Willie Randolph

Teams Willie Randolph Managed

Where does Willie Randolph rank among baseball greats?

Willie Randolph ranks among the Top 50 all-time at 2B. Rankings

Where He Played
Second base

As a Manager
When Randolph's Mets blew a seven-game N.L. East lead in the last ten days of the 2007 season, his fate as their manager was sealed. In May of 2008, with his club looking up at the Phillies in the standings, Randolph was on shaky ground and reports swirled that he would be replaced. He received a lukewarm vote of confidence from GM Omar Minaya, but by June, Randolph was on the hot seat again. With the Mets under .500 and in fourth place, Minaya fired Randolph on June 17 with the team in Anaheim. His .544 winning percentage ranked second on the Mets' all-time list, trailing only Davey Johnson. Reports were that Randolph's laid-back style, both a result of his quite personality and his years learning at the side of Joe Torre, were unacceptable to the Mets front office, who wanted things shaken up when the team played poorly.

Born
Willie Larry Randolph was born on July 6, 1954, in Holly Hill, SC.

Batted:  Right
Threw:  Right

Major League Debut
7 29,1975

Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1975
Willie Randolph
Jack Clark
Chet Lemon
Craig Reynolds
Dennis Eckersley
Roy Smalley
Ron Guidry
Donnie Moore
Lyman Bostock

Post-Season Appearances
1975 National League Championship Series
1976 American League Championship Series
1976 World Series
1977 American League Championship Series
1977 World Series
1980 American League Championship Series
1981 American League Division Playoffs
1981 American League Championship Series
1981 World Series
1990 American League Championship Series
1990 World Series

All-Star Selections
1976 AL
1977 AL
1980 AL
1981 AL
1987 AL
1989 NL

Best Strength as a Player
Randolph, even at an early age, had a great knowledge of the strike zone. He was also a high-percentage basestealer.

Largest Weakness as a Player
Of course, he had very little power, but in Yankee Stadium on the teams he played for, that didn't matter too much. According to some contemporary reports, Randolph was below average on the pivot from second.