Randy Moffitt Explained

Randy Moffitt
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:13 October 1948
Birth Place:Long Beach, California, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:June 11
Debutyear:1972
Debutteam:San Francisco Giants
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 19
Finalyear:1983
Finalteam:Toronto Blue Jays
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:43–52
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:3.65
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:455
Stat4label:Saves
Stat4value:96
Teams:
Highlights:
  • San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame

Randall James "Randy" Moffitt (born October 13, 1948) is an American athlete. He was a baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays. Born in Long Beach, California, he is the younger brother of tennis star Billie Jean Moffitt King,[1] [2] and alumnus of Long Beach Polytechnic High School and California State University, Long Beach.[3]

Career

Moffitt was drafted by the Giants in the 1st round (18th pick) of the 1970 amateur draft. After a successful year as a starting pitcher for the Class-A Fresno Giants (9–6, 1.60) he was converted to relief with the Triple-A Phoenix Giants in 1971. He was called up to the big club in 1972, making his Major League Baseball debut on June 11.

In 1979, during his eighth year with the Giants, Moffitt contracted Cryptosporidia enteritis. By the end of the season, he was easily exhausted, vomiting frequently and lost around 25 pounds. His physicians were unable to determine what was causing his illness, with one suggesting that his problem was mental. Following a bloody stool incident during a plane trip in 1980, Moffitt had a colonoscopy done and a biopsy of a bleeding ulcer revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium parasites. According to a Sports Illustrated article, "it's reasonable to assume he caught it from a horse—although nobody knows how." Moffitt's recovery was slow and he was released from the Giants on August 4, 1981.[4]

He was a dependable relief pitcher for many years, and finished in the National League Top Ten four times for saves and three times for games pitched. During the 1970s he partnered first with Elías Sosa and later with Gary Lavelle to give the Giants one of the league's better bullpens. In 534 career pitching appearances (all but one in relief) he finished 306 games including 96 saves.

External links

or Retrosheet

Notes and References

  1. "Bill Moffitt, 88, the father of tennis star Billie Jean King and former major league pitcher Randy Moffitt, died Friday at his home in Prescott, Ariz., after a brief illness, World TeamTennis spokeswoman Rosie Crews said Saturday." Web site: Bill Moffitt, 88; Father of Athletes Billie Jean King, Randy Moffitt . . 2006-06-18.
  2. "Billie Jean and Randy Moffitt, her brother, were expected to be home each day for dinner at 5:15 p.m. Their parents shuttled them to tennis and baseball practice, and Randy eventually became a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants." Web site: King's book highlights 'Battle of the Sexes' match . Melissa Murphy . . 2008-08-11.
  3. Web site: Randy Moffitt (1986) - Hall of Fame . Long Beach State University Athletics . en.
  4. Kaplan . Jim . A new life in a new league . Sports Illustrated . June 20, 1983.