Graceball: The Story of Bobby Richardson

Bob> Great movies, have great supporting actors.

Bobby Richardson was a great supporting player.

Announcer> It's a grand slam home run for the littlest Yankee of them all.

Joe> You have Roger Maris and you have Mickey Mantle.

And if you said, "Who is going to set the all time RBI record for this series?"

You probably wouldn't have picked Bobby Richardson.

Here the core of this team, is this hard charging, partying group, and Bobby Richardson sort of changes the dynamics.

Tony> Bobby really was a team leader.

Nobody had the leadership qualities that were admired in the clubhouse.

Alan> On the field, he was a great competitor.

He was also a man of great character off the field.

Rev.

Graham> Now, Bobby Richardson will tell you, that there are no shortcuts to athletic success.

Marty> Nothing ever happened in his life that would make anybody pause and go, oh, this might not be the guy we thought he was.

Sammy> He still lives in the same house.

Announcer> Fans, welcome to Bobby Richardson Field in Sumter, South Carolina.

(laughter) Jack> You would never be able to talk to Bobby Richardson without talking about Betsy.

Betsy> The most important thing to me was being with Robert.

Kind of feels like we have been living in a suitcase, for quite a while.

Sammy> There aren't many people that you meet and you feel better for having met them.

Bobby> And I said, "okay Lord, gave it my best."

Announcer> Funding for this program is provided by the Williams-Brice-Edwards Charitable Trust.

We serve our community by recognizing and investing in organizations and initiatives that enhance the quality of life in Sumter, South Carolina and surrounding areas.

The trust focuses on diverse areas that positively impact the community, and we are proud to support Graceball: The Story of Bobby Richardson .

Additional funding provided by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.

(birds chirping) Robby> You would think that the flow of mail would have stopped by now.

But if you were to go to his house today and go to the mailbox, there would be 10 or 12 envelopes with baseballs, or cards, or different things.

Bobby> This one is from Tucson, Arizona.

This is from Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Waterford, Michigan.

Oh, that's Sirius, don't want that.

Longtime Yankee fan, and I've watched the internet and know about your career.

Thanks again.

And this one has one, two, three.

Take care and God bless.

And I'm glad to sign.

And then I'll put on there, what he asked me to put three times.

World Series champs.

And then I can remember the years, it was '58, '61, and 1962.

Robby> His last game was in 1966.

So this is, almost 60 years later.

It's not people that saw Dad play anymore.

It's people saying, "you were my grandfather's favorite player.

And I want to, you know, just want to get a card signed by you to honor my grandfather."

He signs everything that comes in.

The flow of mail hasn't slowed down at all.

Bobby> And this is my office right here.

This is actually Lou Gehrig's bat.

And this is Babe Ruth's bat right here.

And this is my bat, that I hit the grand slam in the 1968 World Series.

I can't believe that my bat is right here, by theirs now.

The first ten players of the Yankees: I had Number one, Jeter was number two, Ruth was number three, Gehrig's number four, DiMaggio number five, Joe Torrey number six, Mantle number seven, Yogi number eight, Maris number nine, and Rizzuto number ten.

Whoever thought I'd be in those numbers and that would be hanging on my wall in Sumter, South Carolina.

I sure didn't.

(crowd cheering) Announcer> We're underway in the payoff ballgame of the 1960 World Series.

The darling of the crowd, Bobby Richardson, 9 for 25 with a .360 average, one homer, 12 RBI.

Robby> When Dad first came to the Yankees, his teammates were Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Manager Casey Stengel.

One of the biggest characters in the history of baseball.

Announcer> Bobby lines the ball in the leftfield for a single, scoring Skowron and McDougald, to give the Yankees a four run inning and a ten to nothing lead.

And for little Bobby, it's another record.

Joe> The way he raised his game in the World Series.

I mean, that is a remarkable element of the Bobby Richardson story.

Announcer> Bases loaded with eager Yankees, as Bobby Richardson strides to the plate.

(crack of the bat) He smashes a hard drive to leftfield and slowly goes back, back, back, but he doesn't have a chance.

It's a grand slam home run for the littlest Yankee of them all.

The bombers congratulate the mighty mite who hit one- Joe> You have Roger Maris, and you have Mickey Mantle, for the New York Yankees.

And if you said, "Who is going to set the all time RBI record for this series?

Who's going to be the one that hits the grand slam?

Who's going to be the one that's gonna have six RBI in one game?"

You probably wouldn't have picked Bobby Richardson.

Announcer> Bobby Richardson pulls a long drive to leftfield.

It sails over the head of Gino Cimoli and is in there for a triple.

It's a new record.

Bob> Now, how the Yankees lost that World Series is an eternal mystery, because the three games they won, they won ten-nothing, 12-nothing and 16-three.

And the Pirates won all the close games, including the unforgettable seventh game.

Announcer> It's the last of the eighth inning.

The Pirates have the tying runs in scoring position.

Final game of the World Series.

There is no tomorrow.

Bob> And the series turned, in the eighth inning when Bobby's double play partner and very close friend, Tony Kubek, had an almost certain double play ball, bounced up, hit him in the throat.

