Ford was picked 18th overall in the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland Athletics. He spent four years in the minor league system for the Athletics before he was traded on October 23, 1974, to the Twins with Dennis Myers for Pat Bourque.
Ford was drafted by the Oakland Athletics as the 18th overall pick in the 1970 MLB Draft and spent four years in their minor league system before being traded to the Twins on October 23, 1974, along with Dennis Myers for Pat Bourque.