Former New York Yankees left-hander Fritz Peterson died, the staff introduced on Friday. He was 82 years previous.
Peterson pitched 9 seasons for the Yankees from 1966 by 1974, notching a 20-win season in 1970, when he was additionally named to the American League All-Star staff. He additionally pitched for Cleveland and the Texas Rangers throughout his profession. Altogether, Peterson compiled a 3.30 ERA and 133–131 file, throwing over 2200 innings.
Management was Peterson’s finest trait as a pitcher. He had a profession stroll charge of 1.7 per 9 innings and averaged the bottom walks per 9 within the AL for a five-season stretch from 1968 by 1972.
Nonetheless, Peterson is probably finest identified for extra notorious causes. Throughout spring coaching of 1973, he and teammate Mike Kekich revealed that that they had traded households and houses. Kekich’s spouse and two daughters moved in with Peterson, whereas Peterson’s spouse and two sons lived with Kekich.
“It wasn’t a spouse swap. It was a life swap,” Kekich mentioned in a interview, through The New York Occasions. “We’re not saying we’re proper and everybody else who thinks we’re flawed are flawed. It is simply the best way we felt.”
Peterson and Susanne Kekich went on to get married in 1974, and stayed collectively till his loss of life. Nonetheless, Mike Kekich and Marilyn Peterson ended their relationship shortly after the commerce turned public. Kekich was traded to Cleveland later that season.
In 2010, actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon supposed to develop the spouse swap story right into a characteristic movie. Director Jay Roach (Meet the Dad and mom) was employed for the venture. As of 2015, the movie was nonetheless within the works, although Kekich threatened to sue if it went ahead. Nonetheless, as soon as schedules prevented Affleck and Damon from having the ability to star within the movie, it seems to have fallen by.
“The Yankees are deeply saddened to be taught of the passing of Fritz Peterson, who was a formidable pitcher and affable presence all through his 9 years in pinstripes,” the staff mentioned in a press release.
“A identified prankster and well-liked amongst his teammates and coaches, Peterson had an outgoing character and inquisitive nature that introduced lightheartedness to the clubhouse regularly and belied his prowess on the mound — most notably his impeccable management, which was among the many finest within the Majors.”
