Random Wednesday: Bill Atkinson

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Today’s entrant had a successful, if brief, career in the late-’70s. Bill Atkinson, a diminutive (5′7″) right-hander out of Chatham, Ontario (hometown of Hall-of-Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins), worked in 98 games for the Montreal Expos from 1976 to 1979.

Atkinson made four appearances for Montreal toward the end of the ‘76 season at age 21. The following year, he went 7-2, with 7 saves and a 3.35 ERA (113 ERA+) over 83 1/3 innings. He destroyed right-handers that season (.221/.270/.373) and pitched extremely well at home (45 IP, 2.00 ERA).

In 1978, Atkinson got into just 29 games, going 2-2, with 3 saves and a 4.37 ERA (80 ERA+). He made a few more appearances the next year and then disappeared. His career line: 11-4, with 11 saves and a 3.42 ERA (108 ERA+) over 147 1/3 innings.

Among other things, Atkinson retired Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench all three times he faced Bench — including a strikeout and a double play.

This Bill Atkinson is not to be confused with the engineer of the same name.