Bobby Richardson

At 88 years old, Bobby Richardson has this physical status:

Career

Richardson began his minor league career in 1953 with the Norfolk Tars of the Class B Piedmont League, traveling by bus to Norfolk from Sumter with $85 in coins to be shared by friends and family. Richardson's first 27 games with the Tars have been a member of the Olean Yankees of the PONY League, he batted only.211. He batted.412 in 32 games and his first home run with Olean.

Richardson was promoted to the Class A Binghamton Triplets of the Eastern League in 1954, without having to return to Norfolk. He spent the year in Binghamton, finishing second in the Eastern League (141, tied for first), runs (81, fifth), doubles (171, second to Clyde Parris' 40), andbatting average (.310, second to Parris'.313). Richardson was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) by the Eastern League for his service (MVP).

Richardson spent most of spring with the Yankees in 1955, but the American Association sent him to the Class AAA Denver Bears to start the year. With 146 hits, 99 runs scored, 21 triples, six home runs, and 59 RBI in 119 games with the Bears, he batted.296 with 99 runs scored, 99 runs scored, 21 runs, six home runs, and 59 RBI.

The Yankees called up Richardson as Gil McDougald found himself on the receiving end of a line drive during batting practice in August 1955. He made his first appearance against Hall of Famer Jim Bunning in a 3–0 win over the Detroit Tigers on August 5, 1955. In the field, he was a "nervous wreck," as he later described, but no balls were struck to him. He appeared in three games at second base in three days (including an August 7 doubleheader), followed by three games at shortstop before being sent to the minor leagues on August 15 to make room for a pitcher who has been on the disabled list. He was drafted to the Richmond Virginians of the Class AAA International League this season, with whom he also completed the season. Called up again in September, he appeared in four more Yankee games before the year's end.

Richardson debuted with the Yankees in 1956. However, he only appeared in five games for them, batting.143 before being sent back to Denver May 13. He was ranked among the American Association's top batting averages (1.1, third), runs scored (102, sixth), and triples (33, ninth), tied with Willie Kirkland for second (14th), and triples (12, tied for second behind Larry Raines in second.)

Richardson joined the team in 1957 and took over Billy Martin's second base position. In spring training, the Yankees' volatile infielder suffered with Mickey Mantle, causing more trouble by getting into a publicized brawl at the Copacabana Club in May before being traded to the Kansas City Athletics in June. Richardson, if not a great hitter in 1957, was a quieter sort of character; boss Casey Stengel wrote, "Look, look at him." He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, he doesn't chew, he doesn't smoke, he doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, he doesn't chew, he doesn't chew, he doesn't sit out late, and he can't reach.250." His fielding was better; Louis Effrath of The New York Times said on June 25, "He has enthralled the fans with his great stops and catches... no one gets rid of the ball quicker [on double plays]." Richardson's.331 average surpassed only Mantle among the Yankees on June 25, the Yankees' first appearance in the All-Star Game this year. During the year, he batted.188 over the remainder of the year, finishing with a.256 mark and 78 hits in 305 at bats.

Richardson was losing a lot of starts to Jerry Coleman at second base by September. Nevertheless, Stengel waited until the last minute to determine whether Coleman or Richardson would start at second base in the 1957 World Series against the Milwaukee Braves. In the end, Stengel selected Coleman, who appeared in all seven games for the Yankees as Richardson, but was limited to two appearances as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement. In seven games, the Yankees lost the Series.

Coleman retired following the 1957-19 season, and Richardson was the Yankees' starting second baseman in 1958. He missed 20 in a row in the Yankees' first 18 games, but McDougald got the ball rolling at second. Richardson started second base from June 5 to June 12, but he spent the majority of the season on the bench until September, when he made only a few starts at second base. He batted.247 with 18 runs scored and 45 hits in 73 games (182 at bats). Richardson considered leaving baseball due to his injuries, but Ralph Houk, the Yankees' first base coach and Richardson's former manager, persuaded him to keep playing. Richardson played three games for the Yankees at third base and Game 4 at third, but he was struckless in two at bats before being pinch-hit by Elston Howard in the seventh. For the first time, he became a World Series champion for the first time, as the Yankees defeated the Braves in seven games this year.

