Keith Atherton, baseball player, 1983-1989

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

📊 Compare This Player 📈 View Career Timeline

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

Career ERA 3.99 vs. league average 3.90 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1983 OAK AL 2 5 29 0 0 0 4 68.3 53 21 23 40 2.77 3.87 (+29%) -168.6
1984 OAK AL 7 6 57 0 0 0 2 104.0 110 50 39 58 4.33 3.81 (-14%) -1724.9
1985 OAK AL 4 7 56 0 0 0 3 104.7 89 50 42 77 4.30 3.89 (-10%) -1696.8
1986 OAK AL 1 2 13 0 0 0 0 15.3 18 10 11 8 5.87 3.97 (-48%) -616.4
1986 MIN AL 5 8 47 0 0 0 10 81.7 82 34 35 59 3.75 3.97 (+6%) -225.7
1987 MIN AL 7 5 59 0 0 0 2 79.3 81 40 30 51 4.54 4.29 (-6%) -435.8
1988 MIN AL 7 5 49 0 0 0 3 74.0 65 28 22 43 3.41 3.73 (+9%) -1132.4
1989 CLE AL 0 3 32 0 0 0 2 39.0 48 18 13 13 4.15 3.71 (-12%) -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

Career AVG .000 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career OBP .000 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career SLG .000 vs. league average .390 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.000 vs. league average 0.713 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS 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 OAK AL 13 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
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 OAK P 13 0 1 1 0 0
1986 MIN P 47 0 5 10 1 1
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