Randy Moffitt – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Randy Moffitt wrapped up his 12-season Major League Baseball career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983. That marked the end of a journey where he fought through a life-threatening illness and pitched for three different teams in both the American and National Leagues.

He spent most of his time as a reliable right-handed reliever in the San Francisco Giants bullpen. Alongside other pitchers, he helped put together one of the league’s more respected relief squads during the 1970s.

Moffitt retired after he overcame a rare intestinal parasite called Cryptosporidia enteritis, which almost ended his career in 1979 and led to his release from the Giants in 1981. He managed to recover and played for the Houston Astros and Blue Jays, proving that determination can sometimes outlast even the toughest health setbacks in pro sports.

He’s Billie Jean King’s younger brother, but Moffitt made his own mark with 96 career saves and 455 strikeouts over 534 games. His story really covers both the highs and lows of pro baseball, from early promise as a first-round draft pick to tough medical battles and a comeback that shaped his last years in the majors.

Randy Moffitt’s Retirement in 1983

Randy Moffitt finished his 12-year Major League Baseball run after the 1983 season with the Toronto Blue Jays at age 34. In his final year, he pitched in 45 games as a relief pitcher, closing out a career that stretched from 1972 to 1983.

Circumstances Leading to Retirement

Moffitt’s career took him through three organizations. He started out with the San Francisco Giants in 1972 and spent most of his career there.

Later, he joined the Houston Astros in 1982 and then finished with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983. By then, he was 34 and had put a lot of innings on his arm.

He put up 43 wins and 52 losses over 534 games. With a solid 3.65 ERA, he showed steady performance for more than a decade.

Final Season Performance

In 1983, Moffitt played his last year in pro baseball with Toronto. He appeared in 45 games during the regular season, all out of the bullpen.

His numbers split between home and away. At home, he pitched in 17 games with a 4.39 ERA over 26.2 innings.

On the road, he did a bit better, posting a 3.28 ERA in 28 games across 30.2 innings.

Key 1983 Statistics:

• Games: 45
• Innings Pitched: 57.1 total
• Home ERA: 4.39
• Road ERA: 3.28
• Strikeouts: 13 total

His last game was on September 19, 1983, against the Seattle Mariners. That day, he threw one inning and didn’t allow a hit, walk, or run.

Reactions and Legacy

Moffitt’s retirement closed the book on a solid career as a relief pitcher in the 1970s and early 1980s. His 5.8 WAR over 12 seasons showed his value as a steady bullpen guy.

With his sister Billie Jean King making headlines in tennis, Moffitt’s family name got plenty of attention. That connection made him stand out beyond just his own baseball stats.

Sportswriters gave his retirement the usual coverage for a veteran reliever. During his prime with San Francisco, he proved himself as a reliable bullpen option.

After he hung up his cleats, Moffitt moved on from pro baseball. With 534 career appearances, he ranked among the more active relievers of his era, serving three different teams with steady work.

Professional Baseball Career

Randy Moffitt played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1972 to 1983. He spent most of his career as a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

He finished up with 43 wins, 52 losses, 96 saves, and a 3.65 ERA in 534 games.

MLB Debut and Early Years

The San Francisco Giants drafted Moffitt in the first round (18th pick) of the 1970 amateur draft. He started as a pitcher for the Class-A Fresno Giants in 1970, posting a 9-6 record with a 1.60 ERA.

The Giants switched him to relief with the Triple-A Phoenix Giants in 1971. That move ended up being a good one for his career.

He made his MLB debut on June 11, 1972, at age 23. Moffitt was a righty, standing 6-3 and weighing 190 pounds.

Those early years showed he could adapt to the bullpen. The switch from starter to reliever really shaped the rest of his time in baseball.

San Francisco Giants Tenure

Moffitt spent most of his career with the Giants from 1972 to 1981. In the 1970s, he worked with Elías Sosa and later Gary Lavelle to give the team one of the National League’s better bullpens.

He became a dependable reliever, finishing in the NL Top Ten four times for saves. He also landed in the top ten three times for games pitched during his Giants years.

In 1979, his eighth year with the Giants, Moffitt got sick with Cryptosporidia enteritis. He lost 25 pounds, threw up a lot, and felt wiped out most of the time.

Doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong at first. One even suggested it was all in his head.

A colonoscopy in 1980 finally found Cryptosporidium parasites in a bleeding ulcer. Sports Illustrated reported he probably caught it from a horse, but no one’s sure how it happened.

His recovery dragged on, and the Giants let him go on August 4, 1981. That illness really changed his last few years with the team.

