Born in Holly Hill, SC in 1954, Willie Larry Randolph was raised in New York City. After graduating from high school, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1972 and played in the team’s minor league system. A year after being called up to the major league team, he was traded to the Yankees in 1975. He immediately became starting second baseman where he played that position in more games than other player in Yankees’ history.

In his 13 years as second baseman for the Yankees, the team was in the playoffs five times and won World Championships twice. A team captain, he had his best year as a Yankee in 1987 when he hit .305 with 67 RBI and 96 runs scored. Randolph ranks among the all-time Yankee leaders in games played (1,694), runs (1,027), hits (1,731) and stolen bases (251).

In his 18-year career as a player, Randolph appeared in 47 playoff games in 17 years. He was named to All-Star Teams six times. He was a career .276 hitter with 316 doubles, 54 home runs, 687 RBI and 1,239 runs scored. He frequently led the League in putouts, double plays and assists.

During the 1993 season, Willie Randolph served as Assistant General Manager of the Yankees. As a coach of the Yankees from 1994 to 2004, his team qualified for the playoffs for ten straight years (1995 – 2004). The Yankees won World Championships in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Beginning with the 2005 season, Randolph was named Manager of the New York Mets. In his first year, the Mets achieved an 83 – 79 won/lost record, the first time the franchise has finished over .500 since 2001.

In 2006, the Mets attained the National League East Division Championship winning 97 games, a record that was the best in the National League. After leading his team to its first Division title since 1988, Willie Randolph finished second in balloting for the 2006 National League Manager of the Year Award.

Chronological Bio     Willie Larry Randolph was named the 18th manager of the New York Mets on November 4, 2004. Compiled an 83-79 record in his first year as a manager. The last two rookie managers to finish with a winning record after inheriting a team that was at least 20 games below .500 the previous year were Mike Scioscia (2000) and Davey Johnson (1984) - each went on to win the World Series two years later...The Mets were 71-91 in 2004. Became the first manager in major league history to lose the first five or more games of his career and then immediately follow that with a winning streak to get back to or above .500. Was a coach with the New York Yankees for 11 years from 1994-2004...For the first 10 years, he was the Yankees' third base coach and was the bench coach for manager Joe Torre in 2004. Was an Assistant General Manager with the Yankees in 1993. His 18-year major league career came to a close when he played in 90 games for the Mets in 1992. Is the ninth manager in franchise history who also played with the Mets...The others are: Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra, Roy McMillan, Joe Torre, Bud Harrelson, Mike Cubbage, Dallas Green and Bobby Valentine. Along with Ron Guidry, he was named the Yankee co-captain on March 4, 1986. Played more games at second base (1,688) than any other player in Yankees' history...Also, has played the sixth most career major league games at second base (2,152) and turned the third most double plays in baseball history (1,547) among second basemen. Ranks among All-Time Yankee leaders in games (1,694), at-bats (6,303), runs (1,027), hits (1,731), doubles (249), triples (58) and stolen bases (251). Has 17 years of playoff experience...As a player, he went to the post-season in 1975 with the Pirates; 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1981 with the Yankees and in 1990 with Oakland...Also was part of the Bronx Bombers coaching staff that qualified for the playoffs 10 straight years (1995-2004). Won two World Championships as a player (1977 and 1978) and four more as a coach (1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000). Established a World Series record for walks in a six-game series with nine base-on-balls in 1981...Never committed an error in 46 career post-season games (209 total chances) at second base. Appeared in 47 post-season games during his career. Was a career .276 hitter with 316 doubles, 54 home runs, 687 RBI and 1,239 runs in his career with the Pirates, Yankees, Dodgers, A's, Brewers and Mets. In 1989, Willie was named the Dodgers' Most Valuable Player by the Anaheim Chapter of the BBWAA. Had his best year in 1987, when he hit .305 with 67 RBI and 96 runs scored for the Yankees. Compiled a career-best .327 batting average in 1991 with Milwaukee, finishing third in the American League batting race. Led AL second basemen in putouts (355), assists (478) and double plays (128) in 1979 and led the AL in walks (119) in 1980. In 1976, he became the first rookie to be placed on the All-Star ballot. Hit .286 in five All-Star appearances...Named to the American League team in 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981 and 1987 and the National League squad in 1989. Established an All-Star Game record for most assists (six) by a second baseman in a nine-inning game in 1977. In addition, Randolph has been part of the American League coaching squad for All-Star Games in 1995, 1997, 1999-2002. Traded to the Yankees with Ken Brett and Dock Ellis from Pittsburgh for Doc Medich on December 11, 1975. Traded to the Oakland A's for Stan Javier on May 13, 1990. Invited to spring training as a non-roster player by the Milwaukee Brewers on February 18, 1991. Signed as a free agent by the Mets on December 20, 1991. Was born in Holly Hill, SC but his family moved to the Brownsville section of Brooklyn when he was a child. Graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn before Pittsburgh selected him in the seventh round of the 1972 amateur draft. His brother Terry was the 11th round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1977 and also played for the New York Jets. Honored by the March of Dimes on November 30, 2005...Received the Sportsman of the Year award. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz declared Willie Randolph Day in Brooklyn on June 9, 2005. Received the Leadership Award from 100 Black Men at its 26th Annual Benefit Gala on November 10, 2005 at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan.         Reprinted with permission from the New York Mets Web Site: www.newyork.mets.mlb.com