Former Rangers player Lenny Randle dies – dead at 75

The Arizona State alum had a memorable 12-year MLB career. He started his journey with the then-Washington Senators, who became the Texas Rangers during Randle’s second campaign. He spent six seasons with the franchise and had a batting average of .253 with 11 home runs and 192 RBIs across 608 games.

Randle then had brief stints with the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Chicago Cubs before closing out his career with the Seattle Mariners. He retired from MLB in 1982.

Randle is perhaps most know for a few infamous moments on the field.

During a May 1974 game against the Cleveland Indians, opposing pitcher Milt Wilcox threw a pitch behind Randle. On the very next pitch, Randle laid down a bunt toward first base so that Wilcox was forced to field it. Randle used the opportunity to ram into Wilcox in retaliation.

Fans also remember Randle for getting on his knees and blowing a grounder into foul territory as a member of the Mariners in a 1981 game against the Kansas City Royals.

A year after his final MLB season, Randle moved to Italy and became the first American to play in the the European nation’s professional league. Randle went from soft-hitting infielder in the United States to a legendary power batter in Italy.