Randle was on the bench for 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 brawl, in retaliation for a pitch being thrown behind him; was at second base during the Ten Cent Beer Night riot at Cleveland later that season; was in the batter’s box to face the Chicago Cubs' Ray Burris when power went out at Shea Stadium during the blackout on July 13, 1977; was the Yankees' roster replacement for Thurman Munson following the catcher's death in August 1979; and famously got on his hands and knees to blow Amos Otis' bunt foul on May 27, 1981, which plate umpire Larry McCoy decided was against the rules and ruled a hit.
Lenny Randle, major leaguer repeatedly in spotlight for 12 seasons, dies at 75 Lenny Randle, a big league player for 12 seasons who spoke five languages, performed standup comedy, was dubbed “The Most Interesting Man in Baseball” and was suspended for punching his Texas Rangers manager, has died.
He hit .257 with 27 homers, 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 known more for a series of moments rather than his on-field accomplishments and was dubbed “The Most Interesting Man in Baseball” by Rolling Stone magazine, a title used for an MLB Network documentary in 2015.
Randle died Sunday at his home in Murrieta, California, one of his sons, Bradley, said Tuesday.