Richardson debuted as the Yankees' shortstop in 1959; Effrat wrote, "[Richardson] is a superb fielder no matter where [the Yankees] play him." After McDougald suffered cracked knuckles, he reverted to shortstop on April 29, when McDougald returned to the lineup on April 18, he moved to second base. He was suspended after May 5 in favour of Tony Kubek, who was only batting.232 in the season's first twenty games.

Bill Dickey, the Yankees' hitting coach, worked with Richardson to develop his hitting. Richardson tried swinging harder at pitches in 1959. Richardson's batting average increased from.232 to.300 in 18 at bats, considering a chance to start second base in mid-June. He was on the roster for his second All-Star Game of the year and stayed as the starting second baseman the remainder of the season. Richardson and Fritz Brickell scored their first major league home runs on July 25, 1959, Richardson defeating Paul Foytack in a 9–8 win over the Tigers. Richardson was the only Yankee with a shot at.300 going into the year's final game. Stengel told him if he was hit in his first at bat, lowering his bat average to.300. Richardson came out to Albie Pearson in his first at bat, but he had hits in his next two at bats to lift his average to.301, which was pinch-hit in the eighth, preserving the record. He had 53 runs, 18 doubles, six triples, two home runs, and 33 RBI in 134 games (469 at bats). His.301 average ranked first in the American League and ranked sixth, and he finished 18th in AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) polls after the season.

Richardson remained the Yankees' starting second baseman all season in 1960. He had a season-high three hits on April 30, June 30, and July 18. In a 16–0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on April 30, one of those hits was his only home run of the year against Arnie Portocarrero. Richardson singled out by Bob Trowbridge on May 6, stole second base, advanced to third on a ground out by Ryne Duren, who later scored the winning run on a single by McDougald. Batting.208 from June 18 to July 23, his season average risen to.273. He batted.215 to finish the year with a.252 average. He had 45 runs, 116 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, and 26 RBI in 150 games (460 at bats).

In the 1960 World Series, the Yankees met the Pittsburgh Pirates. Richardson was injured in Game 1 but he scored three runs in Game 2, as well as the Yankees' victory over 16–3. In Game 3, he came to bat with the bases loaded against Clem Labine. Frank Crosetti, the third base coach, pleaded guilty to bunt, but Richardson called the count to two strikes, but he turned it down. He stayed at the plate long enough to run the at bat to a complete count, then hit a grand slam to put the Yankees ahead 6–0. In the fourth inning, he had a two-RBI single against Red Witt and went up to bat with the bases loaded. His six RBI set a new record for the most in a single World Series game. In Game 4, he had two hits and drove in another run, but the Yankees lost by 3–2. He hit two triples in Game 6 and drove in three runs, and scored one in the Yankees' 12–0 victory over Game 7 after going hitless in Game 5. He scored a run in the sixth inning, led off the ninth with a single against Harvey Haddix, and scored another run, but New York lost the game 10–9. Though Pittsburgh second baseman Bill Mazeroski won the Series for Pittsburgh in the ninth, it was Richardson who would be named the World Series MVP after hitting.367 with 12 RBI. He is the only World Series MVP who played mainly second base and the only MVP who was playing for the losing team when he was awarded the award. For his efforts, Sport Magazine sent him a new Corvette. Richardson traded the vehicle for a Chevrolet station wagon because he had a growing family.

In 1961, Houk took over Stengel as the Yankee manager; Richardson was inserted either first or second in each game's batting order. As the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Indians 11-5, he had three hits and four RBI, including a three-run home run against Johnny Antonelli on June 15. In the second game of a doubleheader on July 9, he had four RBI, including a three-run home run against Don Schwall, but the Yankees lost the game 9-6 to the Boston Red Sox. In a 5–3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on August 17, he had three hits and three runs. On August 26, the Yankees lost 6–4 to the Los Angeles Angels, but Richardson had five hits in the game. Richardson, who appeared in all 162 games for the Yankees, batted.261 with 80 runs, five triples, three home runs, and 49 RBI. His 662 at bats were third in the AL (behind Brooks Robinson's 668 and Jake Wood's 663), and his 173 hits were fifth in the league. He led the AL with 413 putouts and 136 double plays and was assisting in the defense. Richardson was ranked 24th in MVP polls and took the Gold Glove at second base, the first of five straight victories at the position.

