Bobby Richardson
Born: 8/19/1935 in Sumter, SC, USA
MLB Debut: 1955-08-05 | Final Game: 1966-10-02
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Robert Clinton Richardson
Biography
Bobby Richardson, born in 1935, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who played from 1955 until 1966. Primarily known for his exceptional defensive skills and clutch hitting, Richardson spent his entire career with the New York Yankees, becoming a key figure during one of the franchise's most successful eras. He participated in 1,412 games, recording 1,432 hits, 34 home runs, and 390 RBIs, while maintaining a career batting average of .266. His speed on the bases was notable, as he stole 73 bases throughout his career.
Richardson's contributions to the Yankees were particularly highlighted during the postseason, where he earned the World Series MVP award. He was an 8-time All-Star, showcasing his consistent performance and popularity among fans and peers alike. Playing in the 1950s and 1960s, an era characterized by strong pitching and the emergence of power hitters, Richardson distinguished himself not only as a skilled infielder but also as a leader on the field. His legacy remains embedded in Yankees history, celebrated for both his individual achievements and his role in multiple World Series championships.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1412 | 5386 | 643 | 1432 | 196 | 37 | 34 | 390 | 73 | 262 | 243 | 0.266 | 0.299 | 0.335 | 0.634 | -10544.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | NYY | AL | 11 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.154 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | NYY | AL | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
| 1957 | NYY | AL | 97 | 305 | 36 | 78 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 9 | 26 | 0.256 | -1184.8 |
| 1958 | NYY | AL | 73 | 182 | 18 | 45 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0.247 | -678.8 |
| 1959 | NYY | AL | 134 | 469 | 53 | 141 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 33 | 5 | 26 | 20 | 0.301 | -91.3 |
| 1960 | NYY | AL | 150 | 460 | 45 | 116 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 6 | 35 | 19 | 0.252 | -1409.1 |
| 1961 | NYY | AL | 162 | 662 | 80 | 173 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 49 | 9 | 30 | 23 | 0.261 | -2237.1 |
| 1962 | NYY | AL | 161 | 692 | 99 | 209 | 38 | 5 | 8 | 59 | 11 | 37 | 24 | 0.302 | 332.3 |
| 1963 | NYY | AL | 151 | 630 | 72 | 167 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 48 | 15 | 25 | 22 | 0.265 | -1090.3 |
| 1964 | NYY | AL | 159 | 679 | 90 | 181 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 50 | 11 | 28 | 36 | 0.267 | -1347.7 |
| 1965 | NYY | AL | 160 | 664 | 76 | 164 | 28 | 2 | 6 | 47 | 7 | 37 | 39 | 0.247 | -1446.0 |
| 1966 | NYY | AL | 149 | 610 | 71 | 153 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 42 | 6 | 25 | 28 | 0.251 | -1392.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 131 | 16 | 40 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 0.305 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | WS | NYA | 7 | 32 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0.406 |
| 1963 | WS | NYA | 4 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.214 |
| 1962 | WS | NYA | 7 | 27 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.148 |
| 1961 | WS | NYA | 5 | 23 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.391 |
| 1960 | WS | NYA | 7 | 30 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0.367 |
| 1958 | WS | NYA | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1957 | WS | NYA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 1339 | 1301 | 3125 | 3445 | 143 | 963 |
| 3B | 38 | 15 | 16 | 45 | 1 | 3 |
| SS | 21 | 14 | 18 | 50 | 6 | 11 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | NYA | 2B | 6 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 1955 | NYA | SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1956 | NYA | 2B | 5 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 1957 | NYA | 2B | 93 | 83 | 206 | 223 | 9 | 60 |
| 1958 | NYA | 2B | 51 | 42 | 104 | 110 | 6 | 35 |
| 1958 | NYA | 3B | 13 | 9 | 8 | 27 | 1 | 3 |
| 1958 | NYA | SS | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | NYA | 2B | 109 | 107 | 256 | 292 | 17 | 85 |
| 1959 | NYA | 3B | 12 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | NYA | SS | 14 | 13 | 11 | 41 | 5 | 9 |
| 1960 | NYA | 2B | 141 | 133 | 312 | 337 | 18 | 103 |
| 1960 | NYA | 3B | 11 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | NYA | 2B | 161 | 160 | 413 | 376 | 18 | 136 |
| 1962 | NYA | 2B | 161 | 161 | 378 | 451 | 15 | 116 |
| 1963 | NYA | 2B | 150 | 150 | 335 | 424 | 12 | 105 |
| 1964 | NYA | 2B | 157 | 156 | 400 | 410 | 15 | 108 |
| 1964 | NYA | SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1965 | NYA | 2B | 158 | 157 | 372 | 403 | 15 | 121 |
| 1966 | NYA | 2B | 147 | 144 | 322 | 408 | 15 | 91 |
| 1966 | NYA | 3B | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 1338 |
| Third Base | 39 |
| Shortstop | 21 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1965 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1965 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1964 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1964 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1963 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1963 | Lou Gehrig Memorial Award | |
| 1963 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1962 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1962 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1961 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1961 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1960 | World Series MVP |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 20th | 6.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1964 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 9.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1963 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 43.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 2nd | 152.0 | 280 | 5 |
| 1961 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 24th | 1.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 11.0 | 336 | 0 |