South Carolina Focus

"R" is for Richardson, Robert Clinton [b. 1935]. Baseball Player. Born in Sumter, Richardson played sandlot, high school, and American Legion baseball before signing a pro contract with the New York Yankees. He made his major league debut in 1955 and from 1957-1966 was the Yankees’ regular second baseman. He earned national attention when he hit a grand slam in Game Six of the 1960 World Series and was voted Series MVP. In his major league career, he was a seven-time All-Star and winner of five Golden Glove Awards. In 1970 he became the first full-time head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina where his 1975 team went 51 and 6, and played in the finals of the College World Series. After an unsuccessful foray into politics, Robert Clinton Richardson returned to coaching.