Through the Smoke: The Story of Steve Peters
- Jeremiah Edwards
- Jul 20, 2017
- 3 min read
Name: Steve Peters
Card Company: Topps
Year: 1989
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Bats/Throws: L
Ht: 5'10
Steve Peters didn’t have a long baseball career, in fact this might be the last baseball card ever of him made. As a player that spent most of his career in the minor leagues it’s not a surprise that he has been forgotten by the baseball world. However, as we all know there is more than meets the eye when it comes to a lot of these baseball players.
Steve Peters was originally selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 7th round of the 1983 MLB Draft but did not sign. After turning down the White Sox, Peters went on to have a remarkable career at the University of Oklahoma winning a then record 14 games for the Sooners in 1985. And during the 1985 MLB draft the Cardinals took notice and drafted him with their 5th round selection, and this time he did sign.
And early on it looked like the Cardinals had gotten the steal of the draft with Peters in his first 3 minor league seasons compiling a 26-11 record with a 1.34 ERA. This performance garnered enough attention that the Cardinals brought him up during their 1987 NL Pennant run. In that 1987 season, Peters would impress again this time putting up a 1.80 ERA in 12 games for the redbirds. It seemed like Peters was destined to be a member of the St. Louis pitching staff for a long time, until things got dicey. In 1988, he spent time between AAA Louisville and St. Louis, putting up a combined ERA of 5.38 between the two clubs. These numbers were obviously a letdown and after he failed to make it out of the minors in 1989 Peters was traded to the San Diego Padres with Alex Cole for Omar Olivares in 1990.
The move to the Padres organization didn’t help and after another disappointing minor league season he was cut from the organization. In 1991, he was signed by the Texas Rangers to a minor league deal and once again he failed to make it out of the minor leagues and was eventually let go. And just like that a prospect that showed so much potential in 1987 was gone from baseball.
After retiring from baseball Steve Peters went back to Oklahoma to spend time with his family and to find a job. He eventually would become a fire fighter for the Oklahoma City FD and have a son named Bradley and a daughter named Sarah. Peters would divorce his first wife, but got remarried in 2001 to his present-day wife Amy and got a new-stepson named Brody. Finally, after all the ups and downs both on and off the baseball field it looked like it was all coming together. But in 2004 Steve’s son Bradley would die in a car crash and he quickly fell into a depression. But, with the support of not only his wife but the fire department as well Steve Peters would finally come out of his depression and would go on to have twins with his wife Amy.
Peters eventually became a Captain in the Oklahoma City FD, and is an example of what life can be after sports. With so many young professional athletes going broke after exiting sports it’s refreshing to see someone like Steve Peters thrive. He should be an example for young athletes that don’t make it that there is a life after sports, and that if you surround yourself with the right people you too can make it.
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