* Now hear this: Fritz Peterson

Fritz Peterson, left, and Ira Jaskoll, "founder" of the kosher component at Yankees Fantasy Camp

Like an old stand up comedian, former Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson will tell you it’s good to be here..It’s good to be anywhere.

Peterson, who might be as famous for the fact that he and Yankee teammate Mike Kekich swapped families (yes, families. Houses and pets, too) as much as his skill on the hill, was diagnosed with prostate cancer awhile back and things were looking desperate for a time. He made an appearance at the Yogi Berra Museum in Little Falls, NJ, in October while he was in the NY area promoting his new book, Mickey Mantle Is Going To Heaven (OutskirtsPress). He published it himself, disappointed with the response he was getting from the larger houses.

A deeply religious man, Peterson’s illness gave him a new-found interest in what happens to us after death and he is convinced that all eventually get to heaven, regardless of religion or belief. That sense of comfort and calm comfort comes out when you talk with him, as I did during the Yankee Fantasy Camp in November, where he and Phil “Harmonica” Linz coached the Thunder, the only team that went undefeated during the session. Peterson was still ecstatic over the good news he had recently received about the course of treatment he is undergoing; the disease seems to in stasis for the time being.

Peterson expressed (and continues to do so, as is evidenced by continued correspondence) interest in the different religions’ philosophies about the afterlife. God willing, he’ll be back for the January session, where he might have a chance to have that conversation with members of the Kosher group that will be in attendance.

By the way, Peterson is already working on a sequel with the working title, Joe DiMaggio is Going to Hell. Don’t worry, he explains it in the interview.

UPDATE: Feb. 12, 2011 — In an e-mail, Peterson said “I put the Joe D. book on the shelf for a while. (A public relations decision).”