Gary Peters, two-time White Sox All-Star, dies at 85

The left-hander ranks eighth on the Sox’ all-time strikeout list and was AL Rookie of the Year in 1963.

SHARE Gary Peters, two-time White Sox All-Star, dies at 85
Former White Sox pitcher Gary Peters has died at 85.

Former White Sox pitcher Gary Peters has died at 85.

Chicago White Sox

Former White Sox left-hander Gary Peters, the American League Rookie of the Year in 1963 who made the AL All-Star team in 1964 and ‘67 and twice led the AL in earned run average, has died at 85, the team announced Thursday.

Peters led the AL with a 2.33 ERA while winning 19 games as a rookie in 1963 and was a 20-game winner with a 2.50 ERA for a Sox team that won 98 games the following season. In 1966, he posted a league-best 1.98 ERA. Peters pitched for the Sox in parts of 11 seasons from 1959-69 before finishing his career with the Red Sox in 1970-72.

Peters ranks eighth among White Sox pitchers with 1,098 strikeouts. He owned a career 123-105 record with a 3.25 ERA.

In the 1967 All-Star Game at Anaheim Stadium, Peters pitched three perfect innings, striking out baseball greats Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda and Dick Allen. He also retired Hank Aaron on a groundout.

Peters was also a good hitter for a pitcher, batting .222/.253/.348 with 19 career homers, 31 doubles and seven triples. On May 5, 1968, Peters hit the last grand slam by a Sox pitcher in a 5-1 win over the Yankees at Comiskey Park, and three weeks later batted sixth in manager Eddie Stanky’s lineup.

The Sox traded Peters to Boston on Dec. 13, 1969, with Don Pavletich for Billy Farmer and Syd O’Brien. Gerry Janeski was later added to the deal. Peters was a player representative for both teams.

Peters was born in Grove City, Pa., and graduated from Mercer High School in western Pennsylvania, where he was an all-state selection in basketball and baseball.

“The White Sox send our condolences to the family and friends of Gary Peters,” the team said on its Twitter account.

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