Today we say Happy Baseball Birthday to former New York Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson.
Robert Clinton Richardson was born on August 19, 1935, in Sumter, South Carolina.
Bobby attended Edmunds High School in Sumter before signing with the New York Yankees on June 12, 1953.
Bobby made his big league debut with the Yankees on August 5, 1955, at the age of 19.
Bobby was a stellar second sacker for the Yankees from 1955-66, a five time Gold Glove Winner and three time World Series Champion, in 1958, 61, 62.
In 1960 Bobby became the only player on a losing team to win the World Series MVP Award, batting .367, with 11 base hits, 12 RBI, scoring 8 runs.
The Yankees lost in Game 7 of the '60 WS to the Pittsburgh Pirates, on a Game Winning Home Run by fellow second baseman Bill Mazeroski.
Bobby is also known for his 1962 World Series saving catch of a line drive off the bat of the San Francisco Giants slugging First Baseman Willie Mc Covey with two outs in the ninth inning of Game 7.
In 12 big league seasons, Bobby collected 1,432 hits, 196 doubles, 37 triples, 34 home runs, and 390 RBI in 5,386 at bats.
In those 1,412 games and 5,586 at bats Bobby struck out just 243 times, finishing with a .266 lifetime batting average.
Bobby led the American League in base hits in 1962 with 209, and led the Junior Circuit in at bats in '62 (692), '63 (630), and '64 (679).
After Bobby retired he became the Head Baseball Coach at South Carolina, from 1970-76, taking the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Baseball Tournament in 1974, and the College Baseball World Series in 1975.
Bobby was also the Head Baseball Coach at Liberty University and at Coastal Carolina University.
Bobby Richardson published his memoir, "Impact Player," in 2012, and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Happy 79th Baseball Birthday Bobby!
PLAY BALL!
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