Announcer> There's the ground ball, hit to short, knocked and it hits Kubek in the face and all hands are safe.

The ball took a hard hop, a double play ball bounced up and hit him in the face, all hands safe.

And Bobby Richardson goes over quickly.

Bob> If that double play is turned, the Yankees probably win the World Series.

Announcer> Sudden death now, last of the ninth.

nine to nine... (crack of the bat) There's a drive into deep leftfield, lookout now, that ball is going, going gone!

(crowd roars) The World Series is over!

Mazerowski hits it over the leftfield fence for a home run, and the Pirates win it, ten to nine and win the World Series.

(crowd cheering) The Pittsburgh Pirates are the champions of the World.

Marty> At the end of the game.

There was to be selected, a Most Valuable Player for the whole World Series.

To everyone's astonishment, at the end, Bobby Richardson was named MVP.

(crowd faintly cheering) Bobby> Mantle was actually crying.

He was crying because he felt like we had a much better ball club than they did.

And the editor of Sport Magazine , Ed Fitzgerald, walked in and he said, you've been chosen the Most Valuable Player in the World Series.

As I remember, Mantle, quit crying and came over and said, "Well, that's the best news I've ever heard.

He said that, that's the only good thing that's come out of this series."

(crowd noise fading) Bob> Bobby Richardson remains the only player ever to win the World Series MVP, as part of the losing team.

Marty> The award was selected by the sportswriters in the press box.

They would all vote.

In those days, it was voted on in the eighth inning before Mazeroski ever came to bat, and Bobby was selected, as he should have been.

If you count up to the eighth inning of the seventh game.

Player> We got 'em.

They broke all the records, but we won the game.

How 'bout that.

Announcer> There's a good one, broke all the records and we won the game.

Player> We won the game.

<Yeah> As reward for winning the MVP, they gave me a brand new 1960 Corvette.

Marty> So the last guy in the world who should have been given a Corvette, was Bobby.

He just wasn't a Corvette kind of guy.

Bobby> I couldn't get my two boys in there, it was a two-seater.

I just thought, well, this is not the car for me.

And I'd traded it for a new station wagon.

(laughing) In my life, I needed a station wagon.

Well, I grew up at Nine, South Washington Street.

We had a wood stove we cooked on, in the kitchen.

And my chore was to go out and get the wood to start the fires.

And the coal, to put on the fires to keep them going.

Robby> Dad grew up playing sports in a little town called Sumter, South Carolina, right in the middle of the state.

His dad was in the monument business, did tombstones and graves.

Bobby> I can recognize so many names of people who have gone on to be with the Lord, but my dad put most of these stones in here.

Betsy> Robert's father's name was Clint.

Robert is a junior.

Robert Clinton Richardson, junior, and Clint was a senior.

Robby> If anybody ever says "I knew Bobby when he was a child," they're lying.

Because he was never called Bobby, till he was in New York.

If they'll say "I knew Robert when he was a child," then you know that they're telling, they're telling the truth.

Bobby> My dad loved baseball.

Didn't have a chance to play, had to work.

Tombstone business, marble and granite.

Made me a bat out of a piece of wood.

Picked up those marble and granite chips, and just envision a ball game, playing in the big leagues.

(faint crowd cheering) Joe> He just grew up sort of this all American life.

Playing every sport, loved baseball, loved basketball.

Bobby> Well, I did enjoy basketball.

I actually liked basketball better than baseball.

When I graduated from high school, I had a couple chances to sign on scholarship in basketball, but none in baseball.

My dad didn't have good health, but a mentor came into my life.

He was a baseball player that had played Legion and semi-pro ball.

Alan> Bobby Richardson loved Harry Stokes so much.

Harry used to take him to the ballpark each day, and hit ground ball, after ground ball, after ground ball.

Bobby> Taught me so much about baseball.

He'd hit me a hundred ground balls at a time, and if I missed one, he'd start over again.

At ninety, I'd miss one on purpose, so I, enjoyed it so much.

Alan> And Harry meant so much to him, that Coach Richardson gave Harris Stokes one of his World Series rings.

Jeannie> Harry Stokes wore this ring.

Dad gave it to Harry because Harry taught him how to play baseball.

He's the one that invested in him at a young age.

Marty> You wouldn't know it by today's attendance, but baseball so occupied America's minds after World War II.

Bob> Baseball is the undisputed national pastime.

Announcer> Baseball throughout the years, has provided the fans the nation over, with some of the finest battles that any youngster could ever have.

And that's why it is truly the greatest sport of them all.

Bob> Baseball was always at the top and the Yankees were the premier team.

Dick> There's no question, the Yankee organization was the finest organization in all of baseball.

They just dominated the American League.

And even in spring training, when we'd play another American League team, they were going to spring training to see who was going to finish second.

Bob> From 1947 through 1964, the Yankees didn't win the pennant, a grand total of... three times.

1948, 1954, 1959.

Every other year, they were in the World Series.

Joe> Long before Atlanta had a baseball team.

There were the New York Yankees and there were the Saint Louis Cardinals.

Basically everybody in the South, was a fan of one of those two teams.

Bobby Richardson was a Yankees fan.

Bob> The center of baseball, was New York.

