Bobby Richardson
The Yankee second baseman whose glove defined an era, making a World Series MVP award from a losing team a point of pride.
Born 1935 (age 91)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 19·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bobby Richardson anchored the New York Yankees' infield with steady defense during their late-1950s and early-1960s dynasty. While teammates like Mantle and Maris generated power and headlines, Richardson built his reputation on consistency and double-play reliability. In the 1960 World Series, he hit a grand slam and drove in 12 runs, winning MVP honors despite the Yankees losing to Pittsburgh. His most famous play came in 1962: snagging Willie McCovey's line drive with the bases loaded to clinch the Series. A deeply religious man, Richardson retired at 31 while still at his peak, leaving a legacy of clutch defense and quiet professionalism.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bobby was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bobby Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
Bobby's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 70
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 80
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2026Age 91 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award in 1960, the only player ever to win it from the losing team.
- Made the final out of the 1962 World Series by catching Willie McCovey's line drive with the bases loaded to preserve the Yankees' championship.
- Led the American League in hits in 1962 with 209 and won five Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence.
- Played in seven World Series with the New York Yankees, winning three championships (1956, 1958, 1961).
- Was selected as an American League All-Star seven times during his 12-year career.
Did You Know?
He is a devout Christian and served as the baseball coach at the University of South Carolina and Liberty University after his playing days.
He was the American League MVP runner-up in 1962, finishing behind teammate Mickey Mantle.
He turned down a chance to manage the New York Yankees in the 1980s, citing family and faith commitments.
“I fielded my position, and I hit behind the runner.”
