Chris Petersen (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Ronald Petersen (born November 6, 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a former second baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played 7 games for the Colorado Rockies
in 1999. He attended Southington High School
in Southington, Connecticut
and then Georgia Southern University
, where he appeared in the 1990 College World Series
. He is 5'11" tall and he weighed 175 pounds. He was a right-hander.
Selected in the 9th round of the 1992 draft
(247th overall) by the Chicago Cubs
, Petersen spent several years in the minors before making his major league debut. Although he was no more than mediocre during his time in the minors (his batting average was constantly around the Mendoza Line
) he still managed a trip to the majors at the age of 28 during the 1999 season. He made his debut on May 25 of that year for the Rockies (who picked him up as a free agent), going one for four at the plate in his first game. In the rest of his season he did not fare so well, as he collected only one more hit in nine additional at bats. He finished his only season with a .154 batting average
, 2 RBI and one run in 13 career at bats (seven games). He had a .966 career fielding percentage
. He played his final big league game on June 4.
Petersen traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates
to the Arizona Diamondbacks
for Bry Nelson
on July 11, 2001. He never played in either of those teams' farm systems.
After the majors, he bounced around in the minors in the Cubs and Atlanta Braves
systems. Petersen spent 2003 and 2004 with the independent Nashua Pride
of the Atlantic League
.
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played 7 games for the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in 1999. He attended Southington High School
Southington High School
Southington High School is a public high school located at 720 Pleasant Street in Southington, Connecticut.It is the only high school located in the town of Southington.-Academics:...
in Southington, Connecticut
Southington, Connecticut
Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district. It is situated about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, about 80 miles northeast of New York City, 105 miles southwest of Boston and 77 miles west of Providence...
and then Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
, where he appeared in the 1990 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
. He is 5'11" tall and he weighed 175 pounds. He was a right-hander.
Selected in the 9th round of the 1992 draft
1992 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1992 Major League Baseball draft.-Other notable players:*Raúl Ibáñez, 36th round, Seattle Mariners...
(247th overall) by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Petersen spent several years in the minors before making his major league debut. Although he was no more than mediocre during his time in the minors (his batting average was constantly around the Mendoza Line
Mendoza Line
The Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting...
) he still managed a trip to the majors at the age of 28 during the 1999 season. He made his debut on May 25 of that year for the Rockies (who picked him up as a free agent), going one for four at the plate in his first game. In the rest of his season he did not fare so well, as he collected only one more hit in nine additional at bats. He finished his only season with a .154 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, 2 RBI and one run in 13 career at bats (seven games). He had a .966 career fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. He played his final big league game on June 4.
Petersen traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
for Bry Nelson
Bry Nelson
Bryant Lawrence Nelson is a Major League Baseball second baseman and outfielder. He played during one season at the major league level for the Boston Red Sox. He currently plays for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League.Nelson was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 44th round of the...
on July 11, 2001. He never played in either of those teams' farm systems.
After the majors, he bounced around in the minors in the Cubs and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
systems. Petersen spent 2003 and 2004 with the independent Nashua Pride
Nashua Pride
The Nashua Pride were a professional baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire, in the United States, not affiliated with Major League Baseball. They played home games at Holman Stadium from 1998 through 2008, when they were sold and renamed the American Defenders of New Hampshire. In 2010 that...
of the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
.
Fast facts
- Participated in the 1990 College World SeriesCollege World SeriesThe College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
tournament. - He was teammates with Pedro ValdesPedro ValdesPedro José Valdés Manzo is a left-handed professional baseball outfielder who currently plays for the Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League...
for six seasons professionally, which was longer than any other teammate. - He earned $200,000 in 1999.
- He wore number 2 as his uniform number.
- Pitched a few games professionally, but his earned run averageEarned run averageIn baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
was well over 10.00. - He lives in Altamonte Springs, FloridaAltamonte Springs, FloridaAltamonte Springs is a city in Seminole county in the U.S. state of Florida, which had a population of 41,496 at the 2010 census. Located primarily in Seminole County, the city is in the northern suburbs of the Orlando–Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the United States...
.