Pete Mikkelsen

Peter James Mikkelsen

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 220 lb.
• High School Mark Keppel High School
• Debut April 17, 1964
• Final Game September 18, 1972
• Born October 25, 1939 in Staten Island, NY USA
• Died November 29, 2006 in Mabton, WA USA

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Biographical Information

Primarily a reliever, pitcher Pete Mikkelsen reached the World Series in 1964, his rookie season with the New York Yankees. His rookie season bullpen work for the Bronx Bombers was instrumental in helping the team squeeze out an American League pennant, the last for the old Yankee dynasty that dated back to the days of Babe Ruth. Although Mikkelsen pitched for five major league teams in his first six years, his ERA was better than the league average in five of the six years. He was a dependable reliever with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the early 1970s. Mikkelsen employed a classic forkball rather than the modern split-finger fastball.

Mikkelsen had some sort of contractual dispute with the Topps company starting in the late 1960s, which resulted in his not appearing in any of the company's baseball card sets after 1968, while he should normally have had a card in every set between 1969 and 1973. Tony Horton and Rusty Staub are the other significant players from that era to be in that situation.

Prior to reaching the majors, Mikkelsen served in the Marine Corps. After his baseball career ended, he became a farmer. He died in 2006 at age 67.

Related Sites

• Pete Mikkelsen at the SABR Bio Project