Former New York Yankees left-hander Fritz Peterson died, the team announced on Friday. He was 82 years old.
Peterson pitched nine seasons for the Yankees from 1966 through 1974, notching a 20-win season in 1970, when he was also named to the American League All-Star team. He also pitched for Cleveland and the Texas Rangers during his career. Altogether, Peterson compiled a 3.30 ERA and 133–131 record, throwing over 2,200 innings.
Control was Peterson’s best trait as a pitcher. He had a career walk rate of 1.7 per nine innings and averaged the lowest walks per nine in the AL for a five-season stretch from 1968 through 1972.
However, Peterson is perhaps best known for more infamous reasons. During spring training of 1973, he and teammate Mike Kekich revealed that they had traded families and homes. Kekich’s wife and two daughters moved in with Peterson, while Peterson’s wife and two sons lived with Kekich.
“It wasn’t a wife swap. It was a life swap,” Kekich said in an interview, via The New York Times. “We’re not saying we’re right and everyone else who thinks we’re wrong are wrong. It’s just the way we felt.”
“The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Fritz Peterson, who was a formidable pitcher and affable presence throughout his nine years in pinstripes,” the team said in a statement.
