In Memoriam: Randy Moffitt

David Hegler
Aug 30
2 min read

The younger brother of legendary tennis player Billie Jean King was born in Long Beach, California on October 13, 1948. After attending Cal State Long Beach, Randy Moffitt was taken 18th overall by the San Francisco Giants in the 1970 draft. He debuted just two years later as a relief pitcher.

While the 4-0 loss to the Cubs was forgettable, Moffitt gave the Candlestick Park crowd something to cheer about by striking out Billy Williams in the last pitch of the game. It was the first of 397 strikeouts that he would make for the organization over the course of his career.

He proved to be a valuable asset wherever he went. Whether it was in San Francisco, Houston (1982) or Toronto in 1983, he found a way to finish 306 out of 534 games that he appeared in while recording 96 saves. By the time he left San Francisco in 1981, Moffitt was second in franchise history with 83 career saves. He currently ranks ninth on the all-time list, right behind Sergio Romo.

In 1979, Moffitt contracted cryptospordin enteris, a potentially fatal parasite that left him constantly nauseated and 25 pounds lighter. He never was the same pitcher who one went six years with at least 11 saves. When the parasite finally left his system in 1981, he was 25 pounds lighter, his ERA had ballooned from 3.68 all the way to 7.94 and he was no longer a regular reliever.

He managed to bounce back in both Houston and Toronto, rebuilding his ERA to 3.77 and saving 10 of his last 96 career saves in his last stop. Gary Moffitt died on August 28, 2025 after battling an extended illness. His legacy rests on the Giants Wall of Fame.

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