Jim Atchley

James Richard Atchley

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 170 lb.
• School Michigan State University
• High School St. Philip High School (Battle Creek)

• Born August 8, 1923 in Battle Creek, MI USA
• Died October 8, 2013 in Battle Creek, MI USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Jim Atchley played in the minor leagues from 1946 to 1955, briefly reaching Triple-A.

He served in the Pacific during World War II. He began his career in the St. Louis Cardinals system, pitching for the Duluth Dukes in 1946 and going 3-6 with a 5.88 ERA in 22 games. The next year, with the unaffiliated Hopkinsville Hoppers, he went 15-9 with a 3.76 ERA in 32 games. He tied for fourth in the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League in wins. He joined the Chicago Cubs system for 1948, remaining there through 1951. With the Fayetteville Cubs in 1948, Atchley was 16-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 41 games. He tied Lacy James for 10th in the Tri-State League in victories. With the Macon Peaches in 1949, he had the best year of his career, going 20-7 with a 2.32 ERA and only 34 walks in 32 games (248 innings). He led the South Atlantic League in WHIP (0.956) and BB/9 IP ratio (1.2), tied Bob Spicer, Jack Faszholz and Alfred Burch for the lead in wins and placed behind Faszholz in innings pitched. He was second to Sanford Silverstein in ERA.

Atchley split 1950 between the Nashville Volunteers (33 G), the Triple-A Springfield Cubs (3 G) and the Triple-A Los Angeles Angels (2 G), going 8-10 with a 4.40 ERA in 38 games. In 1951, he was 12-6 with a 4.20 ERA in 41 games (21 starts) for Nashville, walking only 37 in 180 innings. He played for the Oklahoma City Indians (9-10, 2.53 ERA) and Nashville Volunteers (0-4) - now a New York Giants affiliate - in 1952 and went a combined 9-14 in 33 games. He was 9-13 with a 3.69 ERA in 44 games (20 starts) split between Oklahoma City and the the St. Louis Cardinals-affiliated Houston Buffaloes in 1953. He tied for 6th in the Texas League in losses. Back with Houston in 1954, he was 7-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 42 games (one start). He began the 1955 season in the Cardinals system, pitching for Houston, but wound up in the Indians organization, finishing the year with the Tulsa Oilers. He was 1-2 in 33 games.

Overall, Atchley was 100-82 in 358 games.

He worked for Kellogg's from 1956-1986. He made custom golf clubs after retiring.

Sources include Obituary