Although he was born in South Carolina, Willie Randolph’s childhood was deeply rooted in New York City. This Yankees all-star infielder played 18 seasons and in 2004, he received “The Call” to become the first African-American manager for the N.Y. Mets. This was an extraordinary moment considering the Mets were the team he actually rooted for while playing sandlot ball as a kid in Brooklyn. In 1972, before his high school graduation, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was at Pirate City, the Pirates’ Spring Training complex in Florida, where he would catch a glimpse of “The Great One” taking batting practice. He never forgot that moment and although he didn’t meet Roberto Clemente, he enjoyed his brief career playing with the organization and playing alongside Clemente’s teammates. But before eventually becoming a World Series champion, he shared a heartfelt story about his mom and dad who provided unwavering support to their son and he even talked about a former Negro League player who made a huge impact in his playing career.

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