Not only did they have Mantle and Maris and Berra and Ford, but they have the lineage of Ruth and Gehrig and DiMaggio.

If you're a little kid, you know a whole lot more about the New York Yankees than you do about almost any other team.

Bobby> My American Legion team that year, made it all the way to the championship game in Charlotte, North Carolina.

And before that last game, they showed us the film Pride of The Yankees, Story of Lou Gehrig.

And I remember watching that film and thinking, what a great organization.

I'd like to be a part of that.

And I remember that before the game, there was a Yankee scout by the name of Spud Chandler.

He came up to me and he said, I want you to know that when you graduate from high school, I'll make sure that you have a chance to sign with the Yankees.

I signed right out of high school, at 17 years of age.

(microfilm machine noise) Sammy> Scan through here, I think there he is.

Jack> Sumter Item is Sumter's oldest family business.

I think any local newspaper that's been in business for over 130, 40 years, like we have, is going to be your main source of history and news.

We need a camera like this... (indiscernible) And if they've done a good job archiving stuff, then you'll be able to find anything and everything that's happened in that community over the years.

Sammy> As far as number of articles per se, Richardson would be the most covered.

He's the best ballplayer we'd ever seen.

One of the highest young baseball prospects to come out of Sumter, some half dozen major league organizations are trying to sign the heavy hitting infielder.

The Sumterite, who yesterday became a member of the New York Yankees baseball empire.

Robert joins the Norfolk Tars, T-A-R-S, Monday in Virginia.

Bobby> I was sent to Norfolk, Virginia, took a Greyhound bus from Sumter to Norfolk.

And I got there, didn't know a soul, of course.

And I was so discouraged that I thought, you know, this is more than I thought it was.

Maybe I wasn't cut out for baseball.

Robby> He was over his head.

He was outmatched.

Ron> He was thinking about quitting, but his high school coach, Kiley Alexander, sent him a letter.

And in the letter, he talked about the fact that we all have our ups and downs, but then he went on to quote Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Robby> And that really was a turning point in how dad approached the game of baseball.

Bobby> And actually, this just made me realize more than ever, that God should come first in my life and that baseball and all other things should naturally follow in their order.

And when I really considered giving my all to the Lord and asking him what he wanted me to do, he opened the right door, so that baseball took off.

I was second in the league in hitting, and Casey Stengel invited me to come down to spring training the next year and be a part of his instructional school.

And that was the start of my career in baseball.

Betsy> I met him when he came home from his first year in baseball.

Bobby> I noticed this beautiful young girl sitting with her mother, on the back row at Grace Baptist Church.

So when we passed in the middle of the church, just a simple "hello."

And that was it.

Betsy> And then he left.

Bobby> Well, the Denver Bears were a Triple-A ball club, and I met Tony Kubek there.

Tony was an incredible roommate.

We really hit it off.

Tony and I were second and third in hitting in the league, and it was just a wonderful time with a great manager.

Ralph Houk was my manager at that time.

Betsy> We dated when he was in Denver, and we wrote during that time.

And mother would take me sometimes, to travel to see him play, when he came near.

Bobby> And I knew that it would be dangerous to ask her to marry me if I thought she was going to say no.

And so I came up with a fake ring.

And I remember going up to Betsy and said, "Now I've just bought this ring and I don't want to be too forward, but if I were to ask you to marry me, what would you say?"

As it turned out, she said, "Well, I'd probably say yes."

I asked Denver if I could have a week off to go home and get married, and the owner of the ball club said, "Certainly not, wait till the end of the season."

And I went to Ralph Houk, my manager, and he said, "Absolutely, go ahead, take as long as you want.

I'll cover for you."

Betsy> We got married in June of '56.

Bobby> And I remember showing her the apartment and saying, "Honey, I hate to say this, but I'm going on a 17 day road trip.

I'm leaving tomorrow, but I'll see you in 17 days."

Betsy> And Robby was born in June of '57, and Ron was born in '58.

We had a busy time, 13 months apart.

The most important thing to me was being with Robert.

We just finished packing last night so I could enter my oldest boy in school, and kind of feels like we have been living in a suitcase for quite a while.

Robert's first salary was 5,000 dollars, so that was a little different than today, but we spent most of it on our rent.

He worked different odd jobs during the off season so we could be together.

It was worth it.

Bobby> The big moment for me was when Ralph called one day and said, "The Yankees just called, Gil Mcdougal's been hit by a line drive, and the Yankees want you to come up and take his place in the lineup."

Robby> Dad's first day that he was ever in pinstripes, 19 years old in Yankee Stadium in 1955.

Bobby> Mickey Mantle, he said, "Hey, Rich, come over here."

He said, "I'm going to make like I'm showing you around Yankee Stadium.

I'm gonna be pointing some things out, and before one minute passes, I'll guarantee you, they'll be photographers over here, they'll take a picture, it'll be in the Daily News, the New York Times tomorrow morning."

It wasn't two minutes.

They were over there.

Click, click, click.

Robby> In this picture, Dad is 19 years old.

Still the only teenager ever to start at second base for the New York Yankees.

Dan> Your hometown had 12,000 people, and then you get up to the big leagues, and Yankee Stadium held 67,000 people.

