Stuart Tate
Class of 2006
Stuart Tate’s path from Hazel Green High School to a Major League debut was paved by a live arm, steady growth, and people who believed in him. As a junior at Hazel Green, he threw a no-hitter and won eight games, grabbing the attention of scouts. A year later he led Madison County in pitching while batting .412, proof he could help on both sides of the box score.
Tate signed with Calhoun Community College and went 11–4, then transferred to Auburn to pitch for Paul Nix—earning the distinction of being on the mound for Nix’s 600th career victory. On June 5, 1984, the phone rang at 3:30 p.m.: the San Francisco Giants had drafted him in the eighth round as a reliever. Skipping rookie ball, he was sent to Class A Everett, a sign the club trusted his maturity and mound presence.
Across 1985–89, Tate appeared in 54 minor-league games, climbing to Triple-A Phoenix, where his summer of 1989 included a selection to the Triple-A All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio. In September the Giants called, and on Sept. 20, 1989, he made a spotless big-league debut—facing eight hitters without allowing a hit.
Tate is quick to share credit. His father stretched his arm with backyard catch until daylight faded, laying the foundation for durability. Pitching coach Marty DeMerritt, who guided him for five of his seven Giants seasons, transformed him from a thrower into a pitcher—teaching sequencing, movement, and conviction. Most of all, his wife, Kristin, provided the love and flexibility to crisscross the country chasing a baseball dream.
From county ace to Auburn Tiger to Giant, Stuart Tate’s climb celebrates craftsmanship and gratitude—the belief that if you do today’s work well, tomorrow’s call-up will eventually arrive.
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