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RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

G-Fafif
Mar 25 2021 06:09 PM

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
Mar 25 2021 06:33 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

RIP, Randy.

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



Later

dinosaur jesus
Mar 25 2021 07:22 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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
Mar 25 2021 07:36 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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
Mar 25 2021 08:06 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

From his sister:



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
Mar 25 2021 08:09 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

A few thoughts here.

Edgy MD
Mar 25 2021 08:21 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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

Benjamin Grimm
Mar 25 2021 08:23 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

His sister married an Agee?

Edgy MD
Mar 25 2021 08:29 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

She actually lives in Alabama, but looking at her 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
Mar 25 2021 09:04 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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
Mar 25 2021 09:07 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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.shtml



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

Fman99
Mar 26 2021 06:46 AM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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

cal sharpie
Mar 26 2021 12:27 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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

Benjamin Grimm
Mar 26 2021 06:47 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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
Mar 29 2021 08:05 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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.html

Edgy MD
Mar 29 2021 09:01 PM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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



[YOUTUBE]Y_2RcJbeIq8[/YOUTUBE]

ashie62
Mar 30 2021 06:40 AM
Re: RIP Randy Tate, 1952-2021

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