Bob Randall (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee Randall ais a former professional baseball
second baseman
. He played five seasons in Major League Baseball
from 1976 until 1980, all for the Minnesota Twins
.
Smith was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in three separate drafts: 1966
, 1968
, and finally the 2nd round in 1969
, after which he signed. For the next five and a half years, he worked his way through the Dodgers' farm system, never playing at the major league level. Then, he got his first break, being traded to the Twins in exchange for reserve outfielder Danny Walton
.
Randall's second, and even more important, break was the Twins' decision to move future Hall of Famer
Rod Carew
to first base, opening up second base for Randall, who beat out Jerry Terrell
for the job in spring training
. Randall capitalized on the opportunity, batting .267 in 153 games in 1976 while finishing 4th in the American League
in sacrifice hit
s.
That turned out to be the high mark of Randall's career. He spent the next two seasons splitting time at second base with Rob Wilfong
, losing the starting job to the lefty-hitting Wilfong entirely in 1979. The following spring, he was released by the Twins, but was resigned in May. He played in just five games in the majors in 1980, going 3-for-15, before being released, and Randall retired soon afterwards.
Following Randall's major league career, he turned to the college coaching ranks. He was head baseball coach at Iowa State University
from until 1995, and at the University of Kansas
from until 2002. He is currently the assistant baseball coach and a professor of economics at Manhattan Christian College
.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. He played five seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1976 until 1980, all for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
Smith was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in three separate drafts: 1966
1966 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1966 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :A January free agent amateur draft was added for the first time in 1966. Ninety-five prospects were selected in the regular phase and 102 in the secondary phase of the...
, 1968
1968 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1968 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Los Angeles Dodgers laid the groundwork for their championship clubs of the 1970s with an outstanding draft...
, and finally the 2nd round in 1969
1969 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Washington Senators tabbed slugging outfielder Jeff Burroughs of Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA as the nation's number one pick...
, after which he signed. For the next five and a half years, he worked his way through the Dodgers' farm system, never playing at the major league level. Then, he got his first break, being traded to the Twins in exchange for reserve outfielder Danny Walton
Danny Walton
Daniel James Walton is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the Houston Astros , Seattle Pilots , Milwaukee Brewers , New York Yankees , Minnesota Twins , Los Angeles Dodgers , Taiyo Whales , and Texas Rangers...
.
Randall's second, and even more important, break was the Twins' decision to move future Hall of Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Rod Carew
Rod Carew
Rodney Cline "Rod" Carew is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, second baseman and coach. He played from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels and was elected to the All-Star game every season except his last. In 1991, Carew was inducted into the National...
to first base, opening up second base for Randall, who beat out Jerry Terrell
Jerry Terrell
Jerry Wayne Terrell , is a Major League Baseball player. Terrell was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1968 Major League Baseball Draft and played infielder in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the Twins and Kansas City Royals, finishing his career with the 1980 World Series...
for the job in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. Randall capitalized on the opportunity, batting .267 in 153 games in 1976 while finishing 4th in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in sacrifice hit
Sacrifice hit
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice...
s.
That turned out to be the high mark of Randall's career. He spent the next two seasons splitting time at second base with Rob Wilfong
Rob Wilfong
Robert Donald Wilfong was a second baseman for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels and San Francisco Giants ....
, losing the starting job to the lefty-hitting Wilfong entirely in 1979. The following spring, he was released by the Twins, but was resigned in May. He played in just five games in the majors in 1980, going 3-for-15, before being released, and Randall retired soon afterwards.
Following Randall's major league career, he turned to the college coaching ranks. He was head baseball coach at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
from until 1995, and at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
from until 2002. He is currently the assistant baseball coach and a professor of economics at Manhattan Christian College
Manhattan Christian College
Manhattan Christian College is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, USA. Manhattan Christian College was founded in 1927 as Christian Workers University. The name was changed to Manhattan Bible College in 1930...
.