Former New York Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson passed away at the age of 82. Peterson played nine seasons with the Yankees from 1966 to 1974 and also had stints with Cleveland and the Texas Rangers. He achieved a 20-win season in 1970 and was selected for the American League All-Star team during that same year. Known for his remarkable control as a pitcher, Peterson had a career walk rate of 1.7 per nine innings and led the AL in walks per nine from 1968 to 1972.
However, Peterson gained notoriety for a different reason in 1973 when he and teammate Mike Kekich stunned the baseball world by revealing that they had swapped families and homes during spring training. Kekich’s wife and children moved in with Peterson, while Peterson’s wife and children lived with Kekich. Following the swap, Peterson and Susanne Kekich got married in 1974 and remained together until his passing, but Mike Kekich’s marriage to Marilyn Peterson ended shortly after the trade was made public. Kekich was later traded to Cleveland.
The wife swap saga caught the attention of Hollywood, with actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon planning to develop the story into a feature film. Director Jay Roach was hired for the project, with Kekich threatening to sue if the film moved forward. However, due to scheduling conflicts preventing Affleck and Damon from starring in the movie, the project did not come to fruition. Despite the unconventional and controversial nature of the wife swap, Peterson was described as a beloved figure among his teammates and coaches for his playful personality and his skill on the mound.
The New York Yankees released a statement expressing their sadness at Peterson’s passing, noting his talent as a pitcher and his amiable presence in the clubhouse. Known as a prankster, Peterson brought a sense of lightheartedness to the team while showcasing his impressive control on the field. With a 3.30 ERA and a record of 133–131 over his career, Peterson left a lasting impact on the Yankees and the baseball community as a whole. His legacy as a skilled pitcher and a memorable personality endures, bringing fond memories to those who knew him during his time in pinstripes.
