Mickey Mantle (left), pictured in the photo above with his teammates Bobby Richardson (center) and Whitey Ford (right), was by most accounts, a difficult man to be around in social situations, but his baseball teammates revered him. His talent, his humility, and the way he played the game for fun had a huge impact on the Yankee teams of the 1950's and 1960's. They won seven world championships with Mickey in the lineup. And it wasn't just his fellow teammates who appreciated his awesome talent. The great Detroit Tiger, Al Kaline was once taunted by a young fan, "You're not half as good as Mickey Mantle," to which Al replied, "Son, nobody is half as good as Mickey Mantle."
Bobby Richardson played for the New York Yankees as well. He was a talented defensive second baseman who remains the only person to win an MVP in a World Series while playing for the losing team. More importantly, Bobby Richardson was a devout christian who had given his life to Jesus Christ when he was a teenager. He and Mickey Mantle were New York Yankee teammates from 1957 - 1966 when Bobby retired at the age of 31. He remained close to his Yankee teammates and he shared the gospel when given the opportunity. Meanwhile, Mickey Mantle's life after baseball spiraled out of control as he drank to the point that his body required a liver transplant. And even when he finally received though a liver transplant it was too late.
So it was that in 1995 he requested that Bobby Richardson visit him in the hospital where he lay dying. When Bobby entered Mickey's hospital room, Mickey excitedly shared that he had given his life to Jesus Christ and was now forgiven for his sins! Bobby Richardson, who had shared his faith with Mickey Mantle many times over the years, was overjoyed to witness Mickey's transformation. He shared at Mickey's funeral (at Mickey's request) the gospel plan of salvation and seeds of the gospel were planted in hearts around the world.
Mickey Mantle requested the following words be etched on his resting place in Dallas, TX, "A Great Teammate". This phrase was also used on his plaque honoring the greatest Yankees in their Monument Park. But I would say the greatest teammate on that team was Bobby Richardson. He not only cared about his teammates lives, he cared about where their souls would spend eternity. His christian witness, and his love for his fellow players resulted in Mickey Mantle moving from eternal damnation to eternal life. To me that person is truly worthy of the title, "A Great Teammate".
