In one late-June game, Peters went 4 for 5, with three runs scored.
"This is a kids' dream," Peters told The AP early that July. "The older guys on the team helped me keep my spirits up when I wasn't playing, now they're keeping me steady when I am playing."
Peters went on to live that dream in five major league seasons. After his career ended, he had a brief career trying to get others to realize that dream, too.
Peters' career in baseball began in 1977, taken by the Tigers in the seventh round of the draft out of Arizona State University. He's referred to as Ricky Peters on his ProCards card.
Peters made a quick ascent to the majors. He played 1977 at AA Montgomery, then 1978 at AAA Evansville. He returned to Evansville for 1979, hitting .320. That September, Peters debuted in Detroit.
Peters got into 12 games for the Tigers that year, picking up five hits in 19 at bats. He also knocked in two runs.
Then came 1980, when he became a regular. He got into 133 games for the Tigers that year. He hit .291, knocking in 42 runs. He also came in sixth in the Rookie of the Year balloting.
Going into 1981, the Tigers had Peters penciled in for center field. Peters just focused on playing, according to The AP.
"I have a job now, I have a fresh start," Peters told The AP that March. "This is how I wanted 1980 to start out, with all the hopes and with all the goals and things."
Peters' made the Tigers in 1981, but his season was limited to 63 games. He hit .256. He then missed all of 1982 to a sore elbow.
He returned to the majors with the Athletics in 1983 for 55 games. He hit .287. After spending 1984 and 1985 at AAA, Peters came back in 1986 for 44 final major league games. He hit .184, ending his playing career.
Peters then returned to Arizona State to become a coach. In 1989, he joined the Astros as a roving instructor. He managed at short-season Auburn in 1990, then served as a coach at single-A Burlington for 1991 and 1992, marking the extent of his recorded coaching career.
- Tuscaloosa News, Associated Press, July 2, 1980: Peters has flavor minus mustard
- Owosso Argus-Press, Associated Press, March 23, 1981: Peters Feels He's Earned His Position
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,238
Made the Majors: 943-42.1%
Never Made Majors:1,295-57.9%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 394
10+ Seasons in the Minors:238
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