Deron Johnson

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1972 Topps

Deron Roger Johnson

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 209 lb.

Debut September 20, 1960
Final Game May 28, 1976
Born July 17, 1938 in San Diego, CA USA
Died April 23, 1992 in Poway, CA USA

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[edit] Biographical Information

Deron "D.J." Johnson was one of the first players brought in to be a DH specialist. When the American League adopted the designated hitter for the 1973 season, most league teams did not think it worthwhile to go out and acquire a player who would be strictly a DH. As the season wore on, many teams saw an advantage to using a slugger who was beyond his prime and suspect on defense in that role. In May of 1973, the Oakland A's acquired Johnson from the Philadelphia Phillies to be their DH, a role that Johnson filled for the remainder of the season. He hit 19 HR with the A's (plus one with the Phillies) and drove in 81 but batted only .246. He bounced around with several teams after 1973, finishing his career with the Boston Red Sox in 1976. Johnson's best years came in 1965 with the Cincinnati Reds when he hit 32 HR with 130 RBI and hit .287, finishing fourth in the MVP voting and in 1971 with the Phillies when he slugged 34 HR with 95 RBI and a .265 average. He also played for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago White Sox. In spite of his success as a hitter, he was never an All-Star.

After his playing career ended, Johnson was a long-time big league coach. He managed the Salt Lake City Gulls in 1978, then began his coaching career with the California Angels in 1979 and 1980. He was a New York Mets coach in 1981 and a member of the Philadelphia Phillies staff from 1982 to 1984. In 1985 and 1986, he was with the Seattle Mariners, and he spent the next year with the Chicago White Sox. He returned to the Angels as hitting coach from 1989 to 1991. Johnson died of lung cancer in 1992 at age 53.