Gary Charles Peters (April 21, 1937 – January 26, 2023) was an American professional baseball player. He was a Major League Baseballpitcher who played on two major league teams for 14 seasons, from 1959 through 1972. He was one of the best-hitting pitchers of his era.
The Chicago White Sox signed Peters as an amateur free agent in 1956 after he graduated from Grove City College. After four brief call-ups, he got a pitching job on the White Sox in 1963, winning 19 games (19–8) and the American League Rookie of the Year Award. A left-handed pitcher, he led the American League in earned run average in 1963 and 1966, with the most wins in 1964. In 1965, he was limited by a bad back. Tommy John, who lived with him part of the year, recalled that Peters had to sleep on a mattress on the floor and could not stand up straight in the mornings.[1] He led in fielding average as a pitcher in 1968. He stayed in the White Sox organization through the 1969 season and was traded to the Boston Red Sox, where he spent the last three years of his playing career.
Peters was named to the American League All-Star roster in 1964 and 1967, and finished in the top 10 in the Most Valuable Player voting in 1963, 1964, and 1967.[2] He had a .222 lifetime batting average and hit 19 home runs and 102 RBI. He was frequently used as a pinch-hitter, once winning a game with a pinch-hit home run. On May 5, 1968, Peters hit a grand slam in Comiskey Park, helping the White Sox to a 5–1 victory over the New York Yankees. He was also used as a pinch-runner.
Peters was a big practical joker. Once, when the White Sox went to play the Los Angeles Angels, they found themselves at the same hotel as the Yankees, who had not left for their next destination yet. Obtaining the key to Joe Pepitone's room, Peters snuck into the hitter's room in the middle of the night and started jumping on the bed and screaming, scaring the hitter tremendously until Pepitone finally got the lights turned on and figured out what had happened.[1] Another time, he caught a baby octopus while skindiving and threw it at Ed Stroud in the locker room the next day.[1]
On September 30, 2000, the Chicago White Sox announced that Gary Peters and 26 other former and active White Sox players were members of the Chicago White Sox All-Century Team.
Personal life and deathedit
On January 26, 2023, it was announced that Peters had died at the age of 85.[3][4]
^"Chicago White Sox on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
^"Gary Peters, 1963 AL Rookie of the Year, dies at 85". Sports Naut. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
John, Tommy; Valenti, Dan (1991). TJ: My Twenty-Six Years in Baseball. New York: Bantam. ISBN0-553-07184-X.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or SABR Biography Project
December 04, 2023
gary, peters, baseball, other, people, named, gary, peters, gary, peters, disambiguation, gary, charles, peters, april, 1937, january, 2023, american, professional, baseball, player, major, league, baseball, pitcher, played, major, league, teams, seasons, from. For other people named Gary Peters see Gary Peters disambiguation Gary Charles Peters April 21 1937 January 26 2023 was an American professional baseball player He was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played on two major league teams for 14 seasons from 1959 through 1972 He was one of the best hitting pitchers of his era Gary PetersPeters in 1965PitcherBorn 1937 04 21 April 21 1937Grove City Pennsylvania U S Died January 26 2023 2023 01 26 aged 85 Sarasota Florida U S Batted LeftThrew LeftMLB debutSeptember 10 1959 for the Chicago White SoxLast MLB appearanceSeptember 23 1972 for the Boston Red SoxMLB statisticsWin loss record124 103Earned run average3 25Strikeouts1 420TeamsChicago White Sox 1959 1969 Boston Red Sox 1970 1972 Career highlights and awards2 All Star 1964 1967 AL Rookie of the Year 1963 AL wins leader 1964 2 AL ERA leader 1963 1966 Contents 1 Major league baseball 2 Personal life and death 3 Major League stats 4 MLB awards 5 MLB achievements 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksMajor league baseball editThe Chicago White Sox signed Peters as an amateur free agent in 1956 after he graduated from Grove City College After four brief call ups he got a pitching job on the White Sox in 1963 winning 19 games 19 8 and the American League Rookie of the Year Award A left handed pitcher he led the American League in earned run average in 1963 and 1966 with the most wins in 1964 In 1965 he was limited by a bad back Tommy John who lived with him part of the year recalled that Peters had to sleep on a mattress on the floor and could not stand up straight in the mornings 1 He led in fielding average as a pitcher in 1968 He stayed in the White Sox organization through the 1969 season and was traded to the Boston Red Sox where he spent the last three years of his playing career Peters was named to the American League All Star roster in 1964 and 1967 and finished in the top 10 in the Most Valuable Player voting in 1963 1964 and 1967 2 He had a 222 lifetime batting average and hit 19 home runs and 102 RBI He was frequently used as a pinch hitter once winning a game with a pinch hit home run On May 5 1968 Peters hit a grand slam in Comiskey Park helping the White Sox to a 5 1 victory over the New York Yankees He was also used as a pinch runner Peters was a big practical joker Once when the White Sox went to play the Los Angeles Angels they found themselves at the same hotel as the Yankees who had not left for their next destination yet Obtaining the key to Joe Pepitone s room Peters snuck into the hitter s room in the middle of the night and started jumping on the bed and screaming scaring the hitter tremendously until Pepitone finally got the lights turned on and figured out what had happened 1 Another time he caught a baby octopus while skindiving and threw it at Ed Stroud in the locker room the next day 1 On September 30 2000 the Chicago White Sox announced that Gary Peters and 26 other former and active White Sox players were members of the Chicago White Sox All Century Team Personal life and death editOn January 26 2023 it was announced that Peters had died at the age of 85 3 4 Major League stats editYears Games W L ShO IP CG R ER SO ERA Fld 14 359 124 103 23 2081 79 847 751 1420 3 25 966MLB awards editAmerican League All Star 1964 1967 American League Rookie of the Year 1963 MLB achievements editAmerican League leader in ERA 1963 1966 American League leader in wins 1964 American League leader in fielding average as pitcher 1968 American League pennant team 1959 20 game winner 1964 Chicago White Sox All Century Team 2000 See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp Baseball portalList of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders List of Major League Baseball all time leaders in home runs by pitchersReferences edit a b c John and Valenti p 95 Gary Peters Baseball Reference com Retrieved 2009 04 26 Chicago White Sox on Twitter Twitter Retrieved 2023 01 26 Gary Peters 1963 AL Rookie of the Year dies at 85 Sports Naut 26 January 2023 Retrieved 27 January 2023 John Tommy Valenti Dan 1991 TJ My Twenty Six Years in Baseball New York Bantam ISBN 0 553 07184 X External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet or SABR Biography Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gary Peters baseball amp oldid 1181616569, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