Richardson had no RBI in the 1961 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, but he did bat.391, hitting nine runs in 23 at bats. In Games 1 and 4, he had three hits apiece. Héctor López scored on a single by Héctor López in Game 4 and lead off the seventh inning with a single against Jim Brosnan, advanced to second base after Vaina Pinson misplayed the ball, and the Yankees defeated 7–0. Richardson was the World Series champion for the second time after the Yankees defeated the Reds in five games.

Richardson had four hits against the Orioles on June 9, 1962, including a two-run home run against Steve Barber, tied the game at two runs in the seventh; the Yankees defeated the Yankees 7-3; In 1962, he was chosen to both of the All-Star Games. Richardson came up to the plate with the bases loaded as the Yankees trailed the Minnesota Twins 7–4 in the ninth inning on August 16, 1962, at Metropolitan Stadium. "See if you can hit one out," Mantle said before the at bat. "I'm not feeling well today," says the author. Richardson won the only grand slam of his career besides his one in the 1960 World Series, and he hit a home run to left field against Dick Stigman. Despite the fact that the Yankees led the way 8–7, they would lose the lead in the ninth and lose in extra innings. In an 11–7 victory over the Athletics, he had three hits and two runs scored, as well as a three-run home run against Orlando Pea. In an 8-5 win over the Washington Senators on September 19, he had four hits, two runs scored, and an RBI. Len Pasculi of the Society for American Baseball Research called 1962 his most productive year, with eight home runs, 59 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 161 games. He led the AL in hits (209) and at bats (692). Richardson finished fifth in runs scored (99, tied for fourth with Carl Yastrzemski), batting average (.302, seventh), and doubles (38, fourth). In AL MVP voting, he came in second second, second to Mantle.

In the 1962 World Series, the Yankees defeated the San Francisco Giants. Richardson batted a mere.148 in this series, though he did have two hits and two runs scored in the Yankees' 5–3 victory over Game 5. However, his glove would have one of the series's most recognizable memories. In Game 7, the Yankees had the only run of the game going into the ninth inning after needing three outs to win the game. Matty Alou led off with a single, but Mays doubled to put the tying run (Alou) at third place, with future Hall of Famer Willie McCovey coming to bat. If Mays scored, the Giants would win the series. McCovey's run-up the middle was probably worth more runs if it had been out of the infield. Richardson snared the ball for the third out, winning the Series for the Yankees for the third time in a row. "I was often out of place on that play," Richardson recalled later. "But McCovey had two hard ground balls to me earlier this season, so I played where I figured he'd get the ball." Years later, McCovey had trouble remembering it. "I broke in with a 4-for-4 record in my rookie year against a Hall of Fame pitcher, Robin Roberts," he recalled. "I scored more grand slams [18] than any other in National League history," says the author. I had more home runs [521] than any lefthanded hitter in the National League, including me. But there's something you may not recall about me: "I'd rather be remembered as the guy who shot the ball six inches over Bobby Richardson's head." In 1999, Sporting News ranked the catch as the 13th most memorable moment in baseball history, and Charles Schulz referenced it in a Peanuts comic strip, where Charlie Brown yells, "Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball three feet higher?"

Richardson had three hits, two RBI, and two runs scored in a 7–6 victory over the Senators on April 23, 1963. In May, his father died on July 17 after suffering a stroke. Richardson played 11 games in a row this year, as well as assisting him in getting his affairs in order. In the first game of a doubleheader and on July 4, he had a season high of four hits in a game in quick succession on July 4 and July 6. In the All-Star Game, he played for the Yankees once more. He singled out second base against Steve Ridzik on September 5, and scored on a Roger Maris hit to tie a game with the Senators at 2 p.m. in the sixth inning. In 12 innings, the Yankees defeated 3–2 to win 3–2. Richardson hit three home runs in 1963 after setting a career high with eight home runs the year before. Richardson batted.265 runs scored and 48 RBI in 151 games. For the second year in a row, he led the league in at bats (630) and tied for seventh with 167 hits and tied three other players for seventh with 15 stolen bases. Richardson also received AL MVP awards this year, finishing tenth this time. He received the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, which was given to the major leaguer who best reveals Gehrig's character by Gehrig's Columbia University fraternity to the one who best reflects Gehrig's character.

