Cliff Richardson donned a baseball uniform at Bentley University for just two seasons. But those 1980 and 1981 campaigns rank among the best in program history.

A transfer from Massachusetts Bay Community College who played shortstop and third base, Richardson batted a team-best .380 in 1980 and ranked sixth nationally in Division 2 in doubles per game. He followed that up with a .330 average, a team-high 29 runs, four triples, 11 stolen bases and 58 total bases and first team All-Northeast-7 recognition as a senior.

“I’ve been head coach at Bentley for 48 years,’’ said Bob DeFelice, “and Cliff is on my list of the top five players combining skill, competitive drive and commitment to our team.’’

Richardson, a management major, ranks fifth in Bentley history with a .354 career average.

He joined the Waltham fire department 1985, and has been deputy chief since 2005, in charge of the fire prevention office.

“Being with the department is similar to being on a team,’’ said Richardson. “Anything you accomplish is as a team. You don’t put out fires by yourself.’’

Last year, he was among a contingent of Waltham firefighters who climbed the John Hancock Tower – the tallest building in New England. Their effort was part of the MS Climb to the Top, which benefited the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, whose New England chapter is located in Waltham.

Richardson’s wife, Ellen, has MS which inspired her husband’s 61-story journey for the fourth consecutive year.

A football and baseball player at Waltham High (Class of 1975), Richardson worked in his father’s scrap metal business before enrolling at Mass. Bay, where he represented his school in a regional All-Star game at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I.

“I wanted to keep playing baseball. I knew coach DeFelice because we played against each other in the Intercity League and Bentley was close to home,’’ said Richardson, who resides in Walpole.

Cliff and Ellen have three daughters, 25-year-old Shawna, Victoria, 22 and Erin, 21, all former varsity athletes at Walpole High. He coached all three in the Walpole youth softball program and travel programs and also was an assistant softball coach at Walpole High from 2011-13.

“I’ll never forget my first game at Bentley,’’ recalled Richardson, who batted third and had four hits, including three doubles that day against Babson. “There are a group of us who go back to watch Bentley play every year and then we go out to dinner.’’

He also plays in the annual Bentley baseball golf tournament.

His first steps on the diamond were taken at age 7 through the Little Nippers program at Nipper Maher Park in Waltham.

“My first team was the Washington Senators and I liked competing right from the start,’’ said Richardson.

His father, Walter, was a well-known fast pitch softball player in Waltham.

“Dad helped develop my understanding of baseball and always encouraged me to give it my all,’’ said Richardson.

And he loved playing for Bob DeFelice at Bentley.

“Talk about being competitive, Bob is as competitive as anyone I’ve ever known,’’ he said. “He taught me to play the game the right way. Whatever help you needed, Bob was there for you.’’

Marvin Pave can be reached at marvin.pave@rcn.com