That must have been something.

Bobby> Well, it was something.

A lot of folks would come up from Sumter to ballgames, and they couldn't believe it themselves.

And my father had made that trip.

And of all things, I hit a triple.

And I was so excited, I got around to third base and went in standing up, didn't have to slide.

Kind of looked up in the stands to make sure my dad saw, saw the triple, you know, I was looking around.

Third baseman said, "Hey, you're from South Carolina."

And I said, "Yeah, I'm from Sumter."

He said, "I'm from Bennettsville."

He said, "Move your foot, let me get the dirt off that bag" and I moved my foot.

You're right, he tagged me out.

(laughter) Hidden ball trick.

But the umpire was from South Carolina, and he said, "I can't believe you'd do that to a South Carolinian.

He's safe.

I will not call him out."

(laughter) But I learned a lesson, never happened again.

Betsy> Of course, New York was a whole new experience.

I'd never been in a city like that before.

And I would look up at the skyscrapers with my mouth wide open.

So he said "Betsy, quit looking up, quit, quit acting like a tourist."

And I'd try to walk looking straight ahead, but I'd always end up with my head up.

Marty> When they weren't playing ball, the great names on the Yankees, the household names, we'd like to go out and have a few beers.

Bobby would not join them for that.

The breaking point on that, was the incident at the Copacabana nightclub in 1957.

A fight broke out.

Billy Martin wound up being traded, probably as a result of that fight, and that led to Bobby becoming the regular at second base.

Joe> Here the core of this team in the '50s, is this hard charging, partying group.

This, you know, out drinking, carousing every night, guys.

And Bobby Richardson sort of changes the dynamics.

Bob> Great movies, have great supporting actors.

Bobby Richardson was a great supporting player for many years.

But those who really understand what it takes to put together a ball club, what it takes to win a pennant.

Understand that without those components, then even the greatest of stars can't get you there.

Robby> He was an excellent ball player in and of himself.

He just happened to be playing with a lot of, more excellent ball players.

So Bill Skowron the first baseman, Tony Kubek, who was the shortstop.

Mickey Mantle, center field.

Roger Maris, right field.

Elston Howard, who was either the catcher or the left fielder.

Yogi Berra, who was either catching or left field.

He would alternate with Elston.

Clete Boyer, third base.

And then the second baseman from that team.

Oh, what was his name?

Richardson.

That's right.

And Whitey Ford pitching.

Pretty good ball club.

(laughter) Tony> Bobby really was a team leader.

If he was in a slump, or if he was hot, you didn't know.

He was like Whitey, you couldn't tell.

He never had high spots, or low spots, which is really good for a team.

They just stayed on an even keel.

Nobody was quicker on the double play than Bobby in the game, and nobody had the leadership qualities that were admired in the clubhouse.

Mickey> Kubek and Richardson was as good as anybody could ever be.

Al> You know Casey Stengel, made the comment that Bobby Richardson had the best hands he ever saw.

Jeannie> He was hunting one time, quail hunting, and some quail actually came back at him.

Dad reaches up and catches a quail in flight with his hand.

Bobby> One of the things I like to do if a young boy comes in here, I'll just say, "Now I'm gonna flip it up.

If you get it right, now I'll give it to you."

And I do like that.

And most time they'll say this one, but it's in the other one.

Jeannie> He is that quick.

He really is.

Joe> He knew how to hit lots and lots, and lots of line drives.

He was probably the best bunter of his time.

He knew how to handle a baseball bat.

Bob> Bobby hardly ever struck out, and he hardly ever walked.

Because what pitcher would walk Richardson or Kubek ahead of Maris, Mantle, and Berra?

Announcer> Richardson promptly steals second- Marty> He was the first Yankee since Phil Rizzuto in 1950, to get 200 hits.

Bobby> I feel like that I was a part of their team.

I was accepted by the team, but I was never really, I was just an average ball player on a great ball club.

I appreciate it, but at the same time, I don't look at myself, like, I look at Mantle as a real star.

Announcer> Yankee muscleman Mickey Mantle is the main source of power, for the bomber attack.

And there it goes over the right field fence, across Bedford Avenue, and deep into a parking lot.

(crowd cheering) Robby> Mickey Mantle, I think was Dad's favorite ballplayer that he ever played with.

Mickey had unbelievable natural talent.

If he hadn't been injured, I think he would be by far known, as the best ball player that ever played.

Bob> Mickey Mantle was and remains, mythical.

He had the greatest combination of power and speed, they had ever seen.

Run like a deer, and if Paul Bunyan was a baseball player, he hit a ball as far as Paul Bunyan would have.

Announcer> Back to back homers, for only the second time in All-Star Game history.

Joe> How he could build a friendship with somebody that he saw so differently, really speaks to, again, the depth, I think, of Bobby Richardson's character.

And Mickey Mantle has said this.

You know, people look to him that he was a hero, but he viewed Bobby Richardson as a real hero.

Gordon> What does faith mean in the life of a baseball player like you?

Bobby> Well, faith plays an important part in the life of each individual, and in my own life... Gordon, I'd like to go back some 14 years, to the time that I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

Ron> Well, we did grow up in church.

