Willie Randolph

Last updated

Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph 1984.jpg
Randolph with the New York Yankees in 1984
Second baseman / Manager
Born: (1954-07-06) July 6, 1954 (age 70)
Holly Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 29, 1975, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
October 4, 1992, for the New York Mets
Men's baseball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Los Angeles Team

William Larry Randolph (born July 6, 1954) is an American former professional baseball second baseman, coach, and manager. During an 18-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), he played from 1975 to 1992 for six different teams, most notably the New York Yankees with whom he won back-to-back world titles against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has joined ESPN as a post-season baseball analyst, beginning in September 2013. Mainly, he appeared on Baseball Tonight and provided updates during Monday and Wednesday night September network telecasts.

Contents

At the end of his playing career, he ranked fifth in major league history in games at second base (2,152), ninth in putouts (4,859), seventh in assists (6,336), eighth in total chances (11,429), and third in double plays (1,547). Upon retiring as a player, he joined the Yankees as a coach for 11 years. He later served as manager of the New York Mets from 2005 to June 2008, leading the Mets to a league-best record and the National League Championship Series in 2006.

Playing career

Randolph grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School, where he was a star athlete and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 7th round of the 1972 draft. He made his major league debut in 1975, and was, at age 21, the sixth-youngest player in the National League.

He was traded with Dock Ellis and Ken Brett from the Pirates to the Yankees for Doc Medich on December 11, 1975. [1]

Randolph spent 13 of his 18 seasons as a player with the Yankees and was co-captain of the Yankees with Ron Guidry from 1986 to 1988. He later played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1989–90), Oakland Athletics (1990), and Milwaukee Brewers (1991), finishing his career with the New York Mets in 1992. He was selected to six All-Star teams over his career. As a career number 2 hitter in the order, he made use of his skills as bunter and a patient hitter who drew more than 80 walks seven times.

Randolph was also an outstanding defensive player, known especially for his ability to turn the double play. However, he never received the Gold Glove Award, which was perennially awarded to his equally sure-handed and more acrobatic and wide-ranging contemporaries: Frank White of the Kansas City Royals and Lou Whitaker of the Detroit Tigers. He was the Yankees' starting second baseman on the 1977 and 1978 World Series Championship teams.

In 1980 Randolph led the league in walks (119) and was second in the AL in on-base percentage (.427), eighth in stolen bases (30) and ninth in runs (99), and won the Silver Slugger Award at second base in the AL. He also batted .332 leading off the inning, and .340 with men in scoring position.

Randolph with the Yankees in 1983 Willierandolph.jpg
Randolph with the Yankees in 1983

Randolph was involved in a controversial play during Game 2 of the 1980 American League Championship Series. He was on second base in the top of the eighth with two outs and the Yankees down by a run. Bob Watson hit a ball to the left field corner of Royals Stadium. Though the ball bounced to Willie Wilson, third base coach Mike Ferraro waved Randolph home. Wilson overthrew U L Washington, the cut-off man, but George Brett was in position behind him to catch the ball, then throw to Darrell Porter, who tagged out Randolph in a slide. TV cameras captured a furious George Steinbrenner fuming, hollering and swearing immediately after the play resulting in him being restrained by police when he tried to gain access to the field. The Yankees lost the game 3–2, then lost the series in three games. [2]

In 1987 he batted .305 with a career-high 67 RBIs and led the league in at bats per strikeout (18.0), and was fourth in the AL in OBP (.411) and ninth in walks (82). He also batted .366 in tie games, and .345 in games that were late and close.

In December 1988 he signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Randolph led the Dodgers in batting average and hits in 1989, making his sixth All-Star team. In May 1990 he was traded by the Dodgers to the defending-world champion Oakland Athletics for Stan Javier. Later that year, Randolph and the A's won the American League pennant, but were swept by the NL-champion Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.

In April 1991 he signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers. That year, Randolph was second in the AL on-base percentage (.424) and third in batting average (.327). He batted .373 with runners in scoring position.

In December 1991 he signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. In 1992, at 37 years old he was the eighth-oldest player in the NL. In his last career game with the Mets, the team's second baseman of the future Jeff Kent moved to make his start at shortstop to allow Randolph to play his final game at second base. [3]

Tommy John, Randolph's teammate with the Yankees, called him the "stabilizing influence" and "the club's quiet leader". [4] "You couldn't believe how good Willie was until you were on the same team and saw him play every day," John said. [4]

Coaching and managing career

Randolph was a Yankees base and bench coach for 11 seasons, interviewing intermittently for managing jobs with other teams.

