Gary Peters (baseball)

Gary Peters
Peters in 1962.
Pitcher
Born: April 21, 1937 (1937-04-21) Grove City, Pennsylvania
Batted: Left	Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 10, 1959 for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 23, 1972 for the Boston Red Sox
Career statistics
Win–Loss record	124–103
Earned run average	3.25
Strikeouts	1,420
Teams
Chicago White Sox (1959–1969) Boston Red Sox (1970–1972)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star selection (1964, 1967) 1963 AL Rookie of the Year

Gary Charles Peters (born April 21, 1937 in Grove City, Pennsylvania) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. The Chicago White Sox drafted Peters as an amateur free agent in 1956 after he graduated from Grove City College. He joined the major league club for keeps in 1963 and proceeded to win Rookie of the Year honors that year. He stayed in the White Sox organization until 1969, 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.

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

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference

Rookie One Hit Shutout http://espn.go.com/espn/elias?date=20110906

Preceded by Hank Aguirre	American League ERA Champion 1963	Succeeded by Dean Chance
Preceded by Tom Tresh	American League Rookie of the Year 1963	Succeeded by Tony Oliva
Preceded by Whitey Ford	American League Wins Champion 1964 (with Dean Chance)	Succeeded by Mudcat Grant
Preceded by Sam McDowell	American League ERA Champion 1966	Succeeded by Joe Horlen