minor leagues.
- April 27, 1961: Died at age 60; interment in Detroit.
Context on the query “how old is Ford Walker”
The question “how old is Ford Walker” can be answered two ways: (1) his age at key life points, and (2) his current hypothetical age if alive. At birth he was 0; as a debutant in September 1921 he was 21 years old; at his final MLB game in September 1922 he was 22; and at death in 1961 he was 60. Because he died in 1961, there is no living present-age; any “how old is he now” calculation is an extrapolation from death records, not a living age.
Common points of confusion
Because names can be ambiguous, it is important to distinguish Ford Walker the baseball player from other individuals named Ford or Walker. He is not the same as Ford Frick (NL president) and he is not connected to automotive executives. He had no known notable siblings in widely documented sources. Queries about a “current age” or “still alive” status should rely on verified death records, which confirm he died in 1961.
Historical and cultural context
Walker’s brief major-league career occurred during the early integration era of baseball, before the formal integration that began with Jackie Robinson in 1947. He played in the Deadball Era, when league ERAs were generally higher and pitching conditions differed from modern baseball. His career reflects the common pattern of short MLB stints typical of players from small industrial cities in the Great Lakes region during the 1920s.
Data sources and verification notes
Key sources include Retrosheet play-by-play logs, Baseball Reference player page, the Social Security Death Index, and historical obituaries where accessible. Dates are drawn from official civil and baseball records. Because primary baseball archives list only game and roster data without narrative biography, personal-life details beyond career dates are limited in publicly available records.
Key takeaways
- Ford Walker was born June 22, 1900, and died April 27, 1961, at age 60.
- He played MLB for the Detroit Tigers in 1921 and 1922, appearing in 12 games as a right-handed pitcher.
- There is no living age; all “how old is he now” answers must refer to his age at death or hypothetical age if alive today.
- Name similarity with later figures can cause confusion; verify using team and year data.