While Berra, Mantle and Maris may have received most of the headlines in the late 1950’s and early 60’s for the Yankees, none of the team’s continued dominance would have been sustainable without the most dependable infield in baseball. With Moose Skowron handling the bag at first and Clete Boyer at the hot corner, New York was even stingier up the middle thanks to the double play combo of shortstop Tony Kubek and second baseman Bobby Richardson. It was the latter of the crew, however, who took home all the defensive awards. For five consecutive seasons, 1961 to ‘65, Richardson won A.L. Gold Glove honors. (No Yankee 2B would win it again until Cano in 2010.) Featured here is the 8-time All-Star’s third Rawlings Gold Glove Award following the 1963 campaign. Richardson’s .984 fielding percentage that year was the highest of his career.

The lovely piece measures an impressive 16” wide and 15” tall, consisting of a gold-colored Rawlings glove and baseball with “1963” engraved into its surface. A wooden diamond with “RAWLINGS GOLD GLOVE AWARD” is mounted behind the glove and an engraved plaque with “2b – BOBBY RICHARDSON – 3rd AWARD” and “19 – THE SPORTING NEWS – 63” and “AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR FIELDING TEAM” mounted to the wood base. The award exhibits medium wear with scuffs and abrasions from age, especially the gold-washed ball. Great piece of history from a 3-time World Champ and one-time World Series MVP.