Keith Atherton
Born: 2/19/1959 in Newport News, VA, USA
MLB Debut: 1983-07-14 | Final Game: 1989-08-05
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: Keith Rowe Atherton
Biography
Keith Atherton, born in 1959, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1983 to 1989. Known for his versatility on the mound, Atherton played during a period characterized by a transition in baseball, moving from the tail end of the deadball era into a time where power hitting began to emerge more prominently. Throughout his career, he showcased a solid ability to manage games, finishing with a record of 33-41 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.99. His skill set allowed him to accumulate 349 strikeouts and secure 26 saves, marking him as a reliable presence in the bullpen during his time in the Major Leagues.
Atherton's journey in baseball was not just about statistics; it also reflected the evolving landscape of the sport in the 1980s. He contributed to his teams with a steady hand, often stepping up in critical situations. His career encapsulated the challenges faced by pitchers during an era that began to see an increase in offensive production, making his contributions all the more significant. After retiring from professional play on August 5, 1989, Atherton left behind a legacy as a capable pitcher who navigated the complexities of a changing game.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 41 | 342 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 566.3 | 546 | 251 | 75 | 215 | 349 | 3.99 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | OAK | AL | 2 | 5 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 68.3 | 53 | 21 | 23 | 40 | 2.77 | -168.6 |
| 1984 | OAK | AL | 7 | 6 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 104.0 | 110 | 50 | 39 | 58 | 4.33 | -1724.9 |
| 1985 | OAK | AL | 4 | 7 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 104.7 | 89 | 50 | 42 | 77 | 4.30 | -1696.8 |
| 1986 | MIN | AL | 5 | 8 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 81.7 | 82 | 34 | 35 | 59 | 3.75 | -225.7 |
| 1986 | OAK | AL | 1 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.3 | 18 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 5.87 | -616.4 |
| 1987 | MIN | AL | 7 | 5 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 79.3 | 81 | 40 | 30 | 51 | 4.54 | -435.8 |
| 1988 | MIN | AL | 7 | 5 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 74.0 | 65 | 28 | 22 | 43 | 3.41 | -1132.4 |
| 1989 | CLE | AL | 0 | 3 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 39.0 | 48 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 4.15 | -1689.7 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 342 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | OAK | AL | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1984 | OAK | AL | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1985 | OAK | AL | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1986 | MIN | AL | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1986 | OAK | AL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1987 | MIN | AL | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1988 | MIN | AL | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1989 | CLE | AL | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | ALCS | MIN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1987 | WS | MIN | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.40 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | ALCS | MIN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1987 | WS | MIN | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6.75 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 342 | 0 | 26 | 51 | 5 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | OAK | P | 29 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | OAK | P | 57 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | OAK | P | 56 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | MIN | P | 47 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | OAK | P | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | MIN | P | 59 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | MIN | P | 49 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | CLE | P | 32 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 342 |
| Designated Hitter | 1 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | MIN | AL | $345,000 |
| 1987 | MIN | AL | $300,000 |
| 1986 | OAK | AL | $183,700 |
| 1985 | OAK | AL | $107,333 |
| Total Career Earnings | $936,033 | ||