Bill Peterman

William David Peterman

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Olney High School
• Debut April 26, 1942
• Final Game April 26, 1942
• Born March 20, 1921 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died March 13, 1999 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Catcher Bill Peterman signed as an amateur free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies and played his first of eight seasons in professional baseball with the Ottawa-Ogdensburg Senators of the class C Canadian-American League in 1940. Bill had his best year in minor league ball in 1941 with the Wausau Timberjacks of the class C Northern League and the 20 year old back-stop hit at a .336 clip with eight home runs while appearing in 109 games.

Undoubtedly this fine showing got Bill his one and only shot at the major leagues with the Phillies. He made his debut and exit on April 26, 1942, picking up one hit in one at-bat for a 1.000 batting average and for whatever the reason never got another shot at big league pitching. He was sent to the Williamsport Grays of the class A Eastern League and appeared in 65 games, hitting at a .205 average before the Military Service called his number and he spent until the 1946 season with the United States Army during World War II.

Peterman spent the rest of his professional baseball time in the minor leagues (1946-1950) with seven different teams, not really setting the world on fire and wound up his minor league career as manager of the Moultrie Athletics of the class D Georgia-Florida League in 1949, to a sixth place finish (56-82) and in 1950 he led the Cordele A's, of the same league, to a seventh place spot with a (55-80) record.

After baseball Peterman moved back to his native Philadelphia, PA where he worked and lived until his death on March 13, 1999 at the age of 78.

Related Sites

• Bill Peterman at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors page