Former MLB relief pitcher Randy Moffitt passed away of an "extended illness" on Thursday at the age of 76.
Although he pitched in the big leagues for a dozen seasons, he was best known as the younger brother of tennis legend Billie Jean King. The 12-time grand slam winner and now minority owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers paid tribute to her brother on X describing him as "loyal, kind and caring."
Moffitt was selected in the first round of the 1970 MLB draft by the San Francisco Giants as the 18th overall pick in the country. He would make his MLB debut with the club during the middle of the 1972 season. Between 1973 and 1978, Moffitt posted double digit numbers in saves working in tandem first with Elias Sosa and later with Gary Lavelle.
However, during the 1979 season, Moffitt contracted a parasitic disease as a result of his work with horses which nearly cost him his life. The illness reduced his effectiveness, and the Giants would release him during the 1981 season.
Moffitt would return to the big leagues with the Houston Astros in 1982 before joining the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983. It was during his tenure with Toronto that I became familiar with Moffitt as he was a key figure in the Jays' first winning season in their franchise history leading the club with 10 saves. But Moffitt would be granted free agency at the end of the season. Aside from a brief tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 1984, Moffitt never played pro ball again.
In 534 big league appearances (533 of them out of the bullpen), Moffitt went 43-52 with a 3.65 ERA with 96 career saves striking out 455 batters against 286 walks in 781.1 innings pitched. His lone career start came on June 21, 1974, against the eventual NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers earning a no-decision despite seven strong innings surrendering only three runs on 11 hits in a 4-3 extra inning loss.
Randy Moffitt was a great athlete in his own right. R.I.P.
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