Wednesday, September 8, 2010

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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3 comments:

  1. Not only do I not remember this guy at all, nor did I have his card in 1976, but I don't even recall acquiring it when I completed the set recently! I may have to go and check to see if I actually have it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Notice the back contains a factual error in the cartoon: Rudy York was with the Tigers in 1937. He played w/ the Red Sox only in '46-'47.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I got his 1976 Topps #549 - Randy Tate card and its sign how much are they going for now?

    ReplyDelete