In 2004, Randolph was named Mets manager for the 2005 season. He became the eighth person to play for and later manage the Mets, joining Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra, Joe Torre, Bud Harrelson, Roy McMillan, Dallas Green, and Bobby Valentine (as well as interim manager Mike Cubbage). [5] Randolph earned his first win as a manager on April 10, 2005, defeating the Atlanta Braves 2–1. [6] The win halted a five-game losing streak to start the 2005 season. He then guided the Mets to five straight additional victories, giving the Mets their first six-game winning streak since August 2003. Randolph ended his first season as manager of the 2005 Mets with an 83–79 record, the first time the franchise had finished above .500 since 2001, and 12 games better than the prior season. That record got them a tie for third place in the National League East.

Randolph with the Mets in 2007 Willie Randolph.jpg
Randolph with the Mets in 2007

In 2006, Randolph managed the Mets to a league-best 97–65 record (which also tied for the best record in the majors with the crosstown Yankees) and the NL East Division title (the team's first division championship since 1988). The Mets came within one game of reaching the World Series, losing the seventh game of the NL Championship Series to the eventual world champion St. Louis Cardinals. Randolph was the first manager in major league history to have his team's record improve by at least 12 games in each of his first two seasons (excluding seasons following strike-shortened seasons). He came in second place in the 2006 NL Manager of the Year voting, losing to Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi. On January 24, 2007, Randolph signed a three-year, $5.65 million contract extension with the Mets. He had a club option for 2010 worth an additional $2.5 million. [7]

In 2007, Randolph was managing the Mets when they had one of the worst collapses in major league history. Holding a seven-game first-place lead in the NL East with only 17 games to play, the Mets finished 5–12 and lost the division to the Philadelphia Phillies, who went 13–4 in the same timespan. [8]

In 2008, Randolph's job security steadily decreased after a disappointing start to the season and inconsistent performance through mid-June. On June 17, 2008, less than two hours after the Mets' 9–6 road victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Randolph was fired, along with pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto. He and his coaches were replaced by interim manager Jerry Manuel and coaches Ken Oberkfell, Dan Warthen, and Luis Aguayo. [9] The team's record at the time of the firing was 34–35, which was 6½ games behind the Phillies in the National League East. After 2008, the Mets did not have another winning season until 2015.

After the 2008 season, Randolph was interviewed by the Milwaukee Brewers for their managerial position. Although he was one of the three finalists, the job went to Ken Macha, and Randolph was given the bench coach position, which he held until November 2010. [10] According to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, Randolph was asked to be Macha's bench coach because Randolph had experience managing against National League teams, versus Macha's American League experience.

On November 23, 2010, Randolph was named as the final piece to Buck Showalter's coaching staff for the 2011 Baltimore Orioles. Randolph assumed the position of bench coach replacing Jeff Datz. [11] [12] In June 2011, Randolph switched places with John Russell, becoming Baltimore's third-base coach. Randolph and the Orioles parted ways after the 2011 season.

On November 26, 2012, it was announced Randolph would be the third base coach in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA. [13]

On February 16, 2015, the Yankees announced that they would honor Randolph with a plaque in Monument Park on June 20, 2015. [14]

On October 21, 2015, Randolph was named as the manager of Team USA for the inaugural 2015 WBSC Premier12. [15]

In August 2019, he became a United States national baseball team coach for the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament. [16] The team finished fourth in the tournament, and failed to qualify for the 2020 Olympics as it finished behind Mexico, but will have another opportunity to qualify. [17]

Managerial record

As of games played on October 7, 2008.
TeamFromToRegular season recordPost–season record
WLWin %WLWin %
New York Mets 20052008302253.54464.600
Total302253.54464.600
Reference: [18]

Personal life

As of 2008, Randolph resided in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey with his wife Gretchen. [19] He has four children named Taniesha, Chantre, Andre, and Ciara. Tommy John has called him "a devoted family man, a man interested in the community." [4]

