Randolph: Being Swept Isn’t All Bad

this day, it stands as the most embarrassing moment Willie Randolph has endured in his major-league career. Though it happened 13 years ago, in Randolph’s first full season, it remains unchallenged in his experience. “Nothing was worse,” he said, “than being swept.”

His reference, of course, is to the sweep the Cincinnati Reds inflicted on the New York Yankees in the 1976 World Series. The Big Red Machine overwhelmed Randolph and the Yankees in a best-of-seven series that lasted the minimum number of games and served to solidify that generation of Reds as one of the most dominant.

In another way, it served the Yankees, too. “As embarrassing as it was, it set the stage for what happened the next two years,” Randolph said. “Maybe we would have won (the World Series) in ’77 and ’78 no matter what, but I think losing, getting whipped like we did by the Reds, helped us the next two years. Some times, a good butt-kicking is what you need.”

It is for that reason that Randolph will view the 1990 Giants with some special curiosity. Speaking from his Franklin Lakes, N.J., home, Randolph suggested that the Giants might benefit from being swept by the Athletics. Randolph said humiliation might make the Giants come back strong and angry next year.

“That’s what happened with us,” he said. “We were thoroughly embarrassed. We came back in ’77 to show the world we were better than what they saw in ’76. We went into that (1976 World) Series pretty drained. Remember, it started right after the playoffs. When we got to Cincinnati, a lot of guys were hung over. We really celebrated. Beating the Royals in the playoffs took a lot out of us. We were just happy to be in the World Series. Beating the Royals was like the World Series for us.”

“But we were mad that we got swept and that people thought we were no good. The feeling held over to the next year.”

Randolph is certain the 1988 and 1989 A’s have experienced the same feelings as the 1976 and 1977 Yankees. “They’re on a mission like we were,” he said.