History with Houston Astros

After the Giants released him, Moffitt signed with the Houston Astros for 1982. Even after all his health problems, he pitched pretty well that season.

The Astros gave him a shot to keep his career going after he recovered from the infection. His time in Houston was short but decent.

He finished his MLB career the next year with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983. His last appearance came on September 19, 1983.

Notable Achievements

Moffitt played in 534 career games, all but one as a reliever. He finished 306 games and picked up 96 saves in 12 years.

Career Statistics:

• Win-Loss Record: 43-52
• Earned Run Average: 3.65
• Strikeouts: 455
• Saves: 96
• Games Played: 534

He later got inducted into the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame. That honor recognized what he did for the team over nearly a decade.

His career ran from 1972 to 1983, making him a steady presence in Major League Baseball for more than ten years. Moffitt’s dependability out of the bullpen made him a valuable asset for every team he joined.

Pitching Style and Strengths

Randy Moffitt built his reputation as a reliable relief pitcher, especially as a closer for the San Francisco Giants in the 1970s. His right-handed delivery and steady performance made him a go-to arm in late-game situations, back when specialized closers were just starting to become a thing in MLB.

Relief Pitching Specialization

Moffitt found his spot as a full-time reliever instead of bouncing between starting and relief roles. He knew exactly what his job was and thrived under pressure.

He specialized in closing games and finishing off what the starters began. From 1973 to 1978, he racked up at least 10 saves each season. That kind of consistency made him invaluable to the Giants for years.

He ranked among the top hundred pitchers for Games Finished in baseball history. That just shows how often managers trusted him to wrap things up.

Moffitt didn’t rely on strikeouts to get outs. With 455 strikeouts over 12 seasons, he pitched to contact and leaned on his defense instead of blowing hitters away.

Signature Pitches and Techniques

There’s not a ton of info out there about his exact pitch mix, but as a closer, he probably had a solid breaking ball and good control. His 3.65 career ERA points to decent command and an ability to keep hitters from squaring him up.

At 6’3″ and 190 pounds, Moffitt used his size to get a good downward angle on his pitches. His right-handed delivery stayed pretty consistent year after year.

He focused on location over velocity. Rather than try to overpower hitters, he succeeded by hitting his spots and mixing things up.

He showed durability during his best seasons. Moffitt could pitch more than one inning when needed, which was a big deal in the 1970s when pitch counts weren’t such a big concern.

Career Highlights as a Closer

Moffitt’s 96 career saves were pretty impressive for his era. Back then, closers didn’t get as many saves as they do now.

His best run came with San Francisco from 1973 to 1978. For six straight seasons, he gave the Giants a steady late-inning presence.

In 1983, he hit double-digit saves one last time, this time with Toronto at age 34. That was after missing a big chunk of time due to that nasty stomach infection in 1980 and 1981.

His 43 wins and 52 losses as a reliever show he pitched in a lot of close games. That win-loss record tells you he faced plenty of tight spots and usually held his own.

Statistical Overview

Randy Moffitt finished with a 43-52 record and a 3.65 ERA over 534 games in his 12-year career. In his final season in 1983, he pitched 45 games for the Toronto Blue Jays before calling it a career in September.

Career Pitching Statistics

Moffitt’s numbers reflect his role as a dependable reliever from 1972 to 1983. He totaled 43 wins and 52 losses in 534 games with the Giants, Astros, and Blue Jays.

His 3.65 ERA showed he was effective coming out of the bullpen. He notched 455 strikeouts and kept a WHIP of 1.346.

He picked up 96 saves in his major league career. With a WAR of 5.8, he added solid value as a relief specialist over 12 seasons.

Moffitt played for three different teams but spent most of his career with San Francisco.

1983 Season Stats

In 1983, Moffitt made 45 appearances with the Blue Jays. That workload was pretty typical for a veteran reliever finishing out his career.

His last game came on September 19, 1983 against Seattle. He pitched one inning, gave up no hits, and walked or struck out nobody.

That season marked the end for the 34-year-old pitcher. He’d already passed rookie limits in 1972, so 1983 was his twelfth and last year in the majors.

Notable Game Performances

Moffitt’s career was about steady relief work more than highlight-reel moments. Consistency made him valuable to every bullpen he joined.

Born in Long Beach, California, he stood 6-3 and weighed 190 pounds. He threw and hit right-handed his whole career.

His last outing in September 1983 against Seattle was a clean finish. That scoreless inning capped over a decade of major league service.

