Lenny Randle, a former infielder for the Texas Rangers, has passed away.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Seattle Mariners, his former team, honored Lenny Randle’s memory with posts on X Monday night. He was 75 years old.
Arizona State alumnus Lenny Randle enjoyed a remarkable 12-year career in Major League Baseball. He began with the Washington Senators, a team that transitioned into the Texas Rangers during his second season. Over six seasons with the franchise, Randle maintained a .253 batting average, hit 11 home runs, and recorded 192 RBIs in 608 games.
Randle went on to have short tenures with the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Chicago Cubs before finishing his career with the Seattle Mariners. He retired from Major League Baseball in 1982.
Randle is perhaps best remembered for a few notorious moments on the field.
In a May 1974 game against the Cleveland Indians, pitcher Milt Wilcox threw a pitch behind Randle. On the following pitch, Randle bunted the ball toward first base, forcing Wilcox to field it. Seizing the moment, Randle retaliated by colliding into Wilcox.
Fans also recall Randle’s unusual move during a 1981 game against the Kansas City Royals as a member of the Mariners, where he got on his knees and blew a ground ball into foul territory.
A year after retiring from MLB, Randle relocated to Italy, becoming the first American to play in the country’s professional baseball league. Transitioning from a soft-hitting infielder in the U.S., he transformed into a legendary power hitter in Italy.