Longtime New York Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson, who is perhaps most notable for swapping families with a teammate, has died, the team announced Friday. He was 82. Peterson overcame prostate cancer and, in 2018, he revealed to the New York Post that he had been diagnosed with 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. “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.”
Raised near Chicago, Peterson attended Northern Illinois University and signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent in…
