The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS he basks in the sunset of his glaring professional career, retired Major League Baseball player Antoan Richardson is expected to get back into the spotlight tonight in Grand Bahama.

He will be honoured for his stellar appearance as a journeyman through Major and Minor League baseball during the Bahamas Baseball Federation's 15th Annual National Baseball Championships.

Richardson, along with former players turned coaches Bertram Murray Jr, Carl Nottage (from Grand Bahama) and Mario Ford and long-time chief statistician Bob Sumner, will all receive the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The recognition is set to take place 7pm tonight when the official opening ceremonies are held at EMERA Baseball Complex where all of the games will take place through Sunday when the champions in the Coach Pitch, Minor, Major, Junior and High School divisions will be crowned.

"This is going to be the first time that I will actually get to witness the nationals," Richardson said. "So I'm kind of excited about that because every year I would be playing around this time.

"But I'm excited to witness the talent and excited to have the opportunity to watch the young Bahamians play. I heard that some girls would be playing softball as well, so that's going to be pretty cool.

"So anytime you're recognised for something you have done, you appreciate it, you accept it. This is kind of motivation for me to continue on that path of youth development that I intend to do and that I'm striving for," he added."

Richardson, who announced his retirement on March 7 without any grand fanfare, said whether it was in Nassau or Grand Bahama, he's delighted to go back to Grand Bahama where he spent some time playing there with Freedom Farm as a young boy growing up. "I think that's going to take it down memory lane, so I hope I don't tear up like I did during my retirement speech," said Richardson, who had an emotional time during his announcement before the local media at the time.

Since his retirement, Richardson said he has enjoyed his time away from the actual playing field as he relaxed, but he said he has been busy with a number of projects that he intends to get off the ground very soon.

"I've been working behind the scenes trying to unveil my next chapter, or the next journey that I intend to take," he said. "But I think when it's all said and done, and my team and I are ready to present it to the public, it will all be worth it."

Although he admitted that he doesn't know Sumner, who spent many nights scoring both softball and baseball games when both sports were in their heydays at the demolished venues at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Center, Richardson said Ford and Murry Jr have all supported him in his endeavor.

"Their names speak for themselves," Richardson stressed. "So to be able to be in a class with both of them, along with Mr Sumner and Mr Nottage, it's definitely a privilege.

"Some of them would have taught me some things that would have helped me to get to some of my accomplishments in the game. So anytime you get to set on the field with guys like that, who would have played a role in your journey, you get to appreciate that."

Richardson, as a 33-year-old outfielder, was the sixth Bahamian to play in the Major League, playing with the Atlanta Braves in 2011, the New York Yankees in 2014 and again with the Texas Rangers in 2015.

He also played with 8 different major league organizations, including: San Francisco Giants; Atlanta Braves (MLB Roster, 2011); Baltimore Orioles; Minnesota Twins; New York Yankees (MLB Roster, 2014); Texas Rangers (MLB Roster, 2015); Pittsburg Pirates; Los Angeles Dodgers

He had a lifetime .273/.392/.342 hitter in the minors with 15 homers and 331 stolen bases (in 389) and a lifetime of .350/.381/.350 hitter in the majors with 0 homers and 6 stolen bases (in 6 attempts) and 1 RBI. His career batting average (Major League) was .350 (7/20) and (Minor League): .273 with 331 stolen bases (Minor League).