Newberg Report: Swapping Stories: The Lenny Randle Trade of 1977

Newberg-Old Story…Lenny Randle.

Randle threatened to walk out of camp. Generally easygoing manager Frank Lucchesi was incensed. “It’s just too damn bad somebody stopped him from leaving,” he told a group of reporters. “I’m tired of these punks saying play me or trade me. Anyone who makes $80,000 a year and gripes and moans all spring is not going to get a tear out of me.”

Lucchesi insisted that the writers print what he said. They complied.

Randle was already upset about losing his job to an unproven rookie. Being called out like that by his skipper was more than he could take.

On March 28, 1977—the day that the new issue of Sports Illustrated featured Wills on the cover—Texas had traveled to Orlando for a spring training game against the Twins. An hour before the first pitch, Randle walked up to Lucchesi during Rangers batting practice and said he wanted to talk to the 49-year-old, who was still in street clothes. After a few words were exchanged, Randle punched Lucchesi in the face, landing several more blows as the manager fell to the ground.