Ford died watching team, which honored him by wearing patches

The Yankees will honor the spirit of “The Chairman of the Board” on a somber day in the organization.

Players a nd staff members will pay a tribute to Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, who died Thursday at the age of 91, by wearing No. 16 patches on the left sleeve of their gray away jerseys in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Rays on Friday at Petco Park.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who never had the chance to share an interaction with Ford, reflected on what the greatest pitcher to put on pinstripes meant to him and his club.

“Whitey Ford is a legend in our industry and certainly here with the New York Yankees,” Boone said. “One of those guys that’s a Mount Rushmore guy in the Yankee organization.” Boone said he is praying for Ford’s family. Ford was surrounded by his wife, Joan, of 69 years, his son, Eddie, and daughter-in-law, Cathi when he passed away. In his final moments, Ford watched the Yankees’ ALDS Game 4 win over the Rays on Thursday. Boone said he found some comfort in that.

“The nickname, there’s just this legend of this larger than life Chairman of the Board,” the manager added. “Obviously, a great pitcher, but one of those guys that personifies this franchise’s greatness is Whitey. I know he was beloved in this organization by so many people and my heart goes out to his family today.”

Yankees reliever Zack Britton, a southpaw like Ford, said he admired Ford’s military service.

Ford, at the age of 21, made his major league debut for the Yankees in 1950. Hewent 9-1 with a 2.81 ERAand finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting. After the 1950 Yankees won a championship under Casey Stengel, Ford served in the Army during the Korean War in ‘51 and ‘52. He returned to the Yankees in ‘53 and enjoyed six World Series victories, 10 All-Star nods and a Cy Young award over 16 years with the franchise.

“As a young left-handed starter coming up, Whitey Ford is one of those guys that you look up to and … the name, you know where he ranks as one of the best pitchers of all time, especially left-handed,” Britton said.

“It’s a big loss for the game, and his family, obviously, and we’re thinking about them today. I’ll be honored to wear that 16 on my chest while just looking back at a lot of things that he accomplished.”