Former New York Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson, who exchanged wife and family with a teammate, has died at the age of 82.
Northern Illinois University, where Peterson played before his major league career, announced his death Friday. No cause has been revealed.
In an interview with the New York Post in April 2018, Peterson said he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in September 2017. He had previously survived a battle with prostate cancer.
The 1970 All-Star and teammate Mike Kekich turned their lives around away from the baseball diamond when they exchanged romantic partners in 1973.
The story was so crazy that Hollywood duo Ben Affleck and Matt Damon wanted to make it into a hit film.
Former Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson, who swapped wife with teammate, dies at 82
Peterson with his ex-wife Marilyn Peterson (left) and new love Susanne Kekich (right) in 1972
The change happened almost 12 months later Peterson and his wife Marilyn attended a party with Kekich and his wife, Susanne, and got along well.
“We did that and we had so much fun together, Susanne and I, Mike and Marilyn, that we decided, ‘Hey, this is fun, let’s do it again,'” he told the Palm Beach Post in 2013.
“We did it the next night. We went to Steak and Ale in Fort Lee. Mike and Marilyn left early and Susanne and I stayed, had a few drinks and ate.
“It was really fun to be able to talk to someone. We all felt the same way. We went from there and eventually he fell in love with my wife and I fell in love with his.
When they broke the news to the American media during spring training, Peterson, then 31, told the press: “Don’t do anything sordid with this.”
Mr Kekich, then 27, added: “Don’t say it was a wife swap, because it wasn’t. We didn’t trade our wives, we traded our lives.
According to various versions of events, Peterson became attracted to the bubbly Susanne, a former cheerleader, while the calmer Kekich grew closer to Marilyn, who reportedly echoed his personality.
But while the new arrangement proved successful for Mr. Peterson and Ms. Kekich — who went on to have four children and remained together until her death — Mr. Kekich and Ms. Peterson’s romance collapsed after just a few month.
In an interview a few years later, Mr. Kekich recalled: “Marilyn and I thought we were a perfect fit, as did Fritz and Susanne. Marilyn was all for the swap at first, but then backed off.
“At first, the four of us agreed that if anyone wasn’t happy, the deal would be canceled. But when Marilyn and I decided to cancel, the other couples had already left together.
Peterson with his wife Marilyn and their children Eric and Greg before swapping partners
Mike Kekich of the New York Yankees and Susanne pose with their daughters before a game
Peterson with Hall of Fame baseball player Joe DiMaggio in the Yankees locker room in 1967
Peterson was part of the Yankees rotation from 1966 to 1973 in an 11-year career.
Overall, he went 133-131 with a 3.30 ERA and 90 complete games in 355 career appearances and 330 starts for New York (1966-74), Cleveland (1974-76) and the Texas Rangers (1976).
A statement from the Yankees read: “The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Fritz Peterson, who was a tremendous pitcher and affable presence throughout his nine years in pinstripes.
“Along with longtime teammate Mel Stottlemyre, Peterson was part of a devastating duo at the top of the Yankees rotation.
“A known prankster and beloved by his teammates and coaches, Peterson had an outgoing personality and inquisitive nature that regularly brought levity to the clubhouse and belied his prowess on the mound – notably his impeccable control, which was among the best in the Majors.
“Peterson will be greatly missed by the Yankees and we extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Susanne, and the entire Peterson family.”
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