Cap Peterson – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Charles Andrew “Cap” Peterson wrapped up his professional baseball career in 1969 after eight seasons in Major League Baseball. He grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and played for three teams: the San Francisco Giants, Washington Senators, and Cleveland Indians.

Peterson played his last season with the Cleveland Indians in 1969. He appeared in 76 games as a backup outfielder and pinch-hitter before he retired from professional baseball at just 27. His career stretched from 1962 to 1969. Over that time, he collected a .230 batting average with 19 home runs and 122 RBIs in 536 games.

He never really locked down a regular starting job, but managers valued him as a utility player who could handle several outfield spots. Not everyone gets to be a star, right?

Peterson’s career tells the story of a determined guy who turned early minor league promise into a solid big league run. His journey through three different organizations says a lot about the challenges players faced trying to stick in baseball during the shifting 1960s.

Cap Peterson’s MLB Career Overview

Charles Andrew “Cap” Peterson played eight seasons in Major League Baseball between 1962 and 1969. He took the field for 536 games and wore the uniforms of three different teams.

He debuted at age 20 with the San Francisco Giants. His last games came with the Cleveland Indians, mostly as an outfielder during his pro career.

Major League Debut and Final Season

Peterson broke into the big leagues on September 12, 1962, with the San Francisco Giants. He was just 20 years old and faced the Cincinnati Reds, going hitless in his only at-bat.

He got called up after a huge year in the Texas League, where he won Most Valuable Player. That season really showed what he could do and sped up his climb to the majors.

Peterson played his final MLB game on September 28, 1969, with the Cleveland Indians. His eight-year career saw him put up a .230 average with 269 hits, 19 homers, and 122 RBIs.

From a rookie full of potential to a seasoned player, Peterson experienced the highs and lows of major league life.

Teams Played For

Peterson’s MLB career split across three teams over his eight seasons. He spent most of his time with the San Francisco Giants from 1962 to 1966, playing 244 games in five years.

His best stretch came with the Washington Senators in 1967 and 1968. Over those two seasons, he played in 216 games, including a career-high 122 games in 1967.

He wrapped things up with the Cleveland Indians in 1969, appearing in 76 games that year. It was his only season in Cleveland and his last shot at the majors.

While with the Giants, sharing the outfield with Willie Mays meant fewer chances for Peterson. Washington gave him more at-bats and his best stats.

Primary Position and Playing Style

Peterson mostly played as an outfielder in the majors, but he also filled in at other positions when needed. He worked in right, left, and center field, always adapting to what his team needed.

He even played first base, second base, third base, and shortstop at times. That kind of flexibility made him a handy utility guy.

Peterson batted and threw right-handed. He stood 6’2″ and weighed 195 pounds, a solid build for an outfielder. Still, his numbers say he was more of a role player than a household name.

He often came off the bench as a pinch hitter. Managers liked having someone like him who could play anywhere and contribute in different situations.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Peterson’s eight-year Major League career from 1962 to 1969 included his best season with the Washington Senators in 1967. He also went through several trades that shaped his path. His career batting average sat at .230 with 269 hits and 19 home runs across three teams.

Notable Seasons and Games

His breakout year happened in 1967 with the Washington Senators. Peterson played in 122 games, notching 97 hits and 8 home runs while driving in 46 runs over 405 at-bats.

He also had a solid 1965 with San Francisco, batting .248 with 26 hits in 105 at-bats, plus 3 homers and 15 RBIs.

In 1963, Peterson had an important developmental year with the Giants. He played several positions, including second and third base, and batted .259 in 54 at-bats.

He made his big league debut on September 12, 1962, against the Reds at age 20. By 1969, he was back with his old Giants manager, Alvin Dark, for his last season in Cleveland.

Statistical Milestones

Peterson collected 269 hits during his 536-game career. He reached double digits in hits every year except his short 1962 stint. His career OPS landed at .617, showing he made consistent contact.

He hit 19 home runs and 44 doubles over eight seasons. His biggest power year came in 1967 with 8 homers for Washington.

Career Batting Statistics:

• Batting Average: .230
• Hits: 269
• Home Runs: 19
• RBIs: 122
• Runs: 106

He drew 101 walks and struck out 195 times. Peterson’s patience at the plate actually improved in 1969 with Cleveland, where he walked 24 times in 110 at-bats.

Memorable Trades and Transactions

Peterson joined the Washington Senators before the 1967 season after five years with San Francisco. That trade gave him a real chance to play more and have his best season.

With Washington, Peterson finally became a regular outfielder. He played 216 games over two years with the Senators.

His last move sent him to the Cleveland Indians for the 1969 season. He mostly played as a reserve outfielder and pinch-hitter for manager Alvin Dark.

That reunion with Dark in Cleveland was the final chapter of Peterson’s major league story. He played 76 games for the Indians, batting .227 with 25 hits and one home run.

Performance with San Francisco Giants

Peterson spent his first five seasons with the Giants from 1962 to 1966. Those years saw him grow from a raw prospect to a steady big league contributor.

Early Years and Development

Peterson started his Giants career at 19 in 1962 with just four games and a .167 average.

He made strides in 1963, playing 22 games and hitting .259 with 14 hits. That showing earned him more chances the next year.

The 1964 season was tough. Peterson played 66 games but hit only .203 with 15 hits in 74 at-bats.