Richardson played out three times against Sandy Koufax in Game 1 of the 1963 World Series, which the Los Angeles Dodgers won in four games, his first three-strikeout game in 1,448 regular-season/World Series games. (Koufax will finish with 15 strikeouts, followed by a World Series single-game record.) Richardson had only struck out 22 times in 630 at-bats during the regular season. Richardson had just three hits in the World Series but attended each game; by then, he had played in 23 consecutive World Series games dating back to 1960.

In a 12–2 victory over the Indians on May 10, 1964, Richardson had five hits and scored three runs. He had five hits in a 9–7 victory over the Twins on June 4 just less than a month later. In a 6–1 victory over the White Sox in the first game of a doubleheader, he scored his 1,000th hit on June 12 with a line drive to left field against Frank Baumann. Richardson, who had put the ball in play seven times in his last two games without reaching base safely, had a rough day. He was selected to the All-Star Game for the second time this year. He had three hits, including a two-RBI single against Mickey Lolich and a solo home run against Terry Fox in an 11-06 victory over the Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader. He batted.267 with four home runs, 50 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 159 games. He led the AL in at bats for the third year in a row. He also ranked third in the AL with 148 singles, ranked third in the league with 181 hits (behind Tony Oliva's 217 and B. Robinson's 294), and tied Bob Allison for ninth in the AL with 90 runs scored. After the season, he finished 17th in AL MVP voting.

Richardson set a new World Series record with 13 hits against the St. Louis Cardinals; this feat has since been tied by Lou Brock and Marty Barrett in the 1968 and 1986 World Series, respectively. However, in Game 7's ninth innings, Bob Gibson batting against Cardinal ace Bob Gibson with the Yankees trailing 7-5, he popped out to Dal Maxvill for the final out of the Series. Richardson had the unfortunate distinction of making mistakes that affected the outcome of two games in the series. He mishandled Dick Groat's ground ball for a double play that would have ended the game with no runs scoring; the Cardinals needed four runs in defeating the Yankees 4–3. In Game 5's fifth inning, he bobbled Curt Flood's double play ground ball, which may have ended the game without injury but also ended the game without damage. The Cardinals eventually scored twice in the inning and then won the game 5–2 on Tim McCarver's 10th inning, three-run home run. Richardson's last (of seven) World Series was played by the 1970s and 1964; he competed in all 30 World Series games from 1960 to 1964.

In a 15–5 win over Cleveland over May 24, 1965, he had three hits, drove in two runs, and scored two runs. Richardson stole second base and scored on a Maris single to bring the Yankees up 1–0, but the Yankees would forfeit the game 2–1 in the 10th inning after beating into a fielder's pick on June 15, respectively; however, the Yankees would lose the game 2–1 in the 10th inning. He was once more selected to the All-Star Game. In a 5–4 win over Washington on July 17, he had four hits and scored twice. The Yankees went on to win by 2–1 over the White Sox five days after being home against Gary Peters. Ray Barker and Richardson defeated Denny McLain in a 6–5 win over the Tigers on August 8. Richardson batted.247 runs, 28 doubles, six home runs, and 47 RBI in 160 games. In AL MVP polling, he came in 20th.

In an 11–6 win over the Angels, Richardson had three hits and scored three times on May 25. On June 2, he turned a 3–2 deficit into a 5–3 lead for the Yankees, who beat the White Sox after hitting a three-run double against Tommy John. In a 7–2 victory over the Indians, he had three hits, three runs scored, and three RBI, including a home run against John O'Donoghue. He had five hits, one of which was a home run against Rollie Sheldon, and two more by Mantle and Joe Pepitone in a 6–5 victory over the Red Sox on June 29, five hits, one of which was a home run against Rollie Sheldon. Richardson made the All-Star Game for the fifth year in a row, his seventh and final pick. On August 15, the Yankees defeated the Tigers 6–5, including a home run against Lolich. In the 10th innings of a 4–2 victory over the Red Sox, he scored his last major league home run against John Wyatt on September 11, defeating him in his last major league home run against the Red Sox. In a 2–0 victory over the White Sox, he appeared in his last game on October 2, hitting a home run and an RBI. He batted.251 runs in 149 games, including 143 runs, 21 doubles, seven home runs, and 42 RBI.

