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When the New York Mets take the field at Shea Stadium this afternoon for Game One of the National League Divisional Series, a seasoned veteran of the basketball postseason will lead them.
In his second season as manager, Willie Larry Randolph led the Mets to their first playoff appearance in six years and first NL East championship since 1988. Yet for the 52-year-old Holly Hill-born Randolph, the postseason is familiar territory as he played in 47 postseason games during an 18-year Major League Baseball career in which he won two World Series titles with the New York Yankees in 1977 and 1978.
After ironically retiring as a New York Met, Randolph returned to the Bronx where after one season as an assistant general manager, he spent the next 11 seasons as a third base coach and bench coach for the Yankees. During that span, Randolph earned four more World Series rings in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Years of waiting for the right opportunity finally paid off on Nov. 4, 2004 when Randolph became the first African-American manager of a Major League Baseball team in New York. During his two seasons in Queens, Randolph has led the Mets to 170 victories and last season was the third rookie manager since 1984 to post a winning season with a team which finished at least 20 games under .500 the previous season.
Randolph now looks to lead the Mets to their first World Series title in 20 years and join Cito Gaston as the only African-American managers to lead teams to a championship. As the Mets closed out the regular season last week, Randolph took time to talk about the postseason, his career and helping others.
Q. You've been a part of 12 divisional championships as a player, assistant coach and now a manager. Is it more significant personally to be a part of a divisional champion as a manager?
RANDOLPH -- "It’s more significant to be a manager ... a leader of a team. Everyone looks to you for guidance."
Q. Why was managing the New York Mets a perfect fit for you, and did playing there (in 1991) make it an easier transition for you?
RANDOLPH -- "I’m a native New Yorker. I grew up rooting for the 1969 Mets. I know what New York is all about and I know what the media expects. This is the perfect place for me."
Q. The Mets have not played in the playoffs since 2000? How much do you think the players will look toward you for your playoff experience?
RANDOLPH -- "My guys know that I have been through the postseason and I think they know that I’ll be there to help them through it."
Q. I remember (in a T&D interview nine years ago) when you talked about being inspired by Jackie Robinson and why you were hopeful that baseball would continue its progress in minority hiring. Nine years later, has baseball made significant progress in that area?
RANDOLPH -- "I think major league baseball has made significant strides, but there is still a long way to go. We have to increase ways to get African-Americans involved in the game of baseball and then hopefully it will open up a path to become a manager."
Q. You've won world championships with a team considered the most unified in baseball history (the 1998 New York Yankees) and another considered one of the most dysfunctional (The 1977-78 New York Yankees)? How have those experiences helped you in molding team chemistry with this year's team?
RANDOLPH -- "As I said before, I know that teams I’ve been a part of have had success in the postseason. I’m just trying to impart of some that on this year’s team."
Q. How big of a role did your parents (Randy and Minnie Randolph of Holly Hill) play in your involvement in baseball and what's the best advice they ever gave you
RANDOLPH -- "My Mom and Dad mean everything to me. They really wanted me to go to college, but they let me give pro ball a chance, and thankfully I was able to make a nice career for myself."
Q. With all the talk about the rapid decline of African-American participation in baseball, what will it take for interest to increase once again?
RANDOLPH -- I started a foundation that helps New York urban youngsters get introduced to playing baseball, instead of other sports.