{{short description|Canadian baseball player (born 1940)}} {{For|the American novelist and screenwriter|Peter Craig}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Pete Craig |position=Pitcher |image= |caption= |bats=Left |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1940|7|10}} |birth_place=LaSalle, Ontario, Canada |death_date= |death_place= |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= *Washington Senators (1964–1966) }} '''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 {{Convert|6|ft|5|in|abbr=on}} tall and weighed {{Convert|220|lb|abbr=on}}.
==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.<ref name="Ex-Titan Real Tiger">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105193808/ex-titan-real-tiger/|title=Ex-Titan Real Tiger|page=22|work=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 26, 1964|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Olivet Nine In No-Hit Defeat">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105197902/olivet-nine-in-no-hit-defeat/|title=Olivet Nine In No-Hit Defeat|page=21|work=Battle Creek Enquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 16, 1961|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> He finished his college career with a 20-4 win–loss record and a school-record 219 strikeouts.<ref name="Craig Waits Pro Offers At U. of D.">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105193405/craig-waits-pro-offers-at-u-of-d/|title=Craig Waits Pro Offers At U. of D.|page=23|work=Windsor Star|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 21, 1963|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Tigers Sign Titans' Craig">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105193505/tigers-sign-titans-craig/|title=Tigers Sign Titans' Craig|page=47|work=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 14, 1963|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref>
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.<ref name="Coming 'N' Going">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105197249/coming-n-going/|title=Coming 'N' Going|author=Nelson, Jim|page=22|work=Windsor Star|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 11, 1967|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Craig Signs With Tigers for $13,000">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105193468/craig-signs-with-tigers-for-13000/|title=Craig Signs With Tigers for $13,000|page=7|work=Windsor Star|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 14, 1963|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> He pitched a complete game, one-hitter against the Winnipeg Goldeyes on July 21.<ref name="Craig's 1-Hitter Gives Duluth Another Victory">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105193565/craigs-1-hitter-gives-duluth-another/|title=Craig's 1-Hitter Gives Duluth Another Victory|agency=Associated Press|page=14|work=Winona Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 22, 1963|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> After Duluth-Superior won the Northern League championship, Craig was promoted to the Double-A Knoxville Smokies in late August.<ref name="New Pitcher Joins Club">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105193654/new-pitcher-joins-club/|title=New Pitcher Joins Club|author=Harris, Harold|page=6|work=Knoxville News Sentinel|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 31, 1963|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Pete Craig statistics at Baseball-Reference (Minors)">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=craig-001pet|title=Pete Craig statistics at Baseball-Reference (Minors) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Rox Finish High in NL Defense">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105193744/rox-finish-high-in-nl-defense/|title=Rox Finish High in NL Defense|page=37|work=St. Cloud Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 23, 1963|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> In April 1964, he was claimed by the Washington Senators for $8,000.<ref name="Ex-Tiger Craig Goes to Nats">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105193925/ex-tiger-craig-goes-to-nats/|title=Ex-Tiger Craig Goes to Nats|author=United Press International|page=19|work=Lansing State Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 13, 1964|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Pete Craig, pitcher">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105193878/pete-craig-pitcher/|title=Pete Craig, pitcher|page=56|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 14, 1966|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref>
==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.<ref name="Pete Craig Going Up">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105194138/pete-craig-going-up/|title=Pete Craig Going Up|page=23|work=Rocky Mount Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 3, 1964|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Tigers Top Senators 3rd Time">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105194161/tigers-top-senators-3rd-time/|title=Tigers Top Senators 3rd Time|page=8|work=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 7, 1964|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Pete Craig 1964 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=craigpe01&t=p&year=1964|title=Pete Craig 1964 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Sox Lose Big Lead, Rally to Win, 14-8">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105194802/sox-lose-big-lead-rally-to-win-14-8/|title=Sox Lose Big Lead, Rally to Win, 14-8|page=21|work=The Boston Globe|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 5, 1964|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref>
In April 1965, the Senators sent Craig down to the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders.<ref name="Senators Purchase Orioles' McCormick">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105194894/senators-purchase-orioles-mccormick/|title=Senators Purchase Orioles' McCormick|agency=Associated Press|page=78|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 4, 1965|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> After going 14-11 for Hawaii, he was recalled to Washington on September 4.<ref name="Senators Recall Craig">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105195063/senators-recall-craig/|title=Senators Recall Craig|agency=Associated Press|page=78|work=Hawaii Tribune-Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 5, 1965|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Nats Call Craig">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105195142/nats-call-craig/|title=Nats Call Craig|page=22|work=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 5, 1965|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> He started and lost all three games that he appeared in, allowing 13 earned runs in 14.1 innings and striking out two batters.<ref name="Pete Craig 1965 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=craigpe01&t=p&year=1965|title=Pete Craig 1965 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> He won 14 minor league games for the third-straight season in 1966 before being recalled on September 6, 1966.<ref name="Senators Call Up Three Islanders">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105196985/senators-call-up-three-islanders/|title=Senators Call Up Three Islanders|page=21|work=The Honolulu Advertiser|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 7, 1966|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> Craig appeared in one major league game that month, pitching 2.0 innings against the Chicago White Sox on September 24.<ref name="Pete Craig 1966 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=craigpe01&t=p&year=1966|title=Pete Craig 1966 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> He began the 1967 season with the Indianapolis Indians before rejoining the Islanders on July 11.<ref name="Craig Assigned to Indianapolis">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105197448/craig-assigned-to-indianapolis/|title=Craig Assigned to Indianapolis|page=65|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 30, 1967|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Craig Back With Islanders">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105197475/craig-back-with-islanders/|title=Craig Back With Islanders|page=25|work=The Honolulu Advertiser|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 12, 1967|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> Craig quit baseball after the 1967 season and worked at a bank in North Carolina.<ref name="Hawaii bows to ex-Islanders, 6-4">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105197568/hawaii-bows-to-ex-islanders-6-4/|title=Hawaii bows to ex-Islanders, 6-4|page=28|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 26, 1968|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|9}}
==External links== {{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=c/craigpe01 |fangraphs= |cube= |brm=craig-001pet}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, Pete}} Category:1940 births Category:Living people Category:Baseball people from Ontario Category:Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Detroit Mercy Titans baseball players Category:Duluth-Superior Dukes players Category:Hawaii Islanders players Category:Indianapolis Indians players Category:Knoxville Smokies players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Major League Baseball players from Canada Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Sportspeople from Essex County, Ontario Category:Rocky Mount Senators players Category:Washington Senators (1961–1971) players