Pete Craig Explained

Pete Craig
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Birth Date:10 July 1940
Birth Place:LaSalle, Ontario, Canada
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 6
Debutyear:1964
Debutteam:Washington Senators
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 24
Finalyear:1966
Finalteam:Washington Senators
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:0–3
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:11.50
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:3
Teams:

Peter Joel Craig (born July 10, 1940) is a Canadian former professional baseball player. He pitched in six games in Major League Baseball, four as a starter, over parts of three seasons (1964–1966) for the Washington Senators. He also pitched in the minor leagues from 1963 to 1967. Craig batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood 6inchesft5inchesin (ftin) tall and weighed 220lb.

Early life and career

Born in LaSalle, Ontario, Craig attended Assumption College School, where he failed three times to make the school's baseball team.[1] He attended college at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he spent three years pitching for the Detroit Mercy Titans. In his first varsity start on April 15, 1961, he pitched a seven-inning no-hitter against Olivet College.[2] He finished his college career with a 20-4 win–loss record and a school-record 219 strikeouts.[3] [4]

Craig was signed as an amateur free agent by the Detroit Tigers on June 13, 1963, for about $13,000 and was assigned to the Class A Duluth-Superior Dukes of the Northern League.[5] [6] He pitched a complete game, one-hitter against the Winnipeg Goldeyes on July 21.[7] After Duluth-Superior won the Northern League championship, Craig was promoted to the Double-A Knoxville Smokies in late August.[8] He finished the 1963 season with a 8–6 record and 2.32 earned run average across both leagues, with his 2.51 mark with Duluth-Superior the lowest in the Northern League.[9] [10] In April 1964, he was claimed by the Washington Senators for $8,000.[11] In 28 games with the Rocky Mount Senators in 1964, he led the league with 20 complete games and 208 innings pitched and was named a Carolina League all-star.[12]

Bouncing from minor to major leagues

Craig was called up to the Senators on September 3, 1964, and made his major league debut on September 6 against the Tigers.[13] [14] He allowed four earned runs in 1.0 innings in his debut, and would make one more appearance on October 4. In a start against the Boston Red Sox, he yielded five runs and issued three base on balls in 0.2 innings.[15] [16]

In April 1965, the Senators sent Craig down to the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders.[17] After going 14-11 for Hawaii, he was recalled to Washington on September 4.[18] [19] He started and lost all three games that he appeared in, allowing 13 earned runs in 14.1 innings and striking out two batters.[20] He won 14 minor league games for the third-straight season in 1966 before being recalled on September 6, 1966.[21] Craig appeared in one major league game that month, pitching 2.0 innings against the Chicago White Sox on September 24.[22] He began the 1967 season with the Indianapolis Indians before rejoining the Islanders on July 11.[23] [24] Craig quit baseball after the 1967 season and worked at a bank in North Carolina.[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ex-Titan Real Tiger. 22. Detroit Free Press. Newspapers.com. February 26, 1964. July 8, 2022.
  2. Web site: Olivet Nine In No-Hit Defeat. 21. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. April 16, 1961. July 8, 2022.
  3. Web site: Craig Waits Pro Offers At U. of D.. 23. Windsor Star. Newspapers.com. May 21, 1963. July 8, 2022.
  4. Web site: Tigers Sign Titans' Craig. 47. Detroit Free Press. Newspapers.com. June 14, 1963. July 8, 2022.
  5. Web site: Coming 'N' Going. Nelson, Jim. 22. Windsor Star. Newspapers.com. February 11, 1967. July 8, 2022.
  6. Web site: Craig Signs With Tigers for $13,000. 7. Windsor Star. Newspapers.com. June 14, 1963. July 8, 2022.
  7. Web site: Craig's 1-Hitter Gives Duluth Another Victory. Associated Press. 14. Winona Daily News. Newspapers.com. July 22, 1963. July 8, 2022.
  8. Web site: New Pitcher Joins Club. Harris, Harold. 6. Knoxville News Sentinel. Newspapers.com. August 31, 1963. July 8, 2022.
  9. Web site: Pete Craig statistics at Baseball-Reference (Minors) . Baseball-Reference.com. July 8, 2022.
  10. Web site: Rox Finish High in NL Defense. 37. St. Cloud Times. Newspapers.com. October 23, 1963. July 8, 2022.
  11. Web site: Ex-Tiger Craig Goes to Nats. United Press International. 19. Lansing State Journal. Newspapers.com. April 13, 1964. July 8, 2022.
  12. Web site: Pete Craig, pitcher. 56. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Newspapers.com. April 14, 1966. July 8, 2022.
  13. Web site: Pete Craig Going Up. 23. Rocky Mount Telegram. Newspapers.com. September 3, 1964. July 8, 2022.
  14. Web site: Tigers Top Senators 3rd Time. 8. Detroit Free Press. Newspapers.com. September 7, 1964. July 8, 2022.
  15. Web site: Pete Craig 1964 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference . Baseball-Reference.com. July 8, 2022.
  16. Web site: Sox Lose Big Lead, Rally to Win, 14-8. 21. The Boston Globe. Newspapers.com. October 5, 1964. July 8, 2022.
  17. Web site: Senators Purchase Orioles' McCormick. Associated Press. 78. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. April 4, 1965. July 8, 2022.
  18. Web site: Senators Recall Craig. Associated Press. 78. Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Newspapers.com. September 5, 1965. July 8, 2022.
  19. Web site: Nats Call Craig. 22. Detroit Free Press. Newspapers.com. September 5, 1965. July 8, 2022.
  20. Web site: Pete Craig 1965 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference . Baseball-Reference.com. July 8, 2022.
  21. Web site: Senators Call Up Three Islanders. 21. The Honolulu Advertiser. Newspapers.com. September 7, 1966. July 8, 2022.
  22. Web site: Pete Craig 1966 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference . Baseball-Reference.com. July 8, 2022.
  23. Web site: Craig Assigned to Indianapolis. 65. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Newspapers.com. April 30, 1967. July 8, 2022.
  24. Web site: Craig Back With Islanders. 25. The Honolulu Advertiser. Newspapers.com. July 12, 1967. July 8, 2022.
  25. Web site: Hawaii bows to ex-Islanders, 6-4. 28. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Newspapers.com. March 26, 1968. July 8, 2022.