Next up in my “nicknames” thread here on the blog is one of my
favorites: former Twins bopper Dan Ford and his “Disco Dan” moniker,
about as relevant a nickname for the decade as there is, no?
Check out the card:
I used the 1976 format since he came up and had a pretty nice
rookie year in Minnesota in 1975, hitting .280 with 15 home runs, 59
runs batted in and 72 runs scored over 130 games and 440 at-bats.
The following year he was even more productive, hitting 20 homers
with 86 RBI’s and 87 runs scored along with 17 stolen bases, avoiding
the dreaded “sophomore jinx”.
He would go on to a nice 11-year career, playing for the California
Angels and Baltimore Orioles after his time with the Twins, and had his
best year in 1979 while in California, hitting 21 homers with 101 RBI’s
and 100 runs scored while batting .290,
all career highs.
By the time he retired after the 1985 season, he collected 121
homers, with 566 RBI’s, 598 runs scored while hitting .270 over 1153
games and 4163 at-bats, and added a World Championship to his career in
1983 with the O's.
“Disco Dan” was in the house!