Mike Kekich

Michael Dennis Kekich (born April 2, 1945) is an American former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners in parts of nine seasons spanning 1965–1977. In 1974, he played in Japan for the Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Mike Kekich
Kekich in 1978
Pitcher
Born: (1945-04-02) April 2, 1945
San Diego, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: June 9, 1965, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
NPB: July 7, 1974, for the Nippon-Ham Fighters
Last appearance
MLB: October 1, 1977, for the Seattle Mariners
NPB: September 28, 1974, for the Nippon-Ham Fighters
MLB statistics
Win–loss record39–51
Earned run average4.59
Strikeouts497
Teams

Career

Kekich was a left-handed pitcher who began his career as a starter but later moved to the bullpen as a reliever. He had a modestly successful career in the Major Leagues, but he is best remembered for trading families with fellow Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson before the 1973 season.[1] The trade worked out better for Peterson, who later married Kekich's wife, Susanne, than it did for Kekich, who soon broke up with Peterson's wife, Marilyn.[2]

During the NBC Game of the Week on October 4, 1986 announcer Vin Scully stated Kekich was the first player he ever saw ejected from an MLB game before the player had ever played in an MLB game. The incident occurred during the 1965 season and Kekich, a member of the Dodgers, was thrown out for heckling on the bench.


After his big league career ended, Kekich attempted a comeback in the Mexican League, but this proved unsuccessful. He is remarried and currently resides near Albuquerque, New Mexico.

References
  1. Blackman, Ted (March 7, 1973). "Flash: Fritz Peterson, Mike Kekich trade wives". The Gazette. Montreal. p. 13. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  2. Moran, Sheila (July 31, 1977). "Kekich Swaps Troubles For Peace, Happiness". Pittsburgh Press. p. D-2. Retrieved July 18, 2015.


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