Tuesday, November 6, 2012

#25 Willie Randolph




It is Willie Randolph but not like you expect to him in his Yankees' uni instead here he is rounding second and watching the play unfold while no one is setting in the outfield bleachers at Dodger Stadium. 
Drafted by the Pirates in 1972 he was a 7th round selection and made his made his MLB debut in July of 1975 as a backup to Rennie Stennett. After the 75 season the Pirates wanted more pitching and included Randolph in a deal with the Yankees for pitcher Doc Medich. Replacing Sandy Alomar (Sr.) Randolph spent the next 13 years providing the Yankees with excellent defense at 2nd base  along with 4 All-Star appearances. With Randolph at 2nd the Yankees rolled off three straight American League Pennants and two straight World Series. However, in 1978 he missed the post-season with hamstring issues that occurred in the last week of the regular season.  In 77 Hal McRae bulldozed him to break up a double play. Randolph said "the next time he comes at me, I'll throw the ball right between his eyes." 
The New York Times reported a rumor in 1985 that after Randolph had lost a game with an error he called the San Diego Padres about a trade of Randolph for Alan Wiggins. Thankfully that deal never happened since Wiggins was just out of rehab for a cocaine problem and would have more relapses and his career was over shortly after. 
An injury plagued 1988 season was his last as a Yankee as the team signed Steve Sax from the Dodgers to play second and Randolph signed with the Dodgers to replace his replacer with the Dodgers. He had been negotiating a new contract with the Yankees, but the talks stalled for two reasons: The Yankees wanted Randolph to waive his trade-veto rights, which he was not prepared to do, and the Yankees, at Dallas Green's instigation, vigorously began pursuing Sax, who they eventually signed for three years and $4 million. 
Randolph batter .230 last season, the lowest average of his career. Injuries were primarily responsible. The Brewers and Oakland were two other teams in pursuit of him that off-season. In 1990 Randolph was traded to the A's where he made his last World Series in a losing effort against the Reds. A free agent again he signed with the Brewers in 91 and the Mets in 92. With no takers in 93 he retired and was named to a front-office. 
In 2005 he became manager of the Mets and in 06 lead the team to a 97-65 record an first place in the East. Sweeping the Dodgers they lost in seven games to the Cards. A slow start in 08 resulted in the infamous 3 AM phone call to Randolph in LA  that he was fired. He finished with a 302-253 record but in spite of that was fired and since then the Mets haven't finished above .500. 

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