We were in church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night.

And God wants us to recognize that he has a purpose for our lives.

From my Dad's perspective, baseball was number two to church.

Bobby> Honestly, I was accepted and I had a great rapport with all of my teammates.

Alan> On the field, he was a great competitor, a wonderful player, but he was also a man of great character off the field.

Robby> Pete Rose saw me walking through the locker room and he said, "Little Rich, come over here a minute.

Why did your dad talk about that faith stuff all the time?

He was a good ballplayer.

He didn't need that."

And I said, "Well, Mr. Rose, it was because he actually believed it and lived it."

Bobby> Baseball afforded me unbelievable opportunities, literally all over the country.

Whether it's a prayer breakfast in most of the major cities Chicago, Miami, Dallas or wherever it might be, or going with Billy Graham on five different occasions.

Rev.

Graham> Now, Bobby Richardson will tell you, that there are no shortcuts to athletic success.

He has practiced baseball ever since he was a little boy.

All of his habits and discipline, in order to be his best on second base in Yankee Stadium.

Bobby> It's a real pleasure to be here tonight, and it's certainly a privilege for my wife and I to have come out here, and for me to take just a moment and tell what the Lord Jesus Christ means to me.

And at one time in my life, I was going to get out and come back home and enroll in seminary and try to be a pastor.

And Ralph Houk took me over and said, listen, "I don't want to say this the wrong way, but if you'll stay in baseball, you'll reach far more many people, you'll have wonderful opportunities."

And he was right.

And I was so glad that it happened that way.

Robby> When the new Yankee Stadium was opened in 1976, they invited Dad up to have the Prayer of Dedication for the stadium.

Bobby> We ask your blessing on the activities of this stadium and on all who come under its shadow of influence.

Amen.

Robby> Dad had an unusual, unwritten agreement with the Yankees.

When they were on the road, if dad wanted to go to a church service, the Yankees let him do that on a Sunday.

Bobby> I remember that Kubek and I would go, and then we had the thrill of asking Mantle if he would like to go, and he said, "Yeah, I'd love to go."

Robby> It was very hard for Mickey at that time to go anywhere.

Bobby> So when the service was about five minutes from being over, I said, "Okay, let's slip out."

We tried to slip out, but the pastor cut it off and came running out and said, "I want a picture of Mickey with my son."

And we were late for practice that day.

Robby> And Dad and Red Barber, Hall of Fame announcer were talking at the ballpark afterwards and said, you know, there ought to be a way for ballplayers to have a chance to be in church, without going through that experience.

Bobby> We started what is now "Baseball Chapel," that not only every team in baseball has a devotion Every Sunday.

And that's not only in baseball, but it's in all of sports as well.

Jason> '94 was my first year, and when you're not doing too well, just like if you're not doing too well in life, you know, you need to find a answer.

And that answer was "Baseball Chapel" on Sunday mornings.

It was something that was so pivotal in my career because, yeah, I was a good ballplayer, but I wasn't good every time I walked out on the field, and I needed help.

"Baseball Chapel" has helped me get through some rough times in the minor leagues.

Bobby> I'm glad to hear you say that, and I'm thankful that it's doing so well.

Jason> I don't know what I would have done, without "Baseball Chapel" and my faith in Christ, might not have been here today talking to you.

Announcer> The opening game of the World Series as the New York Yankees- Bobby> Well, out of the seven years that I've been with the ball club, we've been in all but one World Series.

Interviewer> And, Bob, I know you're very modest about this, but you have an outstanding record regarding World Series.

Give it to us, in a word, will you Bob?

Bobby> Well, actually I've been real fortunate in World Series play, and I hold a record of RBI's in World Series games, 12 RBI's in a seven game series.

Joe> Bobby Richardson still has the record for most RBI in a World Series.

And separately, because it wasn't even in the same World Series.

He has a record for most hits in a World Series.

That's two different World Series.

Bobby> What an exciting time that was in 1961.

'61 was a special season.

Robby> The '61 Yankees are considered to be one of the best teams have played in baseball.

That's the year that Roger and Mickey made a run at Babe Ruth's home run record.

Announcer> Fastball hit deep to right... this could be it, way back there.

Holy cow he did it.

Sixty-one for Maris.

(crowd cheering) ...fight for that ball out there.

(crowd cheering) Holy cow, what a shot.

(crowd cheering) Mickey> It was just a great team.

Announcer> And it's all over.

The Yankees win 13 to 5, and once again are world champions.

Mickey> I never got to see the '27 Yankees, that everybody says "that was the greatest team ever."

It would have been a good series I think, if we would have got to play'em.

Joe> 1962 was Bobby Richardson's best year.

He led the league in hits, he led the league in at bats.

He ends up finishing second to Mickey Mantle in the MVP.

Marty> Mickey said, "Bobby really deserved it, because he did so many things for us."

Bobby> In my heart I knew he should have won it, of course.

I would be the first one to tell anybody, at anytime.

When he played, we won.

And when he didn't play, we didn't win.

It was that simple.

Joe> The '62 Yankees are not quite as dominant as they had been, and there is a sense that they are getting older.

There is a sense that they're not going to have many more chances.