Richardson resigned after the 1966 season, despite being just 31 years old at the time. He had decided to retire after the 1965 season, but the Yankees convinced him not to return for one more season, since Kubek had to recover due to injuries after the 1965 season. "I wanted to bring the kids to school, help them with homework, and watch or help with their teams," he said. Richardson was honoured by the Yankees on September 17 as "Bobby Richardson Day," making him the tenth Yankee to be honoured at the stadium on a special day. "I'm so lucky that I've been a Yankee." To the fans, he said, "Glory be the glory."

Richardson had a career with a batting average of.266, 34 home runs, and 390 RBIs. He stole 643 runs and stole 73 stolen bases in his 12-year career in the major leagues. He had 196 doubles and 37 triples. He had an all-time fielding percentage of.979 at second base and six seasons with 100 or more double plays converted.

Richardson won five straight Gold Gloves at second base from 1961 to 1965 (not until Robinson Canó in 2010 when another Yankee second baseman win a Gold Glove), while forming a stellar double play team with shortstop and roommate Kubek. With the light-hitting but brilliant-fielding Yankee third baseman Clete Boyer, Richardson and Kubek, the Yankees had one of baseball's best defensive infield in the early 1960s.

Richardson was also known for his ability to make contact. He struck out just 243 times, out of less than 5% of his plate appearances. Richardson, a leadoff hitter who barely missed a game, led the league in at bats three times. For the bulk of his career (1958–1966)), Martin wore the uniform number 1 for the majority of his career (1958–1966). During his career, he led the league in at bats per strikeout three times. He was a good bunter who dominated sacrifice matches in 1962 and 1964.

Despite the raw figures, Richardson was a poor offensive player when measured by sabermetrics. Since he barely walked, his OBP was.299, and since he had no wealth, his career slugging percentage was only.335. Every year from 1961-1966, he was ranked in the top five in the American League in outs made, winning the league for the first six years. "Richardson, frankly, was a terrible leadoff guy," Bill James wrote. He was never on base and never managed to get to scoring position. Richardson, the 1961 Yankees, was leading off 162 games and batting 662 times, with 237 home runs behind him. 80 years old. Richardson was not scoring runs until he was eight-zeroes out. His OPS+ was over 100 percent in 1962, Richardson's best year, but his OPS+ was just 77.

Paul Dietzel wondered if Richardson would be the head baseball coach for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the late 1960s. Richardson told him no twice while he was under a personal services deal with the Yankees. Richardson, who was rejected by Dietzel for the third time, was hired by the Yankees to work, in 1970, when he first started the job. He would often pitch batting practice and drive the team bus for sporting activities. Richardson attempted to recruit for the school but decided against it after finding out that "I wasn't going to go after the good players." "South Carolina seldom bunts, often hits-and-runs, and is always looking for the big inning," Richardson wrote. Richardson led the Gamecocks to their first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament appearance in 1974, setting the tone for what would happen a year later, when South Carolina set a 51–6–1 record and advanced to the College World Series for the first time ever. They advanced all the way to the national championship game against Texas before losing 5-1 to the Longhorns. Richardson left South Carolina after the 1976 season, earning his nickname with a 221–921 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances. "Richardson had laid the groundwork for a program that would play in the regionals in nine of the first 13 years under [new head coach] [June] Raines and will play in the CWS four times," Dennis Brunson of The Item said. Richardson coached Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, 1980–86), where he compiled a record of (61–38) and led the team to the Big South Conference Championship in 1986. He resigned as head coach at Coastal Carolina after the 1986 season to replace Al Worthington as the baseball coach at Liberty University. "I came here as an athletic director under a new administration, and [Chancellor] Ron [Eaglin] felt I should resign as athletic director and baseball focus on baseball," Richardson said, with Eaglin adding that the two had disagreed on a budget for the next season. Worthington, who had been Liberty's athletic director, was pitching coach under Richardson, who coached the Flames for the next four seasons before retiring in 1990.

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