"When he played, he played well, but he missed 58 games because of hamstring injuries. Randolph was disabled twice, from June 17 to June 27 and July 12 to August 16, and appeared in only three of 45 games during that troubled stretch.
In six of his nine years in the majors, he has been on a division title winner. Randolph set an AL record for chances by a second baseman (20) and tied the major league record (13) in a 19-inning game in 1976.
Randolph was born in Holly Hill, South Carolina but grew up in Brooklyn, where he played stickball on the streets of Canarsie. His brother Terry was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1977 and also played for the New York Jets. Willie was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who traded him to the Yankees along with Ken Brett and Dock Ellis for pitcher Dock Ellis prior to the 1976 season."
-Tracy Ringolsby, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1984 Edition
"In a world of tigers, it is difficult for a single stripe to stand out ... but don't ever believe that Willie Larry Randolph doesn't stand out as much as any high-priced star in baseball.
Baseball games are won by talent and heart. One is not quite enough. Randolph combines both, despite reports to the contrary. Yankee fans certainly realize Randolph's importance, and they groan quietly when they see headlines that blare 'Randolph Hurt Again.' But why? Simply speaking, Randolph gets hurt because his legs are his game and his desire is his driving force. He takes a pounding at second base turning double plays better than any major league second baseman. He is the leadoff man, the trigger, the igniter, the sparkplug and he must steal, set the table and run his heart out every time at bat ... and he always leads the teams in at-bats. Last year, healthy in September, he hit in 16 straight games, most by a Yankee.
He hurts himself because he tries too hard to help the team win, and many times, not quite 100 per cent, he limps into the starting lineup.
'I've heard the catty remarks,' this Brooklynite says, 'but what can I do? I'm proud to be a New Yorker and a Yankee. My family and friends come out to see me play. The fans deserve a player's best. I only wish- sometimes- that I was bigger and stronger, but this is the way I am. Hey, I've been treated well and I want to give something back. I firmly believe that first place belongs to the New York Yankees. I busted my butt in spring training- I'm tired of watching teams that couldn't hold our socks play on TV in October. I'm tired of being embarrassed. I'm selfish. I had a taste of winning. I want more.'
Willie Larry Randolph- a Yankee- with a lot of tiger in him."
-The New York Yankees Official 1984 Yearbook
"Hampered by injuries all season all season in 1983, Randolph played in the lowest number of games since joining the Yankees (including the strike season). He was disabled on June 27 with a hamstring and was activated on July 12; he played and re injured himself, going back onto the DL until August 5. He had his 1,000th hit as a Yankee on August 5 against Detroit. He also moved into third place on the all-time Yankee stolen base list (190). Willie began a hitting streak on September 6 that lasted 16 games, the longest of the year by a Yankee.
Willie has been on four All-Star teams in his eight full seasons. '79, '82 and '83 were the only years 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 Randolph 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, at that time 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. Willie's homer in Game 3 of the 1981 ALCS was the game winner to win the AL pennant and in 1982 he led the Yankees in games played (144), at-bats (553), runs scored (85), hits (155) and walks (75).
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."
-1984 New York Yankees Information Guide
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