James Atkins (baseball)

James Atkins
Pitcher
Born: (1921-03-10)March 10, 1921 Birmingham, Alabama
Died: Hanceville, Alabama
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 29, 1950, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
May 10, 1952, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	0–1
Earned run average	3.60
Strikeouts	2
Teams
Boston Red Sox (1950, 1952)

James Curtis Atkins (March 10, 1921 – February 28, 2009) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox in the 1950 and 1952 seasons. Listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and 205 pounds (93 kg), Atkins batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama.

Atkins' pro career began in 1941 and was interrupted from 1942–45 by his service as a United States Marine in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

In a two-season MLB career, Atkins posted a 0–1 record with a 3.60 ERA, two strikeouts, 15 hits allowed and 11 bases on balls in 15 innings of work in four appearances (one as a starter). In his lone start, on April 21, 1952, at Fenway Park against the Washington Senators, Atkins allowed only three hits and two earned runs in 7⅓ innings. He also went two for three as a batter. But he surrendered five bases on balls and was the losing pitcher in a 3–2 Washington victory.

Atkins won 145 games in the minor leagues, including one 19-win season (1951), and retired from baseball after the 1957 season. He died in Hanceville, Alabama, at the age of 87.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Retrosheet