Baseball’s “Most Interesting” MLBbro: Remembering Lenny Randle

by Anthony McClean | Jan 2, 2025 | THE LEAD OFF

As the baseball world continues to mourn the loss of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, another notable MLBbro has left us. On New Year’s Day, several news outlets have confirmed that Lenny Randle has passed away at the age of 75. 

According to The Daily Mail, one of Randle’s sons, Bradley, revealed on New Year’s Eve that he passed in the presence of his California home on Sunday. However, Bradley also reported that his father’s wife, Linda, asked that they not disclose the cause of death publicly.

While those in the sport did not consider Randle a “Hall of Famer.”, the 12-year veteran had one of the most colorful careers – on and off the field – in baseball. In a baseball story that has stretched from California to Italy, Randle more than lived up to his unofficial moniker of being “The Most Interesting Man in Baseball”

Originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th round of the 1967 amateur draft, he chose to attend Arizona State University to play under Bobby Winkles. Randle also played football for the Sun Devils, primarily as a kickoff and punt-return specialist.

However, it was the diamond where he made his biggest impact at ASU. Playing shortstop and second base, Randle helped the Sun Devils win the 1969 College World Series. Following his career-high .335 batting average a year later, the Washington Senators selected Randle 10th overall in the secondary phase of the 1970 amateur draft 

Randle made his debut for the Senators on June 16, 1971. He got his first hit when he beat out an infield single against Vida Blue. He was on the bench for the Senators’ last game in 1971 when fans invaded the field.

The franchise would relocate to Arlington, Texas in 1972 and Randle would thrive while playing for the Texas Rangers. Randle played in an average of 143 games per year over a period from 1974 through 1976.

Though principally an infielder, Randle also was a valuable insertion into the outfield, starting 60 games there in 1975, mostly as the center fielder, recording eight assists and four double plays from that position. In that same year, he caught six innings. 

However, things would change in the spring of 1977. Randle’s tenure with the Rangers ended when he punched manager Frank Lucchesi on March 28, 1977. Randle had lost his second base job to Bump Wills during spring training and asked to be traded if he wasn’t going to play regularly. 

Lucchesi told the media he was tired of “$80,000‐a‐year punks” complaining. Randle punched Lucchesi three times before a spring training game against Minnesota, and the manager sustained a triple fracture of his right cheekbone and needed plastic surgery. 

Randle said he approached Lucchesi along the third base line to talk to him and Lucchesi told him: “What do you got to say, punk?” Texas suspended Randle for 30 days, fined him $10,000 and withheld $13,407.90 of his $80,000 salary.

On April 26, the New York Mets acquired Randle in a trade for a player to be named later, who was eventually revealed to be second baseman Rick Auerbach.. Randle agreed to a five-year contract with the Mets and briefly held out during spring training in 1978 in hope of a restructured deal.

The Mets released him in March 1979 and signed in May with the Giants.   Following 1 1/2 months at Triple-A, Pittsburgh acquired Randle in a trade. The Yankees purchased his contract that August.

Ironically, he was‌ the Yankees’ roster replacement for Thurman Munson following the catcher’s death in August 1979. Let go by New York after the season, Randle finished his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs (1980) and Seattle Mariners (1981-82).

His memorable moments, rather than his on-field accomplishments, brought him fame, and Rolling Stone magazine dubbed him “The Most Interesting Man in Baseball,” a title used for an MLB Network documentary in 2015.

While with Texas in 1974, Randle bunted to the right side to collide with Cleveland pitcher Milt Wilcox and spared a brawl, in retaliation for a pitch being thrown behind him; was at second base during the Ten Cent Beer Night riot at Cleveland later that season; was in the batter’s box to face the Chicago Cubs’ Ray Burris when power went out at Shea Stadium during the blackout on July 13, 1977; and famously got on his hands and knees to blow Amos Otis’ slow roller foul on May 27, 1981, which plate umpire Larry McCoy decided was against the rules and ruled a hit.

After his release by the Mariners, Randle became the first American to play in the Italian baseball league, with Nettuno in 1983. He kept a home in Anzio. “Playing baseball in Italy was like finding the fountain of youth,” Randle said in 1995, when he attempted an MLB comeback with the California Angels. 

“Guys go over there and learn how to relax and enjoy the game. It’s easy, because there’s no stress.” Randle served as an unofficial ambassador for the sport while serving overseas. In his role as a youth baseball coach, Randle distributed T-shirts that read: “Don’t Blow It, Go to College” alluding to his infamous ball blowing incident.

During his MLB career, Randle hit .257 for his career. He was never much of a power threat and only connected on 27 home runs. The switch-hitter picked up 145 doubles and 40 triples while stealing 156 bases. He collected just over 1000 hits and scored nearly 500 runs. 

In 1980, the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame inducted Randle for his contributions to football and baseball. The citation mentioned his major-league career, and noted that as a return specialist, he scored six touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns. 

As a retired player, Randle also learned to speak five languages, performed at stand-up clubs after games and released a funk song “Kingdome” with his group, Lenny Randle & the Ballplayers.

Few players of his time were at the center of attention as frequently as Lenny. Rest in Peace.