September 18, 1976 – Canadian Bill Atkinson makes MLB debut

September 18, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

Forty-eight years ago today, Bill Atkinson (Chatham, Ont.) made his major league debut with the Montreal Expos.

The 5-foot-8 right-hander entered the game in the fourth inning and proceeded to toss three scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in the Expos’ 4-1 loss at Jarry Park.

With his debut, Atkinson became the third Canadian to pitch for the Expos. Right-hander Claude Raymond (St. Jean, Que.) had made 111 appearances in parts of three seasons with the Expos from 1969 to 1971 and Larry Landreth (Stratford, Ont.) had started for the Expos just two days prior to Atkinson’s debut.

Signed by the Expos out of John McGregor Secondary School in Chatham, Ont., on his 17th birthday, Atkinson had toed the rubber for five seasons in the Expos’ organization before getting his first big league call-up in September 1976.

In his major league debut, the 21-year-old Atkinson came in in relief after starter Don Stanhouse had been roughed up for four runs in three innings. Throwing to future Hall of Famer Gary Carter, Atkinson permitted a single to Hector Cruz and a double to Luis Alvarado, the first two batters he faced. He would then bear down and strike out Cards pitcher Bob Forsch. Leadoff hitter Jerry Mumphrey then flied out to centre fielder Ellis Valentine, who gunned down Cruz at the plate to end the frame.

It was smoother sailing for Atkinson from there. In the fifth, he allowed a single to Keith Hernandez, but the All-Star first baseman was stranded when Atkinson retired future Cooperstowners Ted Simmons and Lou Brock on fly outs.

“You’ve got to face them. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Atkinson said in a 2020 phone interview about facing Simmons and Brock in his debut. “I didn’t worry about who was hitting, I never did.”

In his final inning that day, Atkinson retired the Cardinals in order.

In total, Atkinson appeared in four big league games with the Expos that September and didn’t allow a run.

In 1977, he developed into one of the Expos’ most versatile and reliable bullpen arms. He finished second (to Atlanta Braves’ Rick Camp) among National League rookie relievers in wins (7) and saves (7) and established what was then an Expos’ record for appearances by a first-year pitcher (55). He also posted a tidy 3.35 ERA in 83-1/3 innings. In his 55 appearances, Atkinson pitched two or more innings 22 times.

“Back then you did what you had to do,” Atkinson told me in a 2020 phone interview. “I’m not sure what [Expos manager] Dick Williams’ mind was saying, but he would just throw you out there and say, ‘Go get ’em.’”

In all, Atkinson would post an 11-4 record and a 3.42 ERA in 98 big league appearances in parts of four seasons with the Expos from 1976 to 1979.