“Moonlight” Graham, best remembered as the tragic figure in
the movie Field of Dreams, was a real
baseball player, who really did get into only one major league game in his
entire career without recording an at-bat. Unfortunately he is just one of many
players whose major league career was measured in hours instead of base hits,
home runs, and innings. Pitcher Ray Peters lasted all of two innings in the majors,
but it was something he’ll never forget.
The lanky right-handed Peters was a first-round pick of the
Seattle Pilots out of Harvard University in 1969. He was a highly-regarded
amateur, having been drafted four times previously, but electing to finish his
college education before starting a baseball career.
Peters was a hard thrower. Norm Shepard, his coach at
Harvard, once said, “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." He finished with a college record of 17-5.
The 1969 Pilots were a 64-win team and their pitching staff
was led by the immortal Gene Brabender. Peters was seen as a potential savior
for the floundering expansion team. He dominated in the minors after signing,
going a combined 12-4 with a 2.98 ERA between three levels.
Peters struggled in 1970, posting a 5.08 combined ERA in the
minors. However, he was brought up for his MLB debut with Milwaukee (the Pilots
moved from Seattle and became the Brewers) in early June.
On June 4th, Peters toed the rubber of a major
league mound for the first time. He started against the Cleveland Indians, but
was removed after two innings, having forfeited six hits, three walks and four
runs—a performance that earned him the loss.
Despite the inauspicious debut, Peters was given another five
days later against the Detroit Tigers. He allowed a single to Dick McAuliffe, walked
Elliott Maddox, and then walked eventual Hall of Famer Al Kaline, before being
lifted, without having recorded an out. All three base runners went on to score
and the Brewers succumbing 8-3, with Peters being tagged with another loss.
Peters was demoted back to the minors after his two starts.
Sadly, he never pitched in the major leagues again. He pitched in the minors
through the 1971 season before calling it a career. He had a 22-23 minor league
record with a 4.50 ERA. In addition to his two major league losses, he also had
a 31.50 ERA, giving up seven hits and five walks in two innings. More
information about his career statistics is available here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peterra01.shtml.
Albeit brief, Peters enjoyed his time in baseball. He shared
some of his memories with me and clearly has few regrets about the opportunity
he was given, which isn’t something every pro player can say.
Ray Peters
Questionnaire:
Who was your favorite
coach or manager?: Jimmy Reese, by far. Google him.
What was the
strangest play you ever saw as a player?: Bases loaded and I’m pitching.
The batter hits a line drive between my legs (I never touched the ball). The
ball ricocheted into the third base dugout without passing third base. No one
touched it, so it was a foul ball! I struck the guy out and ended the inning!
What type of pitches
did you throw, and which was your best pitch?: Fastball, slider, curve and
changeup. Depending on the day, the fastball or curve was my best pitch.
If you could do
anything differently about your career, what would that be?: Be injury
free!
What else would you
like us to know?: I played with and against some interesting guys. One of
my first roomies in pro ball was Tom Kelly, former manager of the Twins and a
very nice guy. My catcher at Portland was John Felske, former manager of the
Phillies, and my catcher at Eugene was “Stump” Merrill, former manager of the
Yankees.
Though my major league career was a matter of days, I was
fortunate to pitch against my childhood batting heroes. Al Kaline was my
favorite right-handed batter and Vada Pinson my favorite left-handed hitter. I
walked Kaline and got Pinson (who should be in the Hall of Fame) to fly out,
after singling in his first at bat.
Luck plays a great part in sports. In my two innings I gave
up only singles, four of which were broken-bat bloops. Against Detroit, I
walked two and one batter got a single. I was taken out with the bases loaded
and no runs in, and the reliever comes in and gives up a grand slam home run,
and I’m sent to the minors! That’s life.
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