MURRIETA, Calif. (AP) — Lenny Randle, a major league player for 12 seasons who spoke five languages, performed stand-up comedy, was dubbed “The Most Interesting Man in Baseball” and was suspended for punching his Texas Rangers manager, has died. . He was 75 years old.
Randle died Sunday at his home in Murrieta, California, one of his sons, Bradley, said Tuesday. Bradley said Randle’s wife, Linda, asked that the cause of death not be publicly revealed.
Randle helped win the 1969 College World Series with Arizona State, where he also played football. He was selected 10th overall by Washington in the secondary phase of the 1970 amateur draft and made his debut with the Senators on June 16, 1971. He got his first hit when he hit an infield single against Vida Blue.
Randle hit .257 with 27 home runs, 322 RBIs and 156 stolen bases for the Senators/Rangers (1971-76), New York Mets (1977-78), New York Yankees (1979), Chicago Cubs (1980) and Seattle Mariners (1981-82).
But he was better known for a series of memorable moments than for his on-field accomplishments, and Rolling Stone magazine dubbed him “The Most Interesting Man in Baseball,” a title used for an MLB Network documentary in 2015.
Randle was on the sideline during the Senators’ last game in 1971 when fans invaded the field; bunted to the right side to collide with Cleveland pitcher Milt Wilcox in 1974 and spark a fight, in retaliation for a pitch behind him; was at second base during the Ten Cent Beer Night riot in Cleveland later that season; was in the batter’s box to face Ray Burris of the Chicago Cubs when the power went out at Shea Stadium during the blackout on July 13, 1977; was the Yankees’ roster replacement for Thurman Munson after the catcher’s death in August 1979; and famous He got down on his knees to commit Amos Otis’ slow roller foul on May 27, 1981.which plate umpire Larry McCoy decided was against the rules and ruled a hit.
“I yelled at the lack of ball. I didn’t waste it,” Randle told MLB Network in January 2024, saying he kept repeating: “It’s necessary.”
In his role as a youth baseball coach, Randle distributed T-shirts that read, “Don’t screw it up, go to college.”
Randle’s tenure with the Rangers ended when he hit manager Frank Lucchesi on March 28, 1977. Randle had lost his job at second base to Bump Wills during spring training and asked to be traded if he was not going to play regularly. Lucchesi told the media he was tired of “punks who make $80,000 a year” complaining.
Randle hit Lucchesi three times before a spring training game against Minnesota, and the manager suffered a triple fracture to his right cheekbone and required plastic surgery. Randle said he approached Lucchesi along the third base line to talk to him and Lucchesi said, “What do you have to say, punk?”
“All I wanted to do was talk to him.” Randle then said. “I never thought it would come to this, but I guess these things happen sometimes in life.”
Randle issued a public apology. Orange County charged him with felony aggravated assault, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault, and was fined $1,050. In 1978, he resolved a civil lawsuit filed by Lucchesi.
Randle was traded to the Mets on April 26 to name a player, who turned out to be second baseman Rick Auerbach. Randle agreed to a five-year contract with the Mets and stayed on briefly through spring training in 1978 in hopes of a restructured deal.
The Mets released him in March 1979 and he signed with the Giants in May. After spending a month and a half in Triple-A, Randle was traded to Pittsburgh. His contract was purchased by the Yankees in August of that year.
After his release by the Mariners, Randle became the first American to play in the Italian baseball league, with Nettuno in 1983. He had a home in Anzio.
“Playing baseball in Italy was like finding the fountain of youth,” Randle said in 1995, when he tried to return to MLB with the California Angels. “The guys go there and learn to relax and enjoy the game. It’s easy because there is no stress.”
Randle performed in stand-up clubs after the games and released a funk song. “Kingdom” by Lenny Randle and the baseball players.
He is survived by his wife, the former Linda Bradley; three sons, Bradley, Kumasi and Ahmad; and three grandchildren. A celebration of life is planned.