Randy Hendricks
Encyclopedia
Randal "Randy" Hendricks (b. November 18, 1945 in Kansas City, Missouri
) is an American
attorney
and sports agent
considered a pioneer in the field of sports representation. He was raised in Westwood, Kansas and is a 1963 graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School
. He is managing partner of Hendricks Sports Management in Houston, Texas
.
out of law school
. While there, he represented his first professional athlete. In 1971, he joined with his brother, Alan, to form Hendricks Sports Management. Hendricks was involved in the movement for free agency
, a change for professional athletes from the reserve system
. Hendricks concentrated on this area until the players earned their free agency in the late 1970s. He has continuously represented a significant number of professional athletes for over 35 years.
The Hendricks brothers formed Hendricks Sports Management and built an agency which represented approximately 10% of all major league baseball
players for nearly 20 years. In 1999, the Hendricks sold their company to SFX Entertainment, (now Live Nation
, where Randy became Chairman and CEO of the baseball
group. Following the conclusion of their management contracts in 2004, the brothers reformed Hendricks Sports Management, which reestablished their profile as leaders in their industry.
Hendricks is the author of Inside the Strike Zone, published in 1994 and nominated for the Casey Award
for best baseball book for that year. Hendricks has negotiated many record contracts, and his $28 million one year contract for Roger Clemens
is the highest in the history of baseball. Recently, he negotiated a record $30.25 million contract for 21 year old Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman
.
, and among the 100 most powerful people in sports in the United States by The Sporting News
. Forbes magazine recently recognized him as one of the most effective agents for his clients.
Hendricks holds the best lifetime winning percentage as an advocate
in arbitration
and collusion
cases, and is known for his preparation and advocacy. His standing for over 35 years at the top of his industry is unparalleled in his field.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and sports agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
considered a pioneer in the field of sports representation. He was raised in Westwood, Kansas and is a 1963 graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School
Shawnee Mission North High School
Shawnee Mission North High School is a public secondary school in Overland Park, Kansas, USA for grades 9–12. It is one of five schools operated by Unified School District 512.The school colors are Red, Black and White and the school mascot is the Indian...
. He is managing partner of Hendricks Sports Management in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in pre law/finance, with honors, University of HoustonUniversity of HoustonThe University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, 1968 - Doctor of Jurisprudence, with honors, University of Houston Law CenterUniversity of Houston Law CenterThe University of Houston Law Center is a law school located in Houston, Texas. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1947, the Law Center is one of 12 academic colleges of the University of Houston...
, 1970 - Chancellor, Order of the Barons, University of Houston Law Center, 1969, Articles Editor, Houston Law Review, 1969-70.
Career
He practiced law with the Houston firm of Baker BottsBaker Botts
Baker Botts L.L.P. is a major United States-based international law firm of around 800 attorneys, with a long, prominent history, significant political connections, boasting more than half of the Fortune 100 companies among its clients. Headquartered in One Shell Plaza in Downtown Houston, Texas,...
out of law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
. While there, he represented his first professional athlete. In 1971, he joined with his brother, Alan, to form Hendricks Sports Management. Hendricks was involved in the movement for free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, a change for professional athletes from the reserve system
Reserve clause
The reserve clause is a term formerly employed in North American professional sports contracts. The reserve clause, contained in all standard player contracts, stated that, upon the contract's expiration the rights to the player were to be retained by the team to which he had been signed...
. Hendricks concentrated on this area until the players earned their free agency in the late 1970s. He has continuously represented a significant number of professional athletes for over 35 years.
The Hendricks brothers formed Hendricks Sports Management and built an agency which represented approximately 10% of all major league baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players for nearly 20 years. In 1999, the Hendricks sold their company to SFX Entertainment, (now Live Nation
Live Nation
Live Nation is a live-events company based in Beverly Hills, California, focused on concert promotions. Live Nation formed in 2005 as a spin-off from Clear Channel Communications, which then merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 to become Live Nation Entertainment....
, where Randy became Chairman and CEO of the baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
group. Following the conclusion of their management contracts in 2004, the brothers reformed Hendricks Sports Management, which reestablished their profile as leaders in their industry.
Hendricks is the author of Inside the Strike Zone, published in 1994 and nominated for the Casey Award
CASEY Award
The CASEY Award has been given to the best baseball book of the year since . The honor was begun by Mike Shannon and W.J. Harrison, editors and co-founders of “Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine.”-CASEY Award recipients:...
for best baseball book for that year. Hendricks has negotiated many record contracts, and his $28 million one year contract for Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
is the highest in the history of baseball. Recently, he negotiated a record $30.25 million contract for 21 year old Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman
Aroldis Chapman
Albertin Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz is a Cuban-Andorran Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Chapman bats and throws left-handed. He is listed at 6'4" tall and weighing 195 pounds . He currently holds the record for the fastest recorded pitch speed in Major League Baseball,...
.
Recognition
Randy Hendricks has been named the top agent by Baseball AmericaBaseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
, and among the 100 most powerful people in sports in the United States by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
. Forbes magazine recently recognized him as one of the most effective agents for his clients.
Hendricks holds the best lifetime winning percentage as an advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
in arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
and collusion
Collusion
Collusion is an agreement between two or more persons, sometimes illegal and therefore secretive, to limit open competition by deceiving, misleading, or defrauding others of their legal rights, or to obtain an objective forbidden by law typically by defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage...
cases, and is known for his preparation and advocacy. His standing for over 35 years at the top of his industry is unparalleled in his field.