His best Giants season came in 1965. He played 63 games, hit .248 with 26 hits, including 7 doubles and 3 home runs, and drove in 15 runs—a personal best up to that point.

Impact on the Team

With the Giants, Peterson mostly filled in as a utility outfielder and pinch hitter. In his last San Francisco season in 1966, he played 89 games.

That year, he had 45 hits in 190 at-bats for a .237 average and added 19 RBIs. He played all over the outfield, showing his flexibility.

Over five years with the Giants, Peterson racked up 101 hits in 429 at-bats. His .235 average with San Francisco matched the tough hitting environment of that era.

He played alongside Willie Mays, which must’ve been surreal. Having legends around made it harder to find playing time, but it also offered some great learning moments.

Tenure with Washington Senators

Peterson joined the Washington Senators in 1967. Those two seasons turned out to be the best of his big league career. He got his most playing time and put up his top offensive numbers.

Key Contributions

In 1967, Peterson played 122 games for the Senators—a career high.

He had 97 hits in 405 at-bats for a .240 average. He also set personal bests with 46 RBIs and 8 home runs.

His offensive production included 17 doubles and 2 triples. He walked 32 times, showing better plate discipline than he had with the Giants.

The next year, 1968, wasn’t as strong. Peterson played 94 games and hit .204 with 46 hits in 226 at-bats.

Even with the lower average, he still hit 3 home runs and drove in 18 runs. He chipped in 8 doubles and a triple that season.

Role and Opportunities

The Senators finally gave Peterson a shot at regular playing time. He mostly played in the outfield, splitting time between left and right.

Peterson’s role expanded a lot from his part-time gigs with the Giants. Washington used him as both a starter and a pinch hitter.

In 1967, he played in nearly three-quarters of the team’s games. That steady playing time helped him get into a groove at the plate.

Washington gave Peterson 690 plate appearances over two years. That was more than half his career total.

After 1968, his time with the Senators ended. He played just one more season in the majors with Cleveland before calling it a career in 1969.

Final Season with Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians traded for Peterson on March 31, getting him from the Washington Senators. He spent the 1969 season as a backup outfielder and pinch-hitter. Peterson reunited with his old Giants manager, Alvin Dark, who now managed the Indians.

Transition to Cleveland

To get Peterson, the Indians sent minor leaguer Woody Woodson to Washington at the end of spring training. Cleveland wanted more outfield depth for 1969.

Peterson found himself back with a familiar manager, Alvin Dark. Dark had managed him in San Francisco years earlier.

Cleveland became Peterson’s third major league team. He’d spent the previous two years with Washington after starting out in San Francisco. This move would be his last in pro baseball.

Highlights of the 1969 Season

Peterson played in 76 games for Cleveland that year. He mostly came off the bench as a reserve outfielder and pinch-hitter.

Offensively, he didn’t put up big numbers. Peterson batted .227 with just one home run and 14 RBIs.

The Cleveland Indians finished 1969 with a rough 62-99 record, landing sixth in the AL East. Peterson’s final big league game came on September 28, 1969, closing out his eight-year career.

Legacy, Retirement, and Life After Baseball

Cap Peterson’s eight-year MLB run ended in 1969 when he retired at 27 after his last season with Cleveland. After baseball, he joined the family construction business. Peterson stayed in his hometown of Tacoma, Washington until he passed away in 1980.

Influence on Baseball

Peterson made a modest but meaningful impact on baseball during his time in the major leagues. Over eight seasons, he played 536 games and hit .230, racking up 269 hits in 1,170 at-bats.

He found his stride with the Washington Senators in 1967 and 1968. Those years gave him more regular playing time than he got earlier with the San Francisco Giants.

He broke into the majors at just 20 years old in 1962, not long after winning MVP honors in the Texas League. That achievement really showed his potential in the minors.

While with the Giants, he played outfield next to Willie Mays from 1962 to 1966. Playing alongside a legend like Mays must have been a wild learning experience.

You can still find his career statistics on baseball reference sites and retrosheet databases. These records keep his name in baseball history, even though his career wasn’t especially long.

Post-MLB Career and Personal Life

Peterson retired from the majors in 1969 but kept playing in the minor leagues for three more years. That gave him a little more time in the game before he eventually moved on.

After baseball, he joined his family’s construction business in Tacoma, Washington. It let him stay close to home, which must’ve felt right after all those years on the road.

He went to Clover Park High School in Lakewood, Washington before his pro career started. Coming back to Tacoma really was a homecoming for him.

The construction industry offered Peterson steady work and a reliable paycheck after baseball. Players from his era often had to find new careers because baseball salaries just didn’t stretch very far back then.

He stayed connected to his community in the Pacific Northwest throughout his later years. Even after playing for teams all over the country, his roots there never really faded.

Death and Remembrance

Cap Peterson died on May 16, 1980, in Tacoma, Washington. He was just 37.

His final MLB appearance had come only 11 years earlier. Time really moved fast for him after baseball.

Peterson rests at Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood, Washington. That spot keeps him close to his childhood home and the high school he once attended.

He only spent about a decade working in construction after leaving pro sports. Honestly, his life after baseball felt pretty short.

Baseball reference databases and retrosheet archives still hold his career records. Fans can check out his stats any time, which is kind of cool.

The Find a Grave memorial site lists his burial place and basic biographical details. It stands as a small but lasting tribute to his life and career.