Randolph delivered the commencement address to Fordham University's 2007 graduating class, of which his daughter Ciara was a member. That same day, he managed the second game in a three-game series against the Yankees. [20]

Notes

1. ^ Carlos Beltrán was also technically manager of the Mets after having played for them from 2005-2011, but stepped down from the position before managing a game.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Mattingly</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1961)

Donald Arthur Mattingly is an American professional baseball coach, and former first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays of MLB. Nicknamed "the Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he spent his entire 14-year MLB playing career with the New York Yankees and later managed the Los Angeles Dodgers for five years and the Miami Marlins for seven years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gil Hodges</span> American baseball player and manager (1924–1972)

Gilbert Raymond Hodges was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played most of his 18-year career for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers. An eight-time All-Star, he anchored the infield for the Dodgers through six pennant winners and two World Series titles before leading the New York Mets to their first World Series title in 1969. One of the most beloved and admired players in major league history, Hodges was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022, fifty years after his sudden death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felipe Alou</span> Dominican baseball player and manager (born 1935)

Felipe Rojas Alou is a Dominican former Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, coach and manager. He managed the Montreal Expos (1992–2001) and the San Francisco Giants (2003–2006). The first Dominican to play regularly in the major leagues, he is the most prominent member of one of the sport's most notable families of the late 20th century: he was the oldest of the trio of baseball-playing brothers that included Matty and Jesús, who were both primarily outfielders, and his son Moisés was also primarily an outfielder; all but Jesús have been named All-Stars at least twice. His son Luis, in turn, managed the New York Mets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Torre</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1940)

Joseph Paul Torre Jr. is an American professional baseball executive and former player, manager, and television color commentator. He has served as a special assistant to the Commissioner of Baseball since 2020. He previously served in the capacity of Major League Baseball's (MLB) chief baseball officer from 2011 to 2020. Torre ranks fifth all-time in MLB history with 2,326 wins as a manager. With 2,342 hits during his playing career, Torre is the only major leaguer to achieve both 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager. From 1996 to 2007, he was the manager of the New York Yankees, and guided the team to six American League (AL) pennants and four World Series championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Bowa</span> American baseball player, coach, and manager (born 1945)

Lawrence Robert Bowa is an American former professional baseball shortstop, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB), who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets. Bowa went on to manage the San Diego Padres and Phillies, and is currently a senior advisor to the general manager of the Phillies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Howard (baseball)</span> American baseball player, coach, and manager (1936–2023)

Frank Oliver Howard, nicknamed "Hondo", "the Washington Monument" and "the Capital Punisher", was an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played most of his career for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Senators/Texas Rangers franchises. One of the most physically intimidating players in the sport, Howard was 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall and weighed between 275 and 295 pounds, according to former Senators/Rangers trainer Bill Zeigler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miguel Cairo</span> Venezuelan baseball player and coach (born 1974)

Miguel Jesús Cairo [ki'-row], is a Venezuelan former professional baseball infielder and currently the bench coach for the Washington Nationals. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine different clubs in a 17-year career, spanning from 1996 to 2012. During his playing days, Cairo stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 225 pounds (102 kg) while batting and throwing right-handed. While primarily a second baseman, Cairo was able to play all the infield positions and as a corner outfielder. He was also used for pinch-hitting duties late in his career. He was interim manager for the White Sox in the latter part of the 2022 season as manager Tony La Russa stepped away due to health concerns.

The following are the baseball events of the year 2004 throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Hiller</span> American baseball player (1934-2004)

Charles Joseph Hiller was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. In the 1962 World Series, he became the first National League player to hit a grand slam in a World Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Zimmer</span> American baseball player and manager (1931–2014)

Donald William Zimmer was an American infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). Zimmer was involved in professional baseball from 1949 until his death, a span of 65 years, across 8 decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Elia</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1937)

Lee Constantine Elia is an American former professional baseball infielder, who played only sparingly in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox (1966) and Chicago Cubs (1968). Following his playing career, he managed the Cubs (1982–1983) and Philadelphia Phillies (1987–1988), and served as a coach for the Phillies, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and Seattle Mariners. Elia was hired by the Atlanta Braves as a special assistant to general manager Frank Wren in November, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davey Lopes</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1945)

David Earl Lopes is an American former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He batted and threw right-handed. He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros; he managed the Milwaukee Brewers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Ausmus</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1969)

Bradley David Ausmus is an American former professional baseball player, manager and current coach. He is the bench coach for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). In his 18-year MLB playing career, Ausmus played as a catcher for the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also managed the Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, and Israeli national baseball team.

