Gary Peters
Encyclopedia
Gary Charles Peters is a former pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. The Chicago White Sox
drafted Peters as an amateur free agent in after he graduated from Grove City College
. He joined the major league club for keeps in and proceeded to win Rookie of the Year
honors that year. He stayed in the White Sox organization until , when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox
for the last three years of his career. He was selected to the All-Star Game
in 1964 and 1967, and finished in the top 10 in the Most Valuable Player voting in 1963, 1964 and 1967.
Peters led the American League pitchers in earned run average
twice while with the White Sox, with a teammate finishing runner-up both years. In his rookie season of 1963 his 2.33 ERA edged out Juan Pizarro
's 2.39; in 1966 his 1.98 ERA was nearly a half-run ahead of Joe Horlen
's 2.43. The latter led the league in earned run average in 1967 at 2.06; Peters was second at 2.28.
Peters was also one of the best hitting pitchers of his era, with 19 career home runs, and a .222 career batting average. He was used occasionally as a pinch hitter, even winning a game with a pinch hit home run on one occasion. 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
.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. The Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
drafted Peters as an amateur free agent in after he graduated from Grove City College
Grove City College
Grove City College is a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, about north of Pittsburgh. According to the College Bulletin, its stated three-fold mission is to provide an excellent education at an affordable price in a thoroughly Christian environment...
. He joined the major league club for keeps in and proceeded to win Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
honors that year. He stayed in the White Sox organization until , when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for the last three years of his career. He was selected to the All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in 1964 and 1967, and finished in the top 10 in the Most Valuable Player voting in 1963, 1964 and 1967.
Peters led the American League pitchers in earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
twice while with the White Sox, with a teammate finishing runner-up both years. In his rookie season of 1963 his 2.33 ERA edged out Juan Pizarro
Juan Pizarro
Juan Ramon Pizarro Cordova is a former major league baseball pitcher.-Milwaukee Braves:Juan Pizarro signed with the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1956. After going 27-6 with a 2.06 earned run average in the minors, he made his major league debut on May 4, 1957 against the Pittsburgh...
's 2.39; in 1966 his 1.98 ERA was nearly a half-run ahead of Joe Horlen
Joe Horlen
Joel Edward Horlen is a right-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. Horlen pitched for the Chicago White Sox from to , and the Oakland Athletics in ....
's 2.43. The latter led the league in earned run average in 1967 at 2.06; Peters was second at 2.28.
Peters was also one of the best hitting pitchers of his era, with 19 career home runs, and a .222 career batting average. He was used occasionally as a pinch hitter, even winning a game with a pinch hit home run on one occasion. On May 5, 1968, Peters hit a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
in Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
, helping the White Sox to a 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions