Thursday, April 17, 2014

1967 Profile: Fritz Peterson

"Another of the new faces who began to make a positive impression at Yankee Stadium last season was Fritz Peterson, a 25-year-old left-hander. Fritz made the leap from minor league ball in just three years and won a spot in the Yanks' starting rotation with a good spring in 1966. He appeared in 34 games and compiled a 12-11 record with an ERA of 3.31. His assets include a nifty curve, a good, if not overpowering, fastball and excellent control; Fritz was also working on a changeup last season. He caught the Yankees' eye when he turned in an 11-1 mark and a 1.50 ERA at Greensboro in 1965."

-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1967

"For a rookie pitcher - and a left-hander at that - to issue less than two walks per nine innings borders almost on the incredible. But Fritz Peterson, a 12-game winner for the last place Yankees of 1966, issued only 40 walks in his 215 innings pitched.
In last year's road opener at Baltimore, lefty Fritz made his big league debut his initial win, a complete game victory over the eventual champions.
The 25-year-old hurler, an ex-hockey star, started off in spring training this year as though he would never be scored on. He did not permit a run in his first three outings and only four hits in his first 14 innings pitched. And Peterson made it to Yankee Stadium without ever pitching AAA baseball. Two and a half years of minor league schooling and the aggressive southpaw was a Yankee regular. Only 25 now, Fritz has a bright Yankee future."

-The New York Yankees Official 1967 Yearbook

Signed by Yankee organization, June 27, 1963.
Led Yankees in complete games (11) and tied with Mel Stottlemyre for most wins (12).
Six of his 11 losses in 1966 were by one run, two by scores of 1-0.

-1967 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide

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