The following are the baseball events of the year 1978 throughout the world.

The following are the baseball events of the year 1973 throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cookie Lavagetto</span> American baseball player and manager (1912–1990)

Harry Arthur "Cookie" Lavagetto was an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a third baseman from 1934 to 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Holmes</span> American baseball player and manager

Thomas Francis Holmes was an American right and center fielder and manager in Major League Baseball who played nearly his entire career for the Boston Braves. He hit over .300 lifetime (.302) and every year from 1944 through 1948, peaking with a .352 mark in 1945 when he finished second in the National League batting race and was runner-up for the NL's Most Valuable Player Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art Howe</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1946)

Arthur Henry Howe Jr. is an American former professional baseball infielder, coach, scout, and manager, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1974–1975), Houston Astros (1976–1982), and St. Louis Cardinals (1984–1985). Howe managed the Astros (1989–1993), Oakland Athletics (1996–2002), and New York Mets (2003–2004), compiling a career managerial record of 1,129 wins and 1,137 losses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Geren</span> American baseball player, coach, and manager (born 1961)

Robert Peter Geren is an American former professional baseball catcher and manager, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1988–1991) and San Diego Padres (1993). Geren managed the Oakland Athletics from 2007 through 2011. He served in various coaching capacities for the A's and New York Mets, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He is currently the major league field coordinator for the Dodgers.

The 1963 Major League Baseball season was contested from April 8 to October 6, 1963. The American League and National League both featured ten teams, with each team playing a 162-game schedule.

References

  1. ↑ "Yankees wheel, deal at baseball meetings". The Associated Press (AP). December 12, 1975. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  2. ↑ John and Valenti, pp. 207-08
  3. ↑ Briskin, Shale. "New York Mets: Top 10 Second Basemen in Team History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 John and Valenti, p. 205
  5. ↑ "New York Mets Team History & Encyclopedia – Baseball-Reference.com".
  6. ↑ "2005 New York Mets Schedule, Box Scores and Splits". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ↑ "Randolph agrees to $5.65 million, three-year deal". ESPN. February 15, 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  8. ↑ Shpigel, Ben (October 1, 2007). "Mets Complete Stunning Collapse". The New York Times. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  9. ↑ Peters, Ken (June 17, 2007). "New York Mets Fire Willie Randolph In Midnight Bloodbath". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Randolph named bench coach". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. November 8, 2008. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
  11. ↑ Connolly, Dan (November 23, 2010). "Randolph's hiring as bench coach completes Orioles' 2011 coaching staff". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Mariners announce all members of current Major League coaching staff returning in 2012" (Press release). Seattle Mariners. October 26, 2011. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  13. ↑ "2013 World Baseball Classic coaching staff named" . Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Yankees to retire numbers of Pettitte, Posada and Williams". Yahoo!. February 16, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  15. ↑ Manuel, John (October 21, 2015). "U.S. Unveils Premier 12 Roster As Start Of Event Nears". Baseball America . Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  16. ↑ "USA Baseball Finalizes Premier12 Coaching Staff". USA Baseball. August 13, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Navarro singles in extras, brings Mexico to the 2020 Olympics".
  18. ↑ "Terry Collins". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Randolph: Move Was 'Too Early'". The New York Times. June 19, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008. "I thought he was talking about whacking a couple of my coaches", Randolph said of General Manager Omar Minaya while talking to reporters outside his home in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
  20. ↑ "Willie Randolph to deliver commencement address at Fordham University on Saturday, May 19". New York Mets. Retrieved June 20, 2015.

John, Tommy; Valenti, Dan (1991). TJ: My Twenty-Six Years in Baseball. New York: Bantam. ISBN   0-553-07184-X.

Sporting positions
Preceded by New York Yankees team captain
(with Ron Guidry until July 12, 1989)
March 4, 1986 to October 2, 1989		Succeeded by
Preceded by New York Yankees third base coach Succeeded by
Preceded by New York Yankees bench coach
2004		Succeeded by
Preceded by Milwaukee Brewers bench coach
2009–2010		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.