Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The Executive Tournament Committee of The National Father & Son Team Classic is pleased to honor Bobby Richardson as the recipient of the “Father of the Year” award for the eighth annual tournament which will take place July 21-23, 2005.
Bobby Richardson was born August 19, 1935 in Sumter, South Carolina. He joined the New York Yankees as a second basemen at the age of 19. Over the next twelve years, Bobby played in more than 1400 games while the Yankees were winning American League pennants in nine of his first ten years. Richardson is often considered one of the most underrated Yankees of all time. He racked up 1432 hits in his career, had a lifetime batting average of .266, hit 34 home runs, and batted in 390 runs.
Bobby holds numerous World Series records, including runs-batted-in in a game, runs-batted-in in a series and hits in a series. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1960 World Series and holds the record for having played in 30 consecutive World Series games. Bobby finished as runner-up to Mickey Mantle in the voting for American League MVP in 1962. He was a member of seven American League All-Star teams and won five consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove awards.
After retiring from the Yankees at the age of 31, Bobby became the baseball coach at the University of South Carolina. In 1975, his team compiled a record of 51-6, losing to Texas in the final game of the College World Series.
After having also coached at Coastal Carolina University and Liberty University, Bobby stepped down as Athletic Director at Liberty in 1990. He is still active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and served for ten years as the president of Baseball Chapel. Bobby received many honors over the years including two honorary doctorates, and the prestigious Golden Gavel Award from Toastmaster International.
Bobby has been married to Betsy Richardson for over 49 years. Together they have five children – Robby, Ron, Christie, Jeannie and Rich. They also have fifteen grandchildren - eleven grandsons and four granddaughters. Richardson believes his greatest assets to be his family, friends and neighbors.
