Alex Johnson
From BR Bullpen
Alexander Johnson
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 205 lb.
- Debut July 25, 1964
- Final Game October 1, 1976
- Born December 7, 1942 in Helena, AR USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Alex Johnson played thirteen years in the majors and is best remembered for winning the American League batting championship in 1970 with a .329 batting average. He had previously been in the top ten in batting in 1968-69 in the National League. Johnson was a high-profile player who was often the center of controversy.
Johnson broke in with the 1964 Phillies, a team which also featured Dick Allen in his first full season in the majors.
At age 24, he was a backup on the 1967 Cardinals who won the 1967 World Series. Johnson did not appear in the Series.
Throughout his whole career, Johnson never stayed more than two years with any major league team. He was with the Phillies for two years in 1964-65, the Cardinals in 1966-67, the Reds in 1968-69, the Angels in 1970-71, the Indians in 1972, the Rangers in 1973 and most of 1974, the Yankees in part of 1974 and part of 1975, and the Tigers in 1976. He was sometimes part of big trades, being involved once in a trade for Dick Groat and another time in a trade for Vada Pinson.
His emotional disability was at the center of one of the landmark cases in the early days of the players' union.
After his major league days he played one season for Mexico City.
After baseball, he ran a truck repair and leasing company.
His brother Ron Johnson was an NFL running back for the Cleveland Browns (1969) and New York Giants (1970-1975).
SABR has a biography of Alex Johnson that details some of the controversies in his career.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- AL All-Star (1970)
- 1968 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
- AL Batting Average Leader (1970)
- AL Singles Leader (1970)
- 200 Hits Seasons: 1 (1970)
- Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967 (he did not play in the World Series)
