Bobby Richardson and Mickey Mantle

I met Bobby Richardson, former second baseman for the New York Yankees, in Pinehurst, N.C., in 2004, when he, then 68, spoke to a church group about his life and Mickey Mantle’s Christian conversion.

Richardson signed with the Yankees at age 17. He led the American League in double plays four times, played in seven Yankee pennant-winner games, kept a .266 lifetime batting average and led his league with 209 hits in 1962.

At age 31, he retired from the Yankees and devoted himself to family and interests, including a run for Congress and work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He coached baseball at the University of S.C. (record: 51-6) and Liberty University. He retired from coaching in 1990.

He was a 14-year-old baseball player when his mother invited his family’s pastor to visit their home on a Sunday afternoon.

“He opened his Bible,” Richardson said, “and started sharing verses like when Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’”

The pastor pointed out that the Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and that there’s a penalty – “the wages of sin is death.”

“Then he shared the good news that Christ died for our sins and was buried and he rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures,” Richardson said. “I responded, and the verse that sealed my decision was John 1:12: ‘But as many as received him, Jesus Christ, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.’”

At age 17, the day he graduated from high school in Sumter, S.C., he signed with the Yankees. Days later, he checked into a New York City hotel and attended practice. He recalled that power-hitting outfielder Mickey Mantle, 5 years older than he, put his arm around him and said, “Come on, kid; step in here and take some swings.”

Richardson said he could name a dozen occasions when Mantle and he talked about “things that matter.” Mantle’s father had died young, and Mantle wondered if his time might come early.“

At 51 years of age, Roger Maris went on to be with the Lord,” Richardson said. “I had a part in that funeral.”

Mantle served as a pall bearer at Maris’ funeral and told Richardson he wanted Richardson to someday conduct his funeral.

In June 1995, doctors discovered cancer had destroyed Mantle's liver. He received a transplant, but cancer remained in his body, and he began chemotherapy. Mantle called Richardson and asked him to pray for him over the telephone. Weeks later, nine years after Maris’ death and after doctors discovered the cancer had spread, Richardson received a call.

“He’d taken a turn for the worse,” Richardson said. “The family wanted us to come. Immediately, Betsy and I were on a plane flying toward Dallas. One more time, I wanted to be bold.”

A smiling Mantle greeted Richardson and said, “I can’t wait to tell you. I’ve accepted Christ as my savior.”

Richardson “went to crying a little bit” and said, “Mickey, let me go over this just to make sure you understand.” He told Mantle, “God sent his son, the Lord Jesus, to shed his precious blood, and promised in his Word that if you would repent of your sins and receive him as Savior, you might have everlasting life.”

“That’s just what I’ve done,” Mantle said.

Richardson said his wife Betsy told Mantle about her conversion and asked Mantle how he knew he would spend eternity with God in heaven.

Mantle paused and began quoting John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“He had a real peace,” Richardson said. “We found out he’d been listening to Pete Maravich’s testimony.” (Maravich, a pro basketball standout, “found Christ” at age 35 and died at 40 in 1988. Mantle had watched a video of Maravich telling of his Christian conversion.)

Mantle died a few days after he talked with Richardson.

“I had the humbling experience of conducting his funeral on national television,” Richardson said.