They're playing the Giants in the World Series.

That team is Willie Mays and Willie McCovey and all of these great Hall of Famers, and there is a real sense, that the Yankees might not win that series going in.

And in game seven, the Yankees are leading in the ninth inning, and up steps Willie McCovey.

Robby> Probably the biggest left-handed hitter in baseball at the time.

Joe> So they get to a full count, and then McCovey smashes a line drive.

Bob> And McCovey hits a bullet.

I mean, you can't hit a ball any harder than McCovey hit that ball.

Robby> So this was before the days of the shift, but Dad moved himself way over into the first base hole.

Bobby> It was a line drive that had overspin.

It was really hit hard, and he did say later, "That it was the hardest ball he'd ever hit."

Robby> If that ball had gotten through two runners score and the Giants win the World Series, but dad caught it and the Yankees won the World Series.

Joe> And McCovey never lived that down.

Years later, he said, "You know, I, I hit more home runs than any left-handed hitter in National League history, but I'd like to be remembered as the guy who hit the ball six inches over Bobby Richardson's glove."

Announcer> McCovey gets hold of one, but it's into the glove of second baseman Bobby Richardson.

That's the ball game, a one- nothing victory for the Yankees.

Betsy> You called last night and it felt so wonderful hearing your voice and knowing that you were at home thinking of, me just as my very thought of you.

I guess I'm just not that wonderful, brave wife you thought I was.

I'm sorry about last night, Robert.

I wanted to sound happy, but all day I had been lonely.

You've had nights like that, though, Robert, so I know you understand.

I love you so very much.

He was understanding because he was away.

But we have so many letters about being apart because we were apart for over six months a year.

It was just constant phone calls and letters.

Robby> Dad always made it a priority to be there as much as he could for us, but he'd be gone for three weeks at a time, with road trips for the Yankees, 17 day road trips, that type of a thing.

So things were tough on Mom.

Bob> 1964, is Bobby Richardson's last really good season, and it's the end of a Yankee dynasty that essentially stretches back to Babe Ruth.

They had won their fifth straight pennant.

They go seven games, against the Cardinals.

Joe> And that Cardinals team was filled with legendary players.

But the core of that team, the sort of centerpiece of that team, was their pitching.

And particularly, Bob Gibson.

He would glare at you, he would throw inside.

Players were truly frightened against him.

Little Bobby Richardson in that series, you know, he sets the record for 13 hits in that series.

Seven of those are against Bob Gibson.

Bob> Gibson is running on fumes.

He's pitching on two days rest.

Then in the ninth, Clete Boyer and Phil Linz each hit solo homers.

So now it's 7 to 5, with two out and Richardson's at the plate, and Maris is on deck and Mantle is waiting behind Maris and Richardson had had 13 hits in the series.

(crowd cheering) But he popped up to second base.

That was the end of the game.

(crowd cheering) The end of the World Series.

And the end of the Yankee Dynasty.

Bobby> That was the last World Series that I played in, and we lost.

I felt like I'd failed.

And I said, "Okay Lord, gave it my best."

Interviewer> In that moment, all the other successes don't matter.

Bobby> Exactly...

Exactly.

Joe> Bobby Richardson played his last game in 1966, against the White Sox.

Bobby> I didn't like the travel involved.

It's 162 game schedule, eighty-one of those on the road.

Jeannie> When dad retired, he was 31.

Very young, and I was young at that time too.

When he would leave to go for baseball season, I would grab his leg, would not let go and cry the entire time.

Dr. Jones> You quit playing baseball right at the top of your game.

And most people, they going to ride it out until they can't play anymore.

Bobby> Well, Wally, Tony Kubek was my roommate in the minor leagues, and the major leagues, and Tony had the same desire that I had, and that our priority now is our family.

Baseball is not a good family life.

Marty> I, like many Yankee fans, was surprised that Bobby would retire at 31.

It was a surprise to a lot of people because, at 31, you're still an athlete.

You still got a lot to offer.

Bobby> We chose to give up the game of baseball, and to come back home to South Carolina and decide what I wanted to do.

Announcer> Friends, this is Bobby Richardson Day at Yankee Stadium.

(crowd cheering) They created this day for Lou Gehrig, and Lou Gehrig pretty famously goes out and gives a speech.

Lou> Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.

(crowd cheering) Bobby> That was a special honor, because I had watched the movie The Pride of the Yankees , the Story of Lou Gehrig.

And then to be able to be a part of that day, and to stand at home plate, and to say the same thing, he said.

And in closing, I can only say, as Lou Gehrig has said, "How lucky it has been for me to have been a Yankee," to God be the glory.

Thank you very much.

Joe> To be in that exact same stadium, having your own day, is, I can only imagine just, you know, larger than dreams, really.

Bobby> Don't swing at this one.

Okay?

That a boy, see there.

You can always catch him, what... Did I miss that?

I'm sorry.

Betsy> Let's see, Robert said he retired, but he changed jobs in 1966.

When I say he changed jobs, he didn't have a lot of money in the bank.

(laughter) He had to go to work when he got home.

Bobby> I had a lot to learn about coaching.

Alan> We played the Yankees and the Mets when they were leaving spring training, coming back north, going back to New York.

