Former Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson dies at 82
Fritz Peterson, lefthanded pitcher for the Yankees, is shown in Florida in 1968. Credit: AP
CLEVELAND — Fritz Peterson, who went 109-106 in nine seasons with the Yankees from 1966-74 as part of an 11-year career in the big leagues but who was most famous for swapping wives and families with Yankees teammate Mike Kekich in the early 1970s, has died. He was 82.
New York Yankees pitchers Mike Kekich, left, and Fritz Peterson have their arms full of kids after they showed up at the spring training camp at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 28, 1972. Kekich holds crying son Jim and daughter Regan, and Peterson holds his son Eric. (AP Photo/Joe Migon) Credit: AP/Joe Migon
No cause of death was immediately announced, but Peterson, who battled prostate cancer previously, told the New York Post in 2018 that he had Alzheimer's disease.
“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 Friday. “Along with longtime teammate Mel Stottlemyre, Peterson was part of a devastating one-two combination at the top of the Yankees’ rotation. A known prankster and well-liked among his teammates and coaches, Peterson had an outgoing personality and inquisitive nature that brought lightheartedness to the clubhouse on a regular basis and belied his prowess on the mound — most notably his impeccable control, which was among the best in the majors. Peterson will be greatly missed by the Yankees, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Susanne, and the entire Peterson family.”
Peterson went 133-131 with a 3.30 ERA overall, with his final season split between Cleveland and Texas in 1976.
