When Ward homered in the last game of the 1953 season, it was the 1,197th home run hit in the big leagues that year, then an ML record. The ball and the bat used by Ward were sent to the Hall of Fame.
The 6’4″ lefthanded batter, who strongly resembled actor Gregory Peck, led the Western League in 1947 in runs, triples, and RBI.
