Joe Randa
Encyclopedia
Joseph Gregory Salvatore Randa (icon; born December 18, 1969 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
) is a former Major League Baseball
player. He was primarily a third baseman
during his career. His nickname
is "The Joker
" due to his resemblance to the comic book
character
in Batman
and his ever-present smile
, especially during his plate appearance
s. It was given to him by Tony Muser
, the Kansas City Royals
manager
during Randa's second tour with the ballclub. This had resulted from Muser having to constantly answer questions about why Randa was always smiling. "I'd tell them that's not a smile, it's his normal look," Muser explained.
in Wales
, Wisconsin
, lettering in football, basketball, baseball, and tennis. Randa's #12 was retired by the Lasers. He is also a member of the Kettle Moraine Laser Trailblazer Hall of Fame.
, playing in 34 games. He played the next three seasons as a competitive third baseman with three different teams, hitting .303, .302, and .254 for the Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates
, and Detroit Tigers
, respectively.
The Royals reacquired Randa prior to the season. Installed as a full-time third baseman
for the first time in his career, Randa hit .314 with 16 home run
s and 84 RBI
s, establishing himself as a run producer in the middle of the order and a steady fielder at third base. In 2003, Randa set the Kansas City Royals
' team record for the most consecutive errorless games by a third baseman, going 75 games without an error. After the season ended, Randa signed with the Cincinnati Reds
as a free agent. On Opening Day
, Randa hit the game winning home run in the bottom of the 9th for Cincinnati in a 7-6 victory. On July 23, , Randa was traded to the San Diego Padres
for pitchers Justin Germano
and Travis Chick
. He was then signed by the Pirates on December 28, 2005 for a one year contract worth between $3.5 and $4 million dollars. On November 2, , Randa announced his retirement. He batted .284/.339/.426 with 123 HRs and 739 RBIs in 1,522 games over 12 seasons.
Randa is one of only three players in Kansas City Royal history to collect six hits in a nine-inning game, which he did on September 9, in the first game of a doubleheader
against the Detroit Tigers
at Comerica Park
; he went 6-for-7 in a 26-5 Royal blowout win. Bob Oliver
had collected six hits in a (the franchise's inaugural season) game and Kevin Seitzer
in .
Randa made his first and only playoff appearance in 2005 with the Padres, hitting .364 in three games.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
) is a former 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...
player. He was primarily a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
during his career. His nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
is "The Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
" due to his resemblance to the comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
character
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and his ever-present smile
Smile
A smile is a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles near both ends of the mouth. The smile can also be found around the eyes . Among humans, it is an expression denoting pleasure, joy, happiness, or amusement, but can also be an involuntary expression of anxiety, in which case it is known...
, especially during his plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
s. It was given to him by Tony Muser
Tony Muser
Anthony Joseph Muser is currently a roving instructor in the San Diego Padres organization. From 1997 until 2002, Muser served as the manager of the Kansas City Royals...
, the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
during Randa's second tour with the ballclub. This had resulted from Muser having to constantly answer questions about why Randa was always smiling. "I'd tell them that's not a smile, it's his normal look," Muser explained.
High school years
Randa attended Kettle Moraine High SchoolKettle Moraine High School
Kettle Moraine High School is a secondary school located in Wales, Wisconsin. It serves students from Delafield, Dousman, Eagle, Genesee, North Prairie, Ottawa, Sullivan, Summit, and Wales. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. Kettle Moraine was...
in Wales
Wales, Wisconsin
Wales is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States, first settled by Welsh immigrants. The population was 2,523 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wales is located at ....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, lettering in football, basketball, baseball, and tennis. Randa's #12 was retired by the Lasers. He is also a member of the Kettle Moraine Laser Trailblazer Hall of Fame.
Pro career
Randa made his major league debut in with the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, playing in 34 games. He played the next three seasons as a competitive third baseman with three different teams, hitting .303, .302, and .254 for the Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, respectively.
The Royals reacquired Randa prior to the season. Installed as a full-time third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the first time in his career, Randa hit .314 with 16 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 84 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
s, establishing himself as a run producer in the middle of the order and a steady fielder at third base. In 2003, Randa set the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
' team record for the most consecutive errorless games by a third baseman, going 75 games without an error. After the season ended, Randa signed with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
as a free agent. On Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
, Randa hit the game winning home run in the bottom of the 9th for Cincinnati in a 7-6 victory. On July 23, , Randa was traded to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for pitchers Justin Germano
Justin Germano
Justin William Germano is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization.-Early life:...
and Travis Chick
Travis Chick
Travis Cole Chick is an American Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Career:Chick was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 14th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft...
. He was then signed by the Pirates on December 28, 2005 for a one year contract worth between $3.5 and $4 million dollars. On November 2, , Randa announced his retirement. He batted .284/.339/.426 with 123 HRs and 739 RBIs in 1,522 games over 12 seasons.
Randa is one of only three players in Kansas City Royal history to collect six hits in a nine-inning game, which he did on September 9, in the first game of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
at Comerica Park
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball's American League, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000....
; he went 6-for-7 in a 26-5 Royal blowout win. Bob Oliver
Bob Oliver
Robert Lee Oliver is a former first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees...
had collected six hits in a (the franchise's inaugural season) game and Kevin Seitzer
Kevin Seitzer
Kevin Lee Seitzer is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and Cleveland Indians.-Career:...
in .
Randa made his first and only playoff appearance in 2005 with the Padres, hitting .364 in three games.
External links
- http://www.royalsreview.com/story/2005/6/16/154522/080/ - Joe Randa's Royal Career Retrospective