Willie Randolph serves as ambassador for New York Black Yankees event

Willie Randolph serves as ambassador for New York Black Yankees event

BRIDGEWATER — Willie Randolph didn’t know it at the time, but one of his first infield coaches in professional baseball hailed from the Negro Leagues. Gene Baker taught Randolph how to turn a double play after the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Randolph in 1972. Randolph learned later on that Baker was a pioneer of Black baseball culture as he played for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1948 and 1949 before transitioning to the major leagues. In his mind…