John Doward Sanford (June 23, 1917 – January 4, 2005) was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Washington Senators.

Listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg), Sanford batted and threw right-handed.

Basically a line-drive hitter and a fine defensive player, Sanford was one of many ballplayers who interrupted their careers to serve during World War II.

[2] Sanford played for the Washington Senators in the 1940 and 1941 seasons as a backup for Zeke Bonura and Mickey Vernon at first base.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1941 to 1946, playing and coaching on baseball teams there, then returned to major league action briefly in 1946.