Article by:
Dr. Gerald D. Curry
Each year the Jackson State University National Alumni Association selects a very selected group of alumni athletes who have distinguished themselves from all others, and this year we are so proud to announce Mr. Curt Ford, who graduated from Jackson State University and would go on to play professional baseball for the Saint Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia from 1985 through 1990. Recipients of this prestigious award will join the ranks of other alumni recognized for their lifetime of giving to others by Jackson State University.
This year’s celebration will take place on September 22nd at the Capital Club, in Jackson, Mississippi. This year the university will host their 34th National Alumni Association, and Curt Ford will be enshrined with legends like Walter Payton, Ricky Patton, Rosevelt Reynolds, and hundreds of more. This induction is a BIG Deal and deserves the proper recognition.
Ford attended Murrah High School, and then went on to Jackson State University, both located in Jackson, Mississippi, and would play college baseball. The Saint Louis Cardinals selected Ford in the fourth round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft. He made his debut with the Cardinals on June 22, 1985, by batting .308 in the 1987 World Series for the Cardinals versus the Minnesota Twins. After the 1988 season, the Cardinals traded Ford to the Philadelphia Phillies. Ford had seven home runs in his Major League Baseball career, eighty-nine runs batted in, and a batting average of .245.
Ford and his lovely wife relocated and now live in Last Vegas where he supports student athletes perfect the fundamentals of baseball and learning to make better life and career decisions. He is an active supporter of Coach Gene Tate’s East Palo T-Ball/Pitching Machine that meets at Doolittle Community Center.
The Urban Voice Magazine salutes Curt Ford’s accomplishments and only wishes the best for him and his family. Thank you for playing a positive role in making our community better. We will continue to lift the Curt Ford name and the many others that decide to follow in his footsteps.