We played them in an exhibition game there.

Bobby> Well, it's always good to get together with old friends and Yogi Berra's here, as the manager of the New York Mets and of course, Whitey Ford, whose son plays at Carolina.

Alan> How many college baseball players have the opportunity to do something like that?

Drew> The thrill of my lifetime was to catch Whitey Ford, for what, for an inning.

I still can't believe I got to do that.

A great day for Carolina baseball.

Bobby> But I found out when I got into college coaching, it was all new to me.

I wasn't playing, but instead I had a group of boys that I was to try to mold together as a team, so that we could do well on the field.

I really enjoy coaching baseball on the college level and here at the University of South Carolina, we've really got some fine athletes and I enjoy working with them.

Sammy> They saw in him, not only, an outstanding coach who understood the game, but he was the type of person that could mold young people, and make them want to succeed and want to be better.

Drew> I needed a good influence in my life, and I knew that Coach Richardson was, was a good man.

I kind of knew about that, but I didn't know anything else about him being a Christian or that, this, that and the other.

And so I thought, this might be a good opportunity for me to have a good influence in my life.

Alan> Baseball was important, but more importantly, he was concerned about us as people, about our lives, about our families.

There's, there's a lot of profanity in the game, a lot of disrespect for other people and so forth.

And he was exactly the opposite.

I remember we had an umpire one time, who Coach Richardson got upset with, rather than doing all the fussing and the cussing and carrying on and so forth.

I remember he said to the ump, "baloney."

Jeannie> I think the strongest words I would hear come out of his mouth might be, "baloney."

Drew> He used "baloney" a lot, which you don't hear on the baseball field, especially where I came from, the mountains of North Carolina.

that was...

"baloney?"

okay.

Bobby> That's my way of saying to him, "Hey, you missed that play."

(laughter) Hit and run, second baseman covering.

Do it again.

So after one year of recruiting and two years, we became a competitive ball club.

We were 51 and six and finished second in the nation in the College World Series.

As we flew into the Columbia Airport, I can remember now, the thousands that were there, to greet our team.

That really was the start.

South Carolina's been a great, contributor to the College World Series.

Ray> We won National Championships, I say we, because you started it.

And when I had an opportunity to come here, I said, it's been done before.

You had the best program, you were the best coach.

And, I didn't know that I would be successful, but you had put a foundation in place, and, it was an honor to come, many years later.

Bobby> This is my favorite, this is my Mickey Mantle corner.

And it probably means as much to me as anything, because he was my teammate all of my years in baseball.

But by the same token, he was a close friend after baseball.

Robby> As a lot of his teammates hit rough places in the road, a lot of them reached out to Dad.

Marty> When Mickey was dying in Dallas in 1995, he asked for Bobby to come and visit him in the hospital.

And Bobby was there for him, eulogized him at his funeral.

And it was, in its own way, a beautiful moment.

That the two of them, in fan's eyes so different, could actually come together like that.

Bobby> You know, so many good things that Mickey did that people never heard about.

In this church right here, he did a benefit for a mission's outreach, and over the years he very seldom said no.

He came to my hometown on numerous occasions, but in particular for the YMCA.

And as I walked in and went over to his bed, he had that smile on his face, and he looked at me and the first thing he said was, "Bobby, I've been wanting to tell you something.

I want you to know that I've received Christ as my Savior."

Bob> Whether you are as much a man of faith as Bobby is, whether you came to it late like Mickey did, it's still part of Mickey Mantle's story.

That this guy who was so hard on himself, in the end, being able to unburden himself, and Bobby being one of the people who facilitated that, that's part of Mickey Mantle's story.

(camera shutter clicking) Bobby> Unusual situation, where the President of the United States, Gerald Ford, sent word down, that he would really like for me to run for Congress.

Kind of hard to say no to a President of the United States.

Jeannie> I was a little younger.

I did, go on some of the campaign trips and hand out buttons, and we had "I'm for Bobby" t-shirts.

Sammy> As you can see, it was well worn.

On the back, it has Richardson for Congress.

Bobby> It was a close election and I lost.

Jeannie> Seeing how he had put all of his heart into it, and knowing where his motives were to help the country, and to see him defeated in his home state, that, that was kind of a hurt to me.

Sammy> When Bobby Richardson began his baseball college coaching career, he made a promise to himself that he would not still be in coaching past the age of 55.

Richardson has followed through on that promise, and is coming home to Sumter.

Bobby> It was always great when the season was over and we'd get in that station wagon, head back towards Sumter, South Carolina.

And then in 1960, after the Pittsburgh World Series, we started building a home.

It cost $28,000, and that included the lot.

And I thought, man, it's really expensive territory.

Sammy> He still lives in the same house, and if you go by there on Sunday, you might be able to get into a little Pepper game because he's out there, poking that ball around.

He's just a symbol of Sumter.

Like, you know, we named it Bobby Richardson Baseball Park out there.

Announcer> Fans, welcome to Bobby Richardson Field in Sumter, South Carolina.

Robby> Dad's monuments, if you will, are not in Yankee Stadium.

The monuments to Dad's life are in Sumter, South Carolina.

