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“The Jacket’s” Pitching Career


By Mike Silva ~ March 22nd, 2011. Filed under: Mike Silva, NY Baseball Memories.

Everyone knows Rick Peterson for his time as the pitching coach with Oakland, Milwaukee, and the Mets. What many do not realize is that Peterson comes from a baseball family, and also was a minor league pitcher himself.

Before he was known as “The Jacket” by New York fans, Peterson pitched parts of eight seasons in the minors (1976-1988), primarily with the Pirates organization. His father Hardy was a catcher for the Pirates back in the fifties, as well as their general manager during the 1979 championship season.

For his career Peterson appeared in 67 games, started 18, went 6-11 with a 5.68 ERA. The picture enclosed is courtesy of Baseball-Reference, and taken when Rick played for the Bradenton Explorers of the Senior Professional Baseball League.

Younger readers may not remember that league, but it was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over. The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72 game schedule. It would only last two seasons. Some other luminaries that starred in the league were Dave Kingman, Rollie Fingers, Ferguson Jenkins, and Vida Blue.

Peterson now is doing work for Bloomberg Sports as well as teaches pitching over at 3P Sports.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com
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1 Response to “The Jacket’s” Pitching Career

  1. Stu B
    March 22nd, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    His father’s name actually was Harding “Pete” Peterson…

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