Impact Player

September 1, 2012
Richardson, a seven-time All Star, was the second baseman on many of the great New York Yankee teams of the fifties and sixties. Interestingly, he's the rare person who stepped away from a high-profile job to spend more time with his family. He retired after the 1966 season when he was just 30. Richardson is a devout Christian who played a key role in the formation of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Essentially, this is a baseball memoir with great anecdotes revolving around iconic Yankee mates such as Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, and Roger Maris. The cover photo of Richardson hints at an impish sense of humor, which is ever present throughout the book. Those readers looking to share Richardson's faith-based life will also be pleased. The sincerity of his belief and its encompassing compassionespecially in his relationship with the oft-troubled Mantle underscores almost every word. It's been almost 50 years since Richardson retired, but his time with the storied Yankees and his stature in the Christian community will ensure an extensive readership.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)