Q: In a sports almanac, it says that in 1973, New York Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich swapped wives and children. How did that work out?
— David Dickey, Dallas
A: Peterson and Susanne Kekich have been married since 1974, but Kekich and Marilyn Peterson split up months after moving in with each other.
The couples had known each other since 1969 and decided to switch wives in 1972. The news conferences were held during spring training on March 4, 1973.
Susanne Kekich and the Kekiches’ daughters lived with Peterson. Marilyn Peterson and the Petersons’ two sons lived with Kekich.
“Actually, it was a husband trade — Mike for me or me for Mike,’’ Peterson told the Palm Beach Post in 2013.
Kekich and Marilyn separated before the news conference, the New York Daily News reported in 1973.
The New York Post reported in April 2015 that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were attempting to make a movie about the swap.
Q: Astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth after 340 days in space. I read a news account that stated his height increased by 2 inches. Can you explain this?
— Tom Brayton, Sharpsburg
A: Human spines "elongate" up to 3 percent in space because of the lack of gravity.
That allows vertebrae to expand, adding height to astronauts, NASA.gov states. They revert to their normal height soon after they return to Earth.
Agencies must take this increase into account and fit astronauts with spacesuits that will allow them to grow while in space.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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