Former Yankee great speaks at Fall Buc Club meeting

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern University is driven by its vision statement of “Integrating Faith in Leading, Learning and Serving”. Former New York Yankee great Bobby Richardson spoke about how he instills those principles in his everyday life today at the Fall Buc Club Board of Directors meeting. The event took place prior to the CSU football team’s Homecoming matchup against Liberty University.

“I’m honored to be able to speak here today,” Richardson said. “I love Christian colleges and the work they do, and I am excited about Charleston Southern because I believe this university provides a great atmosphere for people of faith.”

Richardson focused his speech on three areas that are important to leading strong Christian lives. His first talking point centered on having power in your example.

“It’s important to live a spiritual life because it shows others how to do the same and it also encourages them live a life through Christ,” Richardson said.

The second area he focused on dealt with how people need to not only act spiritual when surrounded by others, but also when no one is watching, because God is always watching.

“If we stand up and portray positive God-like virtues when we are in the public eye, we must also carry out that lifestyle when we are living at home away from others,” Richardson said. “God sees everything and we need to honor him by serving him both outside and in.”

His final point was based on how a person believing in Jesus Christ is one of the most important aspects of leading a Christian life.

“It’s not the religion or the philosophy that is important,” Richardson said, “but the reality of a living savior.”

Richardson played 12 years in Major League Baseball, spending all of his time as a Yankee. During his time with the Bronx Bombers, the second baseman played in seven World Series’, winning the championship three times. He was also apart of nine American League Pennant championship teams. He was a seven-time All-Star and won five-consecutive Gold Glove Awards.

He came in second in the AL MVP voting in 1962 to teammate Mickey Mantle.

The Sumter, S.C., native was named the 1960 World Series MVP, and is still the only player in the history of Major League Baseball to win the honor as part of the losing team. He also won the 1963 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.

After his playing days, he went on to coach fellow Big South members Coastal Carolina University and Liberty. He also took the University of South Carolina Gamecocks to the 1975 College World Series, the first appearance in school history.

He is a national leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and speaks regularly around the country.

Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance Mike Hammond had the privilege of introducing Richardson to the crowd Saturday. Hammond played baseball under Richardson during their time together at Liberty.

“I'm thankful for the opportunity I had to play college baseball for a man like coach Bobby Richardson,” Hammond said. “I appreciate his Godly example and spiritual influence on my own life.

“He encouraged his players to live lives of significance for God's kingdom. It's a blessing to see how CSU is also encouraging its own students to serve God through leading, learning and serving.”

Prior to Richardson’s speech, Director of Athletics Hank Small interviewed current CSU baseball player Scotty Radabaugh, who spoke about how he sees the integration of faith every time he steps on the Charleston Southern campus.

“I don’t go a day without being touched by some part of integrating faith in leading, learning and serving, and that’s one of the great things about being here at Charleston Southern University,” Radabaugh said. “From the minute I stepped onto campus four years ago I knew this was where I wanted to be, because here I am surrounded by people of faith just like me.”

Radabaugh, Buccaneer baseball coach Stuart Lake and select members of the team were in attendance to both honor Richardson and to announce the building of a new scoreboard at Buc Field.