Randy Tate was a professional baseball player who briefly played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a pitcher. His career at the major league level was confined to a single season with the New York Mets in 1975. During his time with the Mets, Tate appeared in 26 games, all of which he started. Over the course of these appearances, he compiled a record of 5 wins and 13 losses. His earned run average (ERA) for the season was 4.45, and he pitched a total of 137 innings.

One of the notable highlights of Randy Tate's career was a near no-hitter he pitched against the Montreal Expos on August 4, 1975. In this game, Tate pitched 8 and 1/3 innings without allowing a hit before an opposing player managed to get a base hit. Despite the impressive performance, he did not secure a win in that game due to a lack of run support from his teammates and eventually lost the no-hit bid and the game. This performance stood out as a testament to his potential as a pitcher, showcasing his ability to dominate a game.

Tate's pitching repertoire and his performance during the 1975 season demonstrated potential, but control issues were a significant challenge for him. Over his 137 innings pitched, he struck out 99 batters but also issued 89 walks, indicating a struggle with command and control on the mound. These control issues contributed to his challenges in securing a more permanent spot in the major leagues.

Despite the promise shown during his brief tenure in MLB, Randy Tate did not play in the major leagues after the 1975 season. His professional baseball career is often remembered for what could have been, highlighted by his near no-hitter, rather than what was fully achieved. After his stint in the major leagues, there is limited public information regarding his career in professional baseball, including whether he continued to play in the minor leagues or pursued other opportunities outside of baseball.

Randy Tate's career in MLB, though short-lived, remains a point of interest for baseball historians and fans, particularly those with an affinity for the New York Mets, due to the rarity of near no-hitters and the unique trajectory of players whose careers in the spotlight are fleeting.