William Randall (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William Randall |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: August 5, 1915 Phoebus, Virginia |
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| Died: February 13, 2013 (aged 97) Columbia, Maryland |
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| debut | |||
| 1942, for the Homestead Grays | |||
| Negro leagues statistics | |||
| Batting average | .500 | ||
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William Talton "Sonny" Randall (born August 5, 1915 – died February 13, 2013) was an American baseball player. He played during the 1940s. Back then, Black baseball players were not allowed to play in Major League Baseball. They also could not play in any of its smaller leagues.
Randall was born in Phoebus, Virginia, in 1915. In the early 1920s, his family moved to Washington, D.C. He left school to help his family during the Great Depression.
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Sonny Randall's Early Baseball Days
During the 1930s, Sonny Randall played on local baseball teams. These were called sandlot and semi-pro teams. Some of these teams were the Washington Indians, Black Sox, and Aztecs.
Playing for the "Blue Jackets"
During World War II, Randall played for the U.S. Navy's baseball team. This team was called the "Blue Jackets." They were based at the Great Lakes Training Center.
Playing with the Homestead Grays
When he returned home, Randall sometimes played for the Washington Homestead Grays. This team was part of the Negro leagues. However, Randall did not want to travel a lot. Traveling was very common and often difficult for players in the Negro leagues. Because of this, he mostly played for the Grays during their home games.
Facing Challenges on the Road
Even when he traveled with semi-pro teams, Randall faced problems. He experienced racial discrimination and mean comments from fans. Teams and even towns were separated by race back then.
- Players could not eat in many restaurants. These places were only for white people.
- There were no hotels for Black players.
- Players often had to change into their uniforms on the bus or even in the woods.
Randall remembered a time when his Navy team played a white team. A player from the white team used a hurtful racial word. The two teams almost got into a fight. The Navy coach, who was white, talked to both sides. When they played again, the problem was solved.
Randall's Career Outside of Baseball
While playing baseball, Sonny Randall also worked for the government. He worked for the Navy and later for NASA for 31 years.
After he retired from government work, Randall became a driver. He drove for several U.S. Senators. These included Milton Young, Howard Baker, and Ted Stevens. He also drove for law firms in Washington, D.C. Randall finally retired for good in 2001. He had worked for more than 70 years!
Randall lived for a long time in Temple Hills, Maryland. He lived there with his wife, Ann Turner Randall. They were married for 55 years. She was from Clarksville, Maryland.
Sonny Randall passed away on February 13, 2013. He had complications from a stroke.
