Compton Honors Lenny Randle

January 16, 2025 City Pride Magazine

The City of Compton has lost an absolute legend. Lenny Randle passed away on Sunday, December 29th, at his home in Murrieta, CA. He was 75 years old. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family for comfort and strength during this difficult time.

In February 2024, Lenny Randle was honored at the Black History Month Lifetime of Excellence Awards in his hometown of Compton at the Crystal Hotel Ballroom. He joined other notable community figures who have made significant contributions.

Lenny was full of excitement and energy as he accepted this honor. Former Compton Mayor Omar Bradley presented the award and spoke about Lenny’s incredible accomplishments, having known him for most of his life. Lenny is considered a hero in Compton for his contributions as a sports star, and he was affectionately dubbed the “Most Interesting Man in Baseball.”

Former Carson Mayor Albert Robles and Former Compton Mayor Omar Bradley stand with Lenny as he was honored at the Black History Month Lifetime of Excellence Awards in Compton

The community remains proud of Lenny for his baseball career and dedication to supporting young people. Lenny’s inspirational presence and enthusiasm energized the entire crowd during the awards night. He brought youthful joy and fun to the event, making it a memorable night for everyone in attendance and celebrating outstanding achievers like Stevie Wonder, Don Buford, Doug Takaragawa, Kelvin Filer, Ricky Lewis, Mustafa Khan, and Mollie Bell.

Lenny Randle dedicated much of his time to working with youth worldwide. His efforts spanned from Compton and Los Angeles to San Bernardino, Las Vegas, Florida, and even as far as Italy and Korea, where he traveled as a baseball ambassador, teaching the game and spreading goodwill.

The MLB Network produced a TV special about Lenny Randle, showcasing him as a gifted switch-hitting infielder-outfielder, and they referred to him as “The Most Interesting Man in Baseball.” Over his 12-year career, Lenny learned to speak five languages, wrote and published a hip-hop song, performed as a stand-up comic for free food, contributed to the popularity of baseball in Italy, and operated baseball academies in various locations.

Leonard Randle was born in Long Beach, California, and raised in Compton. He began acting and dancing at the age of 10 at El Segundo Elementary (now Ronald McNair Elementary School). At Centennial High School in Compton, he excelled as a multi-sport athlete and broadcaster, serving as captain of the baseball and football teams. He was an outstanding running back, sharing the backfield with Mickey Cureton.

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Lenny Randle in the 10th round of the 1967 amateur draft, but he opted to attend Arizona State University to develop his baseball skills further. Despite his slender build, Randle also played football as a wide receiver at ASU, where he was known for his speed as a kickoff and punt-return specialist.

Randle’s impact on the ASU baseball team was significant. He batted .298 as the starting shortstop in 1968, .225 at second base in 1969, and .335 at second base in 1970. His college baseball highlight came during the 1969 season when the Sun Devils won the College World Series. In 1980, Randle was inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions to both football and baseball. His citation highlighted that he scored six touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns as a football return specialist.

The Washington Senators drafted Randle in the first round of the 1970 amateur draft. Over his career, he played in 1,137 games for six teams, with standout performances in 1974 and 1977, hitting .302 and .304, respectively. Randle was a talented, durable athlete with positional flexibility; he averaged 143 games per year over five years from 1974 to 1979 and never played below Triple-A in the minor leagues. Although Randle played for six major league teams, he was primarily associated with only one franchise from 1970 until April 26, 1977: the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers. In ’77, after a confrontation with his manager, he was traded to the New York Mets, where he enjoyed his best season. However, his batting average dropped in 1978, and he was released by the Mets in 1979, finishing his career with the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners.

Randle continued to promote and conduct baseball clinics, frequently traveling to Italy to seek the country’s first superstar major league ballplayer. He sometimes collaborated with his sister, Dr. Theresa Randle-Price, at the National College Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps students discover and apply for college scholarships. (pictured below)

Lenny Randle will be remembered by all who knew him and those who knew of him. He was fun to be around and a fascinating and entertaining personality. This photographer captured Lenny’s fun-loving spirit as he filled Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, City Council members Lillie Darden, and Deidra Duhart with fun and laughter at the opening ceremonies of Jackie Robinson Stadium in 2023 at Gonzales Park in Compton. (pictured below) He had them “drop it like it’s hot” on the baseball field, proving he could quickly get people to join in on his sometimes wild antics. Gonzales Park is where Lenny got his start in baseball. Many great baseball players began their careers at what was then called Cressy Park.

Lenny is a model for all young people in sports and academics and is a credit to the great city of Compton. Lenny is survived by his wife Linda, his three sons, and many relatives and friends. Public memorial services have not been announced at this time.