1977 Topps Baseball #578 - Bob Randall

• Bob Randall was drafted by the LA Dodgers in 1969. Randall played in the Dodgers system from 1969-1975 without being called up to the majors. He batted .338 for AAA Albuquerque in 1974, but he wasn't going to beat out Davey Lopes at second base.
• After the 1975 season Bob was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Danny Walton.
• Randall won the starting second base job in the 1976 season when the Twins moved Rod Carew to first base. Bob batted .267 in 153 games, but he had very little power (.328 slugging percentage).
• In 1977 Bob split time at second base with Rob Wilfong and a few other players. Randall batted .239 in 103 games.
• Randall was the starting second baseman for about 2/3 of the time in 1978 and had his best offensive season, batting .270 in 119 games.
• Bob was a utility man in 1979. Randall batted .246 in 80 games.
• Randall was cut at the end of spring training in 1980. He was a player-coach for AAA Toledo for most of the season (.219 in 52 games). The Twins needed some help in the infield and called up Randall for a couple of weeks in May. Bob batted .200 (3 for 15) in five games for the Twins in 1980.
• Bob was the coach at Iowa State University from 1985 to 1995 and at the University of Kansas from 1996 to 2002. Randall is now the assistant baseball coach and professor of economics at Manhattan Christian College.
• 1977 Stats: .239, 0 HR, 22 RBI in 103 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• May 10 - Hit a 2-run double in the 6th inning to break a 4-4 tie, helping the Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 7-5.
• Aug 18 - Tripled in two runs in the 4th inning of Minnesota's 8-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners
• Other card blogs: 1979, 1980