"Randolph fell off with the bat last season but was again among the Yanks' top base stealing threats. His best season was 1980 when he led the AL in walks and finished second to MVP George Brett in on-base percentage with .429.
He's solid defensively and the latest in a long line of All-Star caliber Yank second basemen that includes Tony Lazzeri, Joe Gordon and Bobby Richardson. Randolph came over from the Pirates in a 1975 deal that ranks as one of the Yanks' best. He was just a minor league prospect then and they gave up pitcher Doc Medich. He's the ideal leadoff man and hopes one day to steal 50 bases. The Yanks would like that, too.
Born in Holly Hill, South Carolina, Willie earned a new lease on life with Yankee boss George Steinbrenner for his World Series play in 1981 with a double, a triple and two homers."
-Bill Madden, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1982 Edition
"The Yankees' rise to the top of the baseball charts is not due to the presence of one man, but it can be said that is partially due to the distinct aura created by the number one man. The man who leads off in the batting order, the numero uno hitter, the man expected to get on base and let the big guys drive him in. For the past few seasons, the Yankees have been fortunate enough to have someone named Willie Randolph at that position.
Willie came to the Yankees via an off-season trade with the Pirates in 1975. Almost immediately, his potential shone through as he won a berth on the AL All-Star team in 1976. In his second season in pinstripes, Willie hit a personal high of 28 doubles and helped the Bronx Bombers to their first World Championship in 15 long years. In the '78 season, Willie hiked his average to .278, stole 36 bases and collected 85 walks. Willie made '79 a banner year by driving in a career high 61 runs with 155 hits and 95 bases on balls. The next season, his finest as a Yankee, he again made the All-Star team, hit .294 during the regular season and collected a league leading 119 walks. Last year, number 30 made it four All-Star berths in just six seasons and finished the season among the league leaders in runs scored, walks and stolen bases.
With the Yankees emphasizing speed more and more in 1982, Willie hopes to jump on the runaway bandwagon along with teammates Griffey, Collins, Winfield and Mumphrey."
-The New York Yankees Official 1982 Yearbook
"Randolph finished eighth in the AL in runs, ninth in walks and 15th in stolen bases in 1981. He missed eight games in August with a groin pull and missed several more in late September with the same injury. Randolph stole 14 bases, moving into the sixth spot on the all-time Yankee list past Rizzuto (149), Clarke (151) and Mantle (153) with 162. He was voted to the starting lineup of the All-Star team and his solo home run in Game 3 of the ALCS was the game winner to win the AL pennant.
Willie has been on four All-Star teams in his six seasons. He and Dent have teamed together now for five full years. 1979 was the only year a team he played on failed to qualify for postseason play.
He was leading the International League in hitting when he was called up in 1975 to the Pirates. Willie was named the James P. Dawson Award winner as the top rookie in the 1976 Yankee camp and was on the All-Star ballot as a rookie. He was named to the Topps All-Rookie team in 1976, though he was hampered by a right shoulder injury and an injury to the outside of the right knee that required minor surgery. In 1977, Willie was named to the AP, UPI and Sporting News All-Star teams.
Willie had a five-RBI game against Boston on September 7, 1978 and despite a bruised left knee and a pulled left hamstring, still made the AP and UPI All-Star teams. The hamstring kept him out of postseason play. In 1979, his 13 triples were third in the AL and the most by a Yankee since Henrich's 14 in 1948. He committed only 13 errors and his .985 percentage was just .003 behind league leader Duane Kuiper.
In 1980 Willie had his best season ever as the Yankee leadoff hitter. He led the AL in walks with 119, the most by a Yankee since Mantle's 122 in 1962. He had a 13-game hitting streak in May, the longest of his career, and was named to the UPI and Sporting News All-Star teams and won the Sporting News Silver Bat award for AL second basemen.
Although born in South Carolina, Willie's family moved to the Brownsville section of Brooklyn when he was an infant. He played stickball in the streets and fields of Canarsie and baseball at Tilden High School. Willie has three brothers and a sister. His brother Terry was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1977 and also played for the Jets."
-1982 New York Yankees Media Guide
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