Gary Peters (baseball)
Gary Charles Peters (born April 21, 1937) is an American former 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 Peters | |||
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Peters in 1965 | |||
Pitcher | |||
Born: Grove City, Pennsylvania | April 21, 1937|||
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MLB debut | |||
September 10, 1959, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
September 23, 1972, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Win–Loss record | 124–103 | ||
Earned run average | 3.25 | ||
Strikeouts | 1,420 | ||
Teams | |||
Career highlights and awards | |||
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Major league baseball
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, and 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.[1] 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.
Chicago White Sox All-Century Team
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.
Major League stats
MLB awards
- American League All-Star (1964, 1967)
- American League Rookie of the Year (1963)
MLB achievements
- American 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
References
- "Gary Peters". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or SABR Biography Project