Al> Mr. Richardson is kind of the poster child for Sumter.

And, you know, he eats down at the Guignard Diner.

Everybody in there still wants to come, say hey to Bobby Richardson.

Diner> Who is that?

You, Oh, no.

(laughter) Alan> He never forgot Sumter, whenever he went to New York.

Sammy> Mickey Mantle, you know, Whitey Ford... these people, they came here, and they came because of coach.

This man loves his community, and he loves the people in the community.

You can't find that very often, not often at all.

Clebe> Everybody admires him, and he's just been so real and so true and has done so much for so many people.

We talk about it.

He lives it, and now he's cooking.

(egg cracking) (whisking sounds) Betsy> Robert was 85 when he learned how to cut the stove on and cook inside.

That was the year that I went on dialysis.

It's a good arrangement, at least for me.

Bobby> Breakfast is ready.

Jack> You would never be able to talk to Bobby Richardson, without talking about Betsy.

Their love for each other is unbelievable.

It truly is something of a storybook.

Alan> You could always tell when you were around them that she was crazy, madly in love with Bobby Richardson.

But the wonderful thing was this, you could see that he was crazy about her too.

And that relationship has always been special.

Betsy> Well, I would say that I'm a sit-down girl, married to a go-go fella.

Bobby> Well, you're a sit-down girl married to a go-go guy.

But now you're a stand-up girl, married to a slow-slow guy.

(laughter) Betsy> No, no.

Bobby> I'm slowing down.

Betsy> You're still amazing, Honey.

Jeannie> Mom and dad have just gracefully and with a lot of mercy from the Lord, stayed together, and made a family that, we all enjoy getting back together.

The 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and there's five of us siblings, to see them still in love at this age, and serving each other and being there for each other, when it's not easy in the older, as you get older.

That's been a real testimony to the rest of the kids.

And I, what we looked for in our spouses, was formed by their relationships too.

Drew> You have a few people in your life, that are really examples.

Coach Richardson still is influencing me.

Marty> Nothing ever happened in his life that would make anybody pause and go, oh, this might not be the guy we thought he was.

He was always there for people and he was always such a credit to humanity, just a solid citizen in every way.

Bob> Everything about Bobby is kind of gentle.

You know, there's, there's no jabs, an undercurrent of decency, in almost everything he does.

Sammy> There aren't many people that you meet, and you feel better for having met them, and coach is one of them.

Jack> Every time you have a conversation with Bobby, you come away feeling better about yourself.

Jeannie> His life has been one of generosity, that us kids have learned.

Jason> And of all the people in the world, my father used to tell me, he goes, "There's many more good people than bad people."

Believe that, Bobby is, he's one of the good ones.

Announcer> Yankee manager Ralph Houk sums it up by saying "that Bobby Richardson is the best second baseman, I've ever known.

And what's more important, the type of person I think all fathers would like to see their children grow up to be."

Bobby> I'll be honest, you know, I just can't fathom that the Lord just really took me, as a young boy that loved baseball, and hit rocks out in the backyard at my father's business, and desired to play, and all of a sudden I was there and I was playing, and now it's over and it's behind me.

And I've coached baseball on a college level, and it's just been a wonderful life.

(crowd cheering) When accounts of my life are written, I hope two things will be said of me.

First, that I played baseball in a way that made my team better.

Second, and more important, that I live my life in a way that drew others to my Savior.

To God be the glory.

Thank you for all the smiles you have put on this guy's face, for motivating me to be the best I can, and for giving your absolute best, no matter the situation.

Robby> Dad got a lot of fan mail to our house in South Carolina, but I at just 6, 7 years old, had just learned to read, so I would open them up and see what the, what people were writing.

And I opened a letter from a gentleman in Canada by the name of Walt Huntley, and I read and it was a poem, that Walt Huntley had written.

And I said, "Dad, this one's good, you need to read this."

It was a poem entitled God's Hall of Fame .

Interviewer> What, what did you say at the funeral of Mickey Mantle?

Bobby> Well, Mickey had heard me use these words before, and I concluded the service, these words that I think sums up everything.

It says, "Your name may not appear down here in this World's Hall of Fame.

In fact, you may be so unknown, that no one knows your name.

The Oscars here may pass you by, and neon lights are blue.

But if you love and serve the Lord, then I have news for you.

This Hall of Fame is only good as long as time shall be.

But keep in mind God's Hall of Fame is for eternity.

This crowd on earth, they soon forget the heroes of the past.

They cheer like mad until you fall, and that's how long you last.

But in God's Hall of Fame, by just believing in his son, inscribed, you'll find your name.

I tell you, friend, I wouldn't trade my name, however small, that's written there beyond the stars in that celestial hall.

For every famous name on Earth, or glory that they share, I'd rather be an unknown here and have my name up there."

And I guess that really does say it all.

Announcer> Funding for this program is provided by the Williams-Brice-Edwards Charitable Trust.

We serve our community by recognizing and investing in organizations and initiatives that enhance the quality of life in Sumter, South Carolina and surrounding areas.

The trust focuses on diverse areas that positively impact the community, and we are proud to support Graceball: The Story of Bobby Richardson .

Additional funding provided by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.