1976 Topps #549 - Randy Tate

• We thought it was cool getting this card in a pack. One of the kids in our group had the same last  name. 
• Randy Tate was drafted by the New York Mets in 1972. He pitched in the Mets farm system from 1972-1974.
• Randy became part of the Mets' starting rotation in 1975. Tate went 5-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 28 games (23 starts). Randy almost pitched a no-hitter against the Montreal Expos on August 4. He took the no-hitter into the 8th inning but allowed three hits and lost the game 4-3. Tate pitched a great game on August 26 -- he allowed two runs (one earned) in a complete game victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Randy went to the bullpen after that game and started only one more game.
• Tate went 0 for 41 during the season with one walk and 22 strikeouts. Ouch.
• Randy was sent back to AAA Tidewater in 1976. Tate pitched for Tidewater in 1976 and in 1977 before moving on to the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 1978. A rotator cuff tear ended Randy's career.
• In 2007 Tate was arrested and charged with stealing over $20,000 worth of copper from Occidental Chemical Corp. in Muscle Shoals, AL. At the time Tate was working for a contractor at the plant.
• Randy's TTM information is on this page.

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