RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

[G-Fafif]

Just learned Randy Tate passed away today (March 25) at 68 from Covid complications.



Due respect to Jacob deGrom, but Randy Tate will always be No. 48 to me.

[MFS62]

RIP, Randy.

May you find that 100th strikeout in the Field of Dreams.



Later

[dinosaur jesus]

Oh geez. His one year in the big leagues didn't go well, but he always seemed this close to figuring it out. It was strange how he could be in the rotation for a whole season, then never heard from again.



I remember seeing him featured in an ad for an insurance company. I've just found it; you can look it up if you're curious. It shows Randy jogging, and the text reads:



Randy Tate, 23.



Promising young pitcher working hard to make it big in the National League.



Randy and his wife, Carolyn, have one child.



Randy's covered by Life of Virginia.



When Randy was 23, he was back in Tidewater, pitching to a 6.20 ERA. His National League career was over.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I imagine today that he'd have been able to hang on a while longer.



I couldn't find anything online about Randy's death. I prefer to see an obituary or something before I mark players as dead in the UMDB.

[G-Fafif]

From his sister:



https://www.facebook.com/1775430424/posts/10208985480872313/https://www.facebook.com/1775430424/posts/10208985480872313/

My brother Randy passed away today from Covid complications. This picture brings so much joyful memories to my heart. We traveled to watch him play ball back in the day. Will always treasure those days. He was the kind hearted brother everyone wanted. I will miss him everyday. I'm sure mom and dad will be happy to see you in heaven😘 Please keep our family in your prayer. His wife Evelyn has Covid she needs lots of prayers. His daughter Tracie has lost a brother, brother-in Law and dad within the last year. It's been such a heart breaking time for her. Please keep her in your prayers.

[G-Fafif]

A few thoughts http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2021/03/25/certain-mets/here.

[Edgy MD]

"I don't believe in my heart that all these deaths have been from the coronavirus." — Joe West

[Benjamin Grimm]

His sister married an Agee?

[Edgy MD]

She actually lives in Alabama, but looking at her

Cindy Tate Agee

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM

---

Cindy Tate Agee is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Cindy Tate Agee and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.

FB profile, I think it's less likely she married into Tommie's family and more likely she married into the family that once owned Tommie's family.



They seem really white ... I guess is what I'm saying.



Anyhow, my like for Randy Tate goes back to a time when having a coolish name was all it took for me to like you, and "Randy Tate" sounded like the name of a guy who it'd be more fun to toss the ball around with than "Harry Parker" did.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I remember listening to Murphy on that same night Greg described. I strongly associte Tate's failure and the subsequent dumb trade of Garrett for Manual and Dwyer that was also regrettable and sad for Metdom. The whole thing just brought you down and of course reverberated-- the Mets left still without a center fielder, getting Seaver all worked up, spiraling down to June 15 77.

[RealityChuck]

I remember him well. I was working nights at Schenectady OTB and we had a UPI sports ticker in the office. One night, it gave off a warning bell and when I went to look, it announced that Tate had gone six innings without giving up a hit (SOP at the time). Then seven, and I was thinking, "The first Met to throw a no hitter may be Randy Tate?"



Alas, he gave up four runs in the eighth inning and lost the game (driven in by Gary Carter and a Mike Jorgensen HR). Here's the box:



https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197508040.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197508040.shtml



Sorry to hear he's gone. The scary part now is that we're the same age.

[Fman99]

I do not have any recollection of this guy, though I was just a wee lad in 1975.

[cal sharpie]

First four Expos also played for the Mets and the pitcher coached here.

[Benjamin Grimm]

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/timesdaily.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/cf/ccfc4f2d-60b9-56a3-a236-8cf6db098125/605e6d8d66d7a.image.jpg?resize=990%2C838>

[G-Fafif]

Died in Muscle Shoals, Ala.



https://www.timesdaily.com/sports/randy-tate-shoals-resident-who-pitched-for-the-mets-in-1975-dies/article_239789db-9dc2-5937-ba1a-40cf3fddf8eb.htmlhttps://www.timesdaily.com/sports/randy-tate-shoals-resident-who-pitched-for-the-mets-in-1975-dies/article_239789db-9dc2-5937-ba1a-40cf3fddf8eb.html

[Edgy MD]

You say he died in Muscle Shoals, and I say "It Tears Me Up."



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[ashie62]

He had a terrific curve as I remember, r.i.p.