Former New York Yankee second baseman and University of South Carolina coach Bobby Richardson paid a visit to Orangeburg Monday evening to speak at the FCA Development Dinner at First Presbyterian Church. The 1960 World Series MVP shared stories about his involvement with FCA as well as a few memories from his playing days. After speaking and chatting with a few members of the audience. Richardson sat down with T&D Sports Writer Emery Glover for today's installment of the T&D Sunday Conversation.
Q: Could you walk us back through that moment where you first got involved with FCA? How did it all take place?
A: I became involved since hearing about the coach and what the ministry was. And then, the real involvement was when I went to the first camp. It was in Black Mountain, N.C. and there were a group of coaches. Coach (Tom) Landry was there, Bill Wade the quarterback, Raymond Berry was there and I was impressed as those guys stood up and talked about their sport and gave instruction on their sport to young college boys and high school boys...and I could just see the impact and I thought "Boy, I really want to be a part of that."
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Q: How much has what you noticed at that given moment impacted you from that particular time up until now?
A: It had a tremendous impact. I think it turned my life around. I had a new meaning for life. I had a new motive for being a part of an organization that wanted to impact all the young people. You see them doing drugs and you see them in other areas they shouldn't be involved in. This organization is moving in the right direction and so many are getting involved.
Q: You're from Sumter. So, you're not too far away from here. For you to be able to come and be a part of something like this, how does that make you feel?
A: The reason it makes me feel good is because I know what Earl (Humes) is doing. He came over to Sumter and he just ministered there among the schools. It just had a great response. I came over here eight years ago, but Earl was not here then. When he called and asked me to come back, I was glad to do it.
Q: You played for the Yankees. How much do you keep up with them now?
A: I do keep up with them because I headed up a program called Baseball Chapels. So, I've been invited back. I go and play in the Old Timers' Game every year, but I go back and speak to the ball club. I got to know Mariano Rivera really well. I know Andy Pettite and I know some of the other guys. Andy Pettite and I will be together in two weeks down in Tampa, Fla. He's retiring. He lives in Houston, but he and I are going to share a program together in Tampa, Fla. on April 3rd.
Q: Everybody knows about "The Yankee Way." There's such a demeanor about the New York Yankees. Is there a difference between the Yankee organization now versus the Yankee organization when you were on the team?
A: I would say there is. When I was playing, money didn't dominate. They had a draft, which meant it was even as far as getting good ball players. But the Yankees were professional and they went about the business of winning in such a way that some other clubs were a bit lackadaisical. When George Steinbrenner came in and took over the ball club, likewise, he would spend money so that they might get the ball players so they could win. Now, he had the advantage of being in New York. That's a big market city. So, he had more money than Pittsburgh or some of the other teams. That was a little unfair, but they have a program where he had to pay a luxury tax to give the money to them to try to even it out. The Yankees tradition has made them a business club. They're just like the Dodgers.
Q: You won the World Series MVP in 1960. In your mind, where does that World Series MVP performance rank in terms of all of the other achievements and accolades you've received over the years?
A: First of all, they gave me a 1960 Corvette. So, that was a tremendous trophy. The record still stands after 50 years. It was 12 RBIs in a World Series. Even after all these years, it still stands. In fact, I broke my own record. I had the record at 11 and broke it and got 12. So, it stands right up at the top of the list. But there are other things though. For instance, seven years I was an All-Star. That was an honor for me to make the All-Star team. I have five consecutive years of winning the Gold Glove, which would be for fielding. So, I had a rounded career that I enjoyed very much.
Q: As a player, did you have any superstitions?
A: I didn't, but I roomed with some guys who did have some. Phil Rizzuto wouldn't step on the white line and little things like that, but I didn't have any superstitions.
Q: If you weren't a baseball player, what do you think you would have been?
A: I went to college and majored in Accounting. I've always liked math. I think I would've had something to do with accounting in some way. That's probably the route I would've gone, but I love sports tremendously. I didn't think I would like coaching, but I enjoyed that just as much.
Q: You coached at Coastal Carolina and you also coached at the University of South Carolina. How much do you keep up with those two programs?
A: I do keep up with both of them. We finished second in the nation when I was coaching (the Gamecocks). Our record was 51-6. Then, Ray Tanner came on board and moved them up to the top echelon, number one in the nation beating Clemson. We always had a great rivalry with Clemson. I have a son that graduated from Clemson. I have three grandchildren there now. I'm kind of torn. I'm kind of rooting both ways. So I enjoyed that. They came close last year to being the ones to play in the World Series rather than South Carolina. It was a one-run game.
Q: With that series, how much did it tug at your heartstrings? Were you pulling for one particular program?
A: I had to pull for South Carolina because that was where I got my start in coaching. I was there for seven yearsthat I coached seven years whereas Coastal, it was two years.
Q: As a player and as a coach, talk about some of the bigger influences on your career.
A: I recognize the fact that playing for the Yankees opened the door. The reason I got the job at the University of South Carolina is because I played for the Yankees and the reason I have opportunities to speak around the county is because of my baseball career. So, I recognize the impact athletes have.
Q: When you played, a lot of these stadiums were cookie cutter stadiums. There were no nooks and different corners that you had to manuever around. Looking back, where was the toughest place to play for you?
A: Well, the first thing is there was no Astroturf during the time I played. It was all natural grass. We were the first team to play in the Astrodome. We were the first team to play in Atlanta Stadium. The Yankees would play exhibition games because of who the ball club was. I think the toughest place for me to play was probably Chicago and there was no reason for that. They had good pitching. Nellie Fox was the second baseman. He was the guy that beat me out for the All-Star game several years. Luis Aparicio was a Hall of Fame shortstop. They had a good ball club. They won the one year we lost.
Q: With that being said, today's game is so different with contract negotiations...
A: My first year with the Yankees, I made $5,000. That was the minimum salary. Now, the minimum salary is $50,000. Plus, they have the multi-million dollar contracts. The highest salary during the time I played was Mantle at $100,000.
Q: What's the one thing about today's game that probably needs to be tweaked or changed?
A: I think everything's built around finance. It shouldn't be. They start the World Series games so late at night because of television that most people have to go to bed before it's over. The ticket prices are out of reach. So, the average family can't go to the ball game. Those are things that I'd like to see changed. Then, of course, the cheating in baseball with steroids. I'm sorry that it's happened. I wish that there was some way that we could just have an even board that everybody could play. I think it's bad for the integrity of baseball when you stand before Congress and say that you didn't use them, but there's evidence that says you did use them. So, I think all of that is hurting the game of baseball.
Q: Is there one guy that you look at in today's game and say ‘This guy truly embodies what the game is all about‘?
A: If I had to pick one guy right now, I would probably pick Derek Jeter because he seems to give it 100 percent. He understands tradition. He's sort of a throwback to the old time, but he's a current ball player. I think he would stand out if I had to pick one.
Q: We have a lot of different athletes that are aspiring to be a professional in various sports. If there was any advice you could give these athletes, what would it be?
A: First of all, I signed right out of high school when I was 17 and I recognized the importance of getting your college education. In my case, I went back on a semester basis and I was asked to be a coach at a major university, but I would say to all young boys...that you should be playing at the college level. Go and get your college degree first. Then, go into whatever profession.
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