Giants World Series Pitcher Dies Suddenly at 60

A former pitcher who briefly reached the big leagues during one of the most memorable seasons in San Francisco Giants history has died.

Stu Tate, a lifelong member of the San Francisco Giants organization who appeared in the majors during the club’s dramatic 1989 pennant run, died on Jan. 13 after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 60.

Though Tate’s Major League Baseball career spanned just two games, both came during the Giants’ iconic 1989 season — the year the team returned to the World Series for the first time in 27 years before falling to Bay Area rivals the Oakland A’s.

According to his obituary released by Berryhill Funeral Home in Huntsville, Alabama, the right-hander died suddenly from cardiac complications.

An Alabama native, Tate pitched collegiately at Calhoun Community College before continuing his career at Auburn University. His arm talent caught the attention of scouts, and the Giants selected him in the eighth round of the 1984 MLB Draft.

Tate began his professional career as a starter with the Fresno Giants in 1985 but eventually found his niche in the bullpen. After stints at Double-A Shreveport, he reached Triple-A Phoenix in 1988, where injuries and inconsistency slowed his progress.

Everything changed in 1989.

That season, Tate emerged as the closer for the Phoenix Firebirds, the Giants’ top affiliate. Over 43.2 innings, he posted a 2.89 ERA and racked up 12 saves — second-most in the Pacific Coast League — earning him a spot in the Triple-A All-Star Game.

“I like to have the game on the line. I like the pressure,” Tate said at the time. “I’m just better as a short reliever.”

That breakout earned Tate a September call-up as the Giants battled for the National League pennant. In his MLB debut on Sept. 20, he struck out four batters over 2.2 scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His second and final appearance came 10 days later in San Diego, when he allowed three runs without recording an out.

Despite being on the roster during the Giants’ World Series run, Tate did not appear in a postseason game. A devastating rotator cuff injury soon followed, wiping out his entire 1990 season and effectively ending his Major League hopes.

He made a brief return to Triple-A in 1991 before retiring from baseball altogether. By 1992, Tate had gone back to school and began a new career as a pharmacist.

Tate is survived by his parents, his sister, five children, and six grandchildren — leaving behind a legacy defined not by longevity, but by perseverance and a brief moment on one of the most storied teams in Giants history.