At the time, before the tabloid news, Fritz was a reliable
mainstay of the Yankee staff…alternating top ace spot in the staff with Mel
Stottlemyre…they complemented each other…Debuted in pinstripes in 1966 with a
12-11 record….after a sophomore slump became a top 10 hurler….a control
pitcher, had fewest walks per game five years running….Peak of career came in
1970 when he won 20 and made the all star team…followed up nicely the next two
seasons with 15 and 17 wins….downfall came in 1973 and 1974…in between these
two season was traded to the tribe…made a one year comeback in 1975 winning 14
games…although he won nearly as games as in his prime fell well short of his norm in ERA and walk per 9 innings....
faltered out of gate in 1976 and traded to Texas where he finished his MLB
career….Won 133 games versus 131 losses… Today very active on facebook and
regularly sends out baseball card of the day posts….he is a romantic, never
holding grudges about both his days with both the Yankees and
Indians….wrote a book “When the Yankees
were on the Fritz” about the years between Mickey Mantle and Bronx Zoo.
If you want check Fritz's posts: https://www.facebook.com/Fritz.Peterson.19
The book was mildly entertaining. He needed a good editor. Provided some good counterpoints regarding some of his teammates.
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