Jeff Peterek Forum

Saw a report that Jeff Peterek, who pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1989, passed away at the age of 60 on October 8, 2023.

Thanks for sharing, I missed that. RIP 

I remember him playing for the Denver Zephyrs when I was a kid, listening to them on the radio with Norm Jones calling the games. And I probably saw him pitch at the old Mile High stadium. RIP Jeff.

Thank you for posting this.

Shame on me for not seeing this sooner, rather than more than a week after it happened. I'm surprised it didn't come across my socials. After some searching, I did see an obituary posted in one alumni group on Facebook. You see, Jeff Peterek is one of my player collections, as he and I are from the same small town in southwest Michigan. Granted, 30 years or so separate our timelines, but we both attended and played at River Valley High School (I also spent the 2022 and 2023 spring seasons as the head baseball coach there), and he remains one of only two individuals from that high school to achieve the ultimate baseball goal - playing Major League Baseball. If you'll allow me to share a few details...

He is something of a mythological being when it comes to River Valley baseball, as his high school teams had only moderate success compared to the teams from the mid- and late-1990s. You can still find him in the Michigan High School Athletic Association record book though - in 1980, he threw two consecutive no-hitters. He also held a school record (since broken) of 9 consecutive strikeouts and still holds the school record for most consecutive hitless innings (18).

After River Valley, Jeff went to Lake Michigan College (where I am coaching at now, ironically enough). He spent the 1981 and 1982 seasons at LMC before transferring to Western Kentucky University for the 1983 season. In 15 games, Jeff had nine starts, four complete games, two saves, a 6.26 ERA, and 52 strikeouts in 73.1 innings. He did record seven wild pitches, 38 walks, and 93 hits, however, as the team finished 26-22. He would transfer to University of Mary Hardin-Baylor University in Belton, Texas (an NAIA team at the time) for his senior season. In 1985, the Brewers signed Peterek as a free agent, and he became the first River Valley alum to play professional baseball.

It's easy enough to find his minor league stats on Baseball Reference - 6-2 with a 2.88 ERA with Beloit in 1985, 15-6 with (again) a 2.88 ERA in 1986 with Stockton, and a combined 13-6 in 1987 with El Paso (AA) and Stockton (A). He would make it to AAA Denver in 1988 (with some time in El Paso as well), going a total of 14-7 with a 3.75 ERA. In August of 1989, Jeff got the call that many of us have dreamed of, making his major league debut on August 14 at Milwaukee County Stadium against the Yankees. Jeff would throw 7 innings, giving up just two hits (one of them a double to Don Mattingly), two earned runs, and striking out four. He left the game in line for his first major league win but unfortunately, Chuck Crim would blow the lead in the 8th, and Tony Fossas ended up the victorious pitcher after Gus Polidor drove in BJ Surhoff in the bottom of the 9th.

Jeff never did get a major league win - his final career record was 0-2 with a 4.02 ERA in 7 games (31.1 innings). His second loss came just over two weeks later, on August 30, 1989, when Randy Johnson toed the rubber for Seattle (and Ken Griffey Jr. took Jeff deep in the second inning). After the 1989 season, arm problems would begin, and Jeff only made it through 9 games with Denver in 1990 before his release at the end of May. In 1991, he made a brief stint with the Richmond Braves, but after six relief appearances and a 4.38 ERA, his affiliated career was over.

I had the pleasure of meeting him once or twice, and he was always gracious and smiling. Friends of his will tell you the same thing - optimistic, friendly, and outgoing, he went into the real estate business and stayed in the local area. He accomplished what most of us could only dream of - stepping foot on a major league baseball field and playing a professional baseball game. From one River Valley Baseball Family member to another, Mr. Peterek, I tip my cap and thank you for the legacy of baseball you left in southwest Michigan. Rest in Peace, sir.

Thank you for the fantastic story of Jeff's baseball life.  When I saw this original thread, I looked up his ML stats on b-r and moved on with my day.

It's great to hear the life connections that you and he had as well as all the interesting stories and records of his pre-ML career.

I really do appreciate you sharing.