Bobby Richardson

Robert Clinton Richardson Jr. (born August 19, 1935) is an American former professional baseball second baseman who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees from 1955 through 1966. Born in Sumter, South Carolina, he grew up wanting to play for the Yankees after seeing the 1942 film The Pride of the Yankees. Drawing interest from 11 of 16 MLB teams, he signed with the Yankees and made his debut two years later.

Batting and throwing right-handed, Richardson formed a top double play combination with fellow Yankee infielders Clete Boyer and Tony Kubek. He earned a regular spot on the roster in 1957 and reached his first All-Star Game that year, but lost starts at second base to Gil McDougald later in the season and was mostly a reserve player in 1958. It was not until 1959 that he became a regular at second base.

In the 1960 World Series, he was named Most Valuable Player, becoming the only World Series MVP ever selected from the losing team. In 1962, he led the American League in hits with 209, and that year he caught a line drive off the bat of Willie McCovey to record the final out and win the 1962 World Series for the Yankees.