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January 24, 2010

THIS AND THAT - Phone call

LARRY LARKIN Progress Sports Correspondent

Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 — He was a seven time All-Star for the most famous professional sports team ever. Yet he was cut from his high school baseball team.

He was noted for being a good defensive player who was a weak hitter. Still it was hitting that caused him to earn a Most Valuable Player award; the only player on a losing World Series team to win one.

A steady fixture on a team that won American League championships nine of the 11 years he was a member, he today admits his first manager couldn’t always remember his name.

“That true. Casey called me ‘Kid’ the whole five-plus years we were together,” former New York Yankee standout second baseman Bobby Richardson said this past week during a 30-minute telephone conversation from his home in Sumter, South Carolina.

Famed Yankee manager Casey Stengel’s memory is just one of many Richardson is expected to share here Monday night. He will be the featured speaker at the fifth annual Claremore Field of Dreams Baseball Banquet, set to begin at 6 p.m. at the Centennial Center at Rogers State University.

A much sought-after Christian speaker, Richardson is also expected to share thoughts of his final visit with former teammate Mickey Mantle shortly before the superstar’s death. Richardson was delighted to learn friend Ralph Terry, also a former teammate, was coming to the banquet. The two will probably forever be joined by a single play in the 1962 World Series.

A former Chelsea High School athlete now living in Kansas was the winning pitcher when Richardson caught a line drive for the final out of the seventh and final game against the San Francisco Giants.

During our visit he was asked who was the happiest after the catch. Richardson laughed and replied he was. In the bottom of the ninth and the winning run at second base, Richardson gloved a wicked line drive off the bat of home run slugger Willie McCovey to end the Series.

“During a time-out Tony edged over toward me and said he hoped the ball wasn’t him to me. My friend pointed out I had already had made one error in the game.”

Richardson was talking about Yankee shortstop Tony Kubek. Joining the Yankees about the same time, the two were the heart of the infield considered by most baseball fans the best of all time.

Room mates on the road, the two have remained good friends. For all baseball fans old enough to remember the 1950s and early ‘60s, listening to Richardson is like entering a history book of the sport, only better. He played with and against Hall of Fame players like Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, and Don Drysdale. In addition to being with the Yankees in nine World Series in a 10-year period, he was also a member of the team that set a home run record.

“Well, that’s a little embarrassing actually,” Richardson said, “In ‘61 after the team hit 240 home runs to break the old record, someone printed up t-shirts with the players’ names and the total of home runs each hit.

“There beside Roger Maris were 61, Mickey had 54, four others hit 20 or more. I had 3 beside my name.”

While discussing that most memorable 1961 season of baseball Richardson was asked his thoughts on the television movie “61” and the earlier tell-all book by ex-Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton.

“(Producer) Billy Crystal asked me to be in the movie and I turned down the offer. I wish now I hadn’t. Maybe I could have somehow prevented the way they presented Mickey mainly as a drinker and womanizer. They didn’t show the heart and soul he had and his willingness to help others.

“As for Jim’s book, I didn’t read it. Before its release portions of it came out in a magazine. After seeing the first of those, most of us players agreed to not read the book. I don’t blame Jim so much. He is a nice guy, but the problem was his co-writer.”

It is hoped Richardson will share all of the topics touched on during his phone visit. His signing with the Yankees; his first time stepping into the batting cage (“I wasn’t about to go ahead of Yogi Berra or Hank Bauer.”); World Series records; being asked to conduce funeral services for both Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle; his endless work with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. It is with caring respect and emotion as he addresses each. Before our conversation ended, he promised his part of Monday’s program will not last long.

Speaking on behalf of the banquet’s sold out audience, please Mr. Richardson, take all the time you need and want. Your presence will be an honor. It is not often we can spend time with an All-Class All-Star.

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