Impact Player

Impact Player: Living a Lasting Legacy On and Off the Field is a memoir written by Bobby Richardson which tells about his time playing baseball with the Yankees during a famous time in history. Although I can admit I don’t really follow baseball, I am even familiar with the players Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra who Bobby Richardson played alongside. More than just a book about baseball, it looks at the faith of Bobby Richardson and his strong beliefs and example he was for those he played with during his career.

I also liked learning about the accomplishments of Bobby Richardson after he completed his time in professional baseball. He had a large family, coached baseball at the University of South Carolina, and even ran for Congress. My sister attended Liberty University, so I thought it was interesting to learn about the time he spent coaching there in the 1980s. He had many great years playing baseball, and the book gave him the opportunity to share many stories. I liked how he never seemed to “preach” at his teammates, but rather he served as an example and chose to become friends with others despite the fact he may not have agreed with their lifestyles. He even mentions in the book that he thinks the best way he could be a Christian witness was through his friendship with his teammates.

I can’t wait to give this book to my dad to read, since I’m sure he will enjoy reading about the experiences of the Yankee clubhouse during the 1955-1964 seasons.   

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."