A PRESIDENTIAL
VISIT TO THE
WHITECAPS
GERALD R. FORD AND HIS VISIT TO OLD KENT PARK
Unfortunately, when the
Whitecaps fairly closely.”
to the West Michigan professional
AAGPBL folded in 1954, Ford would
baseball scene.
have to wait four decades until he
received another chance to see a
main motivations for attending a
professional baseball game in Grand
Whitecaps game – aside from his
Rapids.
continued love of baseball – was
Gerald R. Ford was no stranger
The Grand Rapids native and
38th President of the United States grew up a Detroit Tigers fan and
Chamberlin said one of Ford’s
the periodic teasing he endured
attended Grand Rapids Chicks
The West Michigan Whitecaps,
from one of his golfing buddies,
games after returning to the area
who debuted in 1994, hosted the
Peter Pocklington, who owned the
following World War II. As Patricia
former president during the 1995
Triple-A Edmonton Trappers of
Brown outlined in her 2003 memoir,
season. While the exact date is in
the Pacific Coast League and wasn’t
“A League of My Own,” Ford even
question, Whitecaps owner Lew
afraid to tout his team’s successes.
went to one All-American Girls
Chamberlin understandably called it
(Pocklington is perhaps best known
Professional Baseball League game
a thrill to host Ford and his friends at
as the man who traded hockey
with his future wife, Betty, while
what was then called Old Kent Park.
legend Wayne Gretzky.)
the Chicks happened to play on the
same field where Ford played football
touch with what was going on in
bragging about how well his team
while a student at Grand Rapids
his hometown,” Chamberlin said.
was doing and how well they drew,
South High School.
“Apparently, he had followed the
they were dating. Coincidentally, “He really stayed in close
“Pocklington was always
but when the Whitecaps came
Rapids, he made a point of saying ‘I
details of the event. Finally, on the
along and started breaking all kinds
want to go to a Whitecaps game.’ ”
day of the game, Chamberlin had
of attendance records for several
the pleasure of meeting Ford for
years in a row, President Ford
really enjoyed that and took the
scheduled visit, Secret Service
several of the president’s friends,
opportunity to rib his compatriot
officials contacted the Whitecaps to
including prominent Grand Rapids
quite a bit,” Chamberlin said “So,
start the security protocol process,
businessmen Marty Allen, Peter
when he was coming back to Grand
walk the stadium and run through
Cook and Peter Secchia.
Lew Chamberlin presents President Ford with an original 1994 Whitecaps team jacket.
A few weeks before Ford’s
the first time in a suite alongside
While the Whitecaps decided not to have Ford throw out a ceremonial first pitch, his presence was announced to the crowd and he waved to the fans from the suite. The Whitecaps also gave him a team jacket and other souvenirs. Ford was even kind enough to sign a photo of him posing with Chamberlin in the suite.
Years later, Chamberlin and Ford
crossed paths again and baseball naturally was a topic of conversation.
“He asked about the Whitecaps,”
Chamberlin said. “He really did keep track and was very proud of what was transpiring out here and what was transpiring in Grand Rapids in general.”
The Whitecaps have had plenty of
other notable West Michigan natives attend games, including celebrities such as Floyd Mayweather and politicians such as Spencer Abraham and Vern Ehlers, but Chamberlin said it will be hard to top a visit made by the individual who held the highest office in the country.
“We’ve had other people, but
nobody of the stature of a former president. I would say President Ford tops the cake,” he said. “It was a big deal for us and it was a big deal for the fans. There was quite a bit of work involved, but it was definitely worth it.”
Top: President Ford ordering dinner in the suite level at Old Kent Ballpark 1995 Bottom: Lew Chamberlin and President Ford talk baseball up in the suite level