Position: Major League Relief Pitcher
Bats R and Throws L
Birth Date:  October 4,1954
From: Chatham, Ontario Canada
Height: 5' 7" Weight: 158lbs

LINKS
Baseball Reference
Stats (from The Baseball Almanac)

ARTIFACTS

Category - Modern Athlete

Bill Atkinson, a graduate of John McGregor Secondary School was an all-round athlete in his youth. Bill went on to play and coach professional baseball for 11 years, reaching the major leagues with the Montreal Expos in 1976. Bill was born in 1954 and still resides in Chatham where he continued to play senior baseball until 1999.

Atkinson was called up to Montreal in September 1976 and did not allow a run in four outings. He made the Expos out of spring training in 1977 and had a solid rookie season, with a 7-2 record and 7 saves in 55 games. His career took a bad turn on June 29, 1978, when he hurt his groin sliding at the plate to score the winning run of the Pearson Cup exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He only came back in September, after spending some more time in Denver, where he was hit hard, with a 7.41 ERA in 23 games. He failed to make the team in 1979, and returned to Denver, where he was a starting pitcher, pitching 11 complete games. He was recalled to Montreal in September, and pitched extremely well in a tight pennant race with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Expos sold Atkinson's contract to the Chicago White Sox after the 1979 season, but he never pitched in the majors again. He did save 11 games as a player-coach with Glens Falls of the AAA  Eastern in 1982, and combined with Mark Esser on an 11-inning no-hitter against Reading that year. He retired as a player after the 1983 season.

Bill Atkinson was extremely short for a pitcher, but compensated for his lack of a great fastball with a devastating curve, a forkball, and a change-up, but he was always only as good as his control. He also worked hard on his hitting (he was 3 for 10 in the majors) and his fielding: 6 put outs and 18 assists in 83 innings in 1977 is outstanding !

• 1971
  • In October Bill Atkinson signed  a contract with Montreal Expos
• 1972
  • Jamestown, N.Y. - pitched 25 innings in 19 games, struck out 27, walked 11 while winning 3 games, losing 3, and saving 5 with a 3.60 ERA
• 1973
  • West Palm Beach, Florida - pitched 113 innings in 35 games, struck out 69, walked 33,, while winning 8 games, losing 7, and saving 6 with a 3.03 ERA
• 1974
  • Quebec City (AA) - pitched 141 innings in 33 games, struck out 66, walked 65, while winning 7 games, losing 8, and saving 5 with a 3.70 ERA
• 1975
  • Memphis, Tennessee (AAA) - pitched 106 innings in 49 games, struck out 72, walked 36, while winning 3 games, losing 4, and saving 7 with a 2.80 ERA
• 1976
  • Denver, Colorado (AAA) - pitched 79 innings in 51 games, struck out 61, walked 47, while winning 6 games, losing 3, and saving 15 with a 3.99 ERA - September 18 made ma or league debut with Montreal Expos pitching against St. Louis Cardinals - Montreal - pitched 5 innings in 4 games, struck out 4 and walked 1
• 1977
  • Montreal Expos - pitched 83 innings in 55 games, struck out 56, walked 29, while winning 7 games, losing 2, and saving 7 with a 3.36 ERA 1978 - started season in Montreal; was winning pitcher and scored winning run in first Pearson Cup game against Toronto; injured during game ; sent to Denver - pitched 34 innings in 23 games, struck out 18, walked 25, while winning I game, losing 3, and saving 6; Montreal - pitched 45 innings in 29 games, struck out 32, walked 28, while winning 2 games, losing 2, and saving 3
• 1979
  • Started season in Denver where he pitched 187 innings in 36 games, struck out 83, walked 54, while winning 9 games, losing 6, and saving 2 with a 4.14 ERA; returned to Montreal and  pitched 14 innings in 10 games, struck out 7, walked 4, while winning 2 games, losing 0, and saving 1 with a 1.98 ERA 
• 1980
  • In December 1980 Bill was sold to Chicago White Sox
• 1983 
  • Played and coached in the minor professional leagues with a combined record of 23 wins, 27 loses, and 23 saves.
  • 1983 Coach Appleton Foxes