Ray Peters

For the American motorcycle trials rider, see Ray Peters (motorcyclist).

Raymond James Peters (August 27, 1946 – May 4, 2019) was an American professional baseball player and a former Major League pitcher. Peters, a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), 210 lb (95 kg) right-hander born in Buffalo, New York, attended Harvard University, where he played college baseball for the Crimson for two seasons (1967–68).^[1]

Ray Peters
Pitcher
Born: (1946-08-27)August 27, 1946 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Died: May 4, 2019(2019-05-04) (aged 72) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 4, 1970, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Last MLB appearance
June 9, 1970, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	0–2
Earned run average	31.50
Strikeouts	1
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Milwaukee Brewers (1970)

Career

He was drafted by the Seattle Pilots in the first round (22nd pick) of the 1969 amateur draft (secondary phase). He had been drafted four times previously, but did not sign with any of those clubs.

Said his Harvard baseball coach, Norman Shepard, in 1969: "A pitcher like Ray comes along just once in a while. He was one that could throw the ball by the hitter. You don't get a real stopper like Ray every day."^[2] Peters received his Bachelor of Arts in Latin American History and Spanish from Harvard in 1969.^[3][4] He was inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1993.^[4]

Peters' Major League career lasted about a week, starting two games for the Milwaukee Brewers (né Pilots) against the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers in 1970 (June 4 and June 9). Peters gave up 12 baserunners (7 hits and 5 walks) and 7 earned runs in 2 total innings, and shortly thereafter returned to the minor leagues. He was traded along with Pete Koegel from the Brewers to the Philadelphia Phillies for Johnny Briggs on April 22, 1971.^[5]

Peters' career MLB totals included an 0–2 record, 1 strikeout, and an earned run average of 31.50. His minor league career lasted three seasons, from 1969–1971.

Death

Peters died on May 4, 2019, aged 72, in Dallas, Texas.^[6][7]

References

1. "Harvard University Baseball Players Who Made It to the Major Leagues". Baseball-Almanac.com. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
2. Brenholts, Al (February 12, 1969). "Harvard Ace Ray Peters Signed by New AL Club". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
3. Stingl, Jim (June 8, 2017). "Ex-Brewers pitcher is a proud big leaguer, even though his career lasted a few innings". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
4. "Raymond Peters '69, Baseball, Hall of Fame Class of 1993 – Harvard Varsity Club". Retrieved May 15, 2019.
5. "Phillies Trade Briggs, 27, To Brewers for 2 Rookies," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, April 22, 1971. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
6. "Obituary: Ray Peters (1946-2019)". RIP Baseball. May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
7. "Ray Peters Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet

• Personal website set up by family Big Train Ray