Early Life and Path to the Majors

Randy Moffitt grew up in Long Beach, California. He honed his athletic skills at Long Beach Polytechnic High School before the San Francisco Giants picked him in the first round of the 1970 draft.

His journey to the majors started with a solid run as a starting pitcher in the minors. Eventually, he shifted to relief work, which ended up shaping his whole career.

High School and Amateur Years

Randall James “Randy” Moffitt was born on October 13, 1948, in Long Beach. He attended Long Beach Polytechnic High, where he started showing off the pitching talent that would take him to the big leagues.

Athletics played a huge role in the Moffitt household. His parents always made sure Randy and his sister were home for dinner at 5:15 p.m. every night.

They drove their kids to practices all the time. After high school, Moffitt went on to California State University, Long Beach, where he kept playing ball and building his reputation as a pro prospect.

His college years paid off—he later got inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 1986.

Draft and Minor League Development

The San Francisco Giants took Moffitt in the first round, 18th overall, in the 1970 amateur draft. This pick showed just how much the team believed in his potential.

He kicked off his pro career as a starter with the Class-A Fresno Giants in 1971. That season, he finished with a strong 9-6 record and a 1.60 ERA.

The Giants’ development staff definitely noticed his success as a starter. They promoted him to the Triple-A Phoenix Giants in 1971.

At Phoenix, the Giants decided to move him from starter to reliever. That switch ended up being a turning point for his future.

He performed well in the minors and earned a call-up to the majors in 1972. Moffitt made his MLB debut on June 11, 1972, against the Chicago Cubs.

Family Influence

Randy Moffitt grew up in a family that loved sports and shaped his path. His sister, Billie Jean Moffitt King, became a tennis legend.

The siblings supported each other’s athletic dreams as they moved through their careers. Their parents, Bill and Betty Moffitt, built a structured home that helped both Randy and Billie Jean thrive.

The family’s achievements created a competitive spirit at home, pushing both kids to reach the top in their sports. Randy made his mark in baseball, while Billie Jean dominated tennis, making the Moffitts one of America’s most successful athletic families.

Bill Moffitt, their father, passed away in 2006 at age 88 in Prescott, Arizona. He got to see both his kids find professional success before he died.

Post-Retirement Life and Net Worth

After his MLB career ended in 1983, Randy Moffitt walked away from pro baseball. He explored other interests but still kept ties to his family’s athletic legacy.

He has preferred privacy since retirement, and there’s not much public info about his activities. His estimated net worth reflects his decade in the big leagues.

Post-Baseball Pursuits

Since retiring from the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983, Randy Moffitt has kept his life mostly private. Unlike some former players who move into coaching or broadcasting, he chose a quieter route.

He hasn’t stayed in the baseball spotlight like many of his old teammates. You won’t find much about him in the media or in baseball circles these days.

Details about any business ventures or career changes are pretty hard to come by. It really seems like he wanted to keep his post-baseball life out of the news.

His main connection to the sport now is his spot on the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame. That honor highlights his contributions during his nine seasons with the team from 1972 to 1981.

Personal Life and Family

Randy Moffitt’s most famous family tie is still his relationship with tennis icon Billie Jean King. As her younger brother, he shares a family legacy that stretches across two major sports.

The Moffitt family lost their father in 2006, when Bill Moffitt passed away at 88 in Prescott, Arizona. Bill played a big part in supporting both Randy’s baseball and Billie Jean’s tennis dreams while they were growing up.

In Long Beach, Randy and Billie Jean followed strict routines. Their parents made sure they were home for dinner at 5:15 p.m. every day and kept them busy with sports.

Randy has kept his personal life very private, including details about marriage or children. Since retiring, he has managed to stay out of the spotlight and away from media attention.

Estimated Net Worth

Randy Moffitt’s estimated net worth sits at about $1 million, at least according to several online sources. That number mainly reflects what he earned over his 12-year MLB career from 1972 to 1983.

Nobody’s published exact salary numbers from that time, so we have to rely on rough estimates. He made most of his money playing baseball, moving across three teams.

He spent nine seasons with the San Francisco Giants, pitching as a key reliever. That’s where he pulled in the majority of his pay.

MLB salaries in the ’70s and early ’80s were a far cry from what you see today. Relief pitchers like Moffitt usually earned less than starters or the big-name position players.

This net worth estimate probably covers:

• Salary from his MLB days
• Possible pension benefits
• Maybe some post-retirement investments or side income

Nobody’s seen any public financial records or big business ventures from him, so this is about as accurate as we can get.