Books and articles about Lenny Randle

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The acrobatic switch-hitter had played seven positions in five years with Texas when, in spring training of 1977, angry that the second base job was going to rookie Bump Wills, Randle punched out 49-year-old manager Frank Lucchesi. Randle said Lucchesi provoked him by calling him a "punk." The manager needed plastic surgery, and the usually good-natured Randle was suspended, fined, and shipped to New York; he led the Mets in six offensive categories that year. Back in the AL as a free agent, Randle got down on all fours to try to blow a slow roller foul in the Kingdome in 1981. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » March 28, 1977: The Rangers Lenny Randle, angry for having been benched during spring training, attacks 50-year-old manager Frank Lucchesi, sending him to the hospital with a shattered cheekbone. Lucchesi helped precipitate the incident by calling the good-natured Randle "a punk." Randle's days are numbered. » April 26, 1977: The Rangers trade Lenny Randle to the Mets for Rick Auerbach and cash. » June 28, 1979: The Pirates trade pitchers Ed Whitson, Al Holland, and Fred Breining to the Giants for P Dave Roberts and infielders Bill Madlock and Lenny Randle. Madlock, whose average dropped after the Giants moved him to 2B, will rebound with the Bucs. » August 3, 1979: The Yankees purchase Lenny Randle from the Pirates and bring up C Brad Gulden and Bobby Brown from Columbus. » May 2, 1980: Paced by Lenny Randle's double and homer in the inning, the Cubs score eight runs in the 12th to beat the Reds, 12–4. Bruce Sutter picks up the easy win over Tom Hume. » May 27, 1981: With Kansas City ahead 7–4 over the Mariners, Amos Otis taps a dribbler down the 3B line in the 6th inning. Mariner 3B Lenny Randle gets down on all fours as the ball rolls along the line, finally going foul. Royals manager Whitey Herzog protests that Randle was blowing the ball foul, while the third baseman argues he was merely pleading with it. Ump Larry McCoy rules in favor of Herzog and Otis gets a hit. Otis doesn't score but the Royals win, 8–5.