| Bill Wilkinson | |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Left |
| Birth Date: | 10 August 1964 |
| Birth Place: | Greybull, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | June 13 |
| Debutyear: | 1985 |
| Debutteam: | Seattle Mariners |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | October 2 |
| Finalyear: | 1988 |
| Finalteam: | Seattle Mariners |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 5–8 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 4.13 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 103 |
| Teams: |
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William Carl Wilkinson (born August 10, 1964) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. A left-handed pitcher, Wilkinson played for Major League Baseball's (MLB) Seattle Mariners in 1985, and from 1987 to 1988. During his career, he had a 5–8 record, 4.56 earned run average (ERA) and 103 strikeouts in 113⅓ innings pitched.[1]
In the 1983 MLB draft, Wilkinson was selected in the fourth round by the Mariners, with the 87th overall pick.[2] On June 13, 1985, he made his MLB debut with the Mariners, and took the loss against the Kansas City Royals after allowing four earned runs in five and two-thirds innings.[3] Five days later, Wilkinson lost in his only other appearance during the 1985 season, which was also a start; he allowed five earned runs and recorded only one out.[4] In his two MLB starts, Wilkinson was 0–2 with a 13.50 earned run average.[1] He was the fifth-youngest player in the American League in 1985.[5] Following his start against the Rangers, the Mariners demoted him to the minor leagues.[6]
Wilkinson did not pitch in MLB in 1986; he instead played for the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, the Calgary Cannons of the Pacific Coast League.[1] [7] In 1985 and 1986, Wilkinson had a combined record of 13–9 while pitching for the Cannons.[8] He appeared in 56 games as a reliever for Seattle in 1987, the most of any Mariners pitcher that year.[9] He compiled a 3–4 record, with a 3.66 earned run average (ERA) and 10 saves.[1] The following season, Wilkinson pitched in 30 games, and posted a 2–2 record with two saves and a career-low 3.48 ERA.[1] However, he suffered an injury to his left shoulder. Before the 1989 season began, Wilkinson was sent back down to the minor leagues, where he was used as a starter.[8] In April, the Mariners traded Wilkinson to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a five-player deal.[10] Wilkinson never pitched for the Pirates, and did not return to MLB after 1988.[1] His final minor league season was 1992, when he pitched for two teams in the Oakland Athletics organization, posting an 0–3 record and 8.21 ERA in 23 games.[11]
Born in Greybull, Wyoming,[1] Wilkinson is the great-grandson of Jim Bluejacket, a right-handed pitcher who spent three seasons in the Federal League and National League from 1914 to 1916.[12] Bluejacket and Wilkinson were the first great-grandfather and great-grandson duo that have both played in MLB.[13] Wilkinson's brother, Brian, was selected in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft by the Mariners.[14]