Bob Johnson (infielder)

Robert Wallace Johnson (March 4, 1936 – November 12, 2019), nicknamed "Rocky", was an American professional baseball player. Largely a utility infielder and pinch hitter, Johnson appeared in 11 Major League Baseball seasons, from 1960 through 1970, for seven clubs, including the 1966 World Series champion Baltimore Orioles.[1] He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) tall, and weighed 175 lb (79 kg).

For other people with this name, see Bob Johnson (disambiguation).

Bob Johnson
Utility player
Born: (1936-03-04)March 4, 1936
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Died: November 12, 2019(2019-11-12) (aged 83)
St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 1960, for the Kansas City Athletics
Last appearance
June 20, 1970, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average.272
Home runs44
Runs batted in230
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Playing career

Johnson's 11-season MLB career began with the Kansas City Athletics and ended with the same franchise, when it was based in Oakland. He was a member of the expansion Washington Senators during their maiden season in the American League, then moved on to the Orioles, where he would play four full seasons and establish himself as a top pinch hitter. In 1964 he led the American League with 45 pinch hit at bats and 15 pinch hits. Three years later, in 1967, Johnson collected 13 pinch hits in 34 at-bats in a season split between the Orioles and the National League's New York Mets.[2]

Although Johnson's career batting average was only .272, he twice hit over .340 as a part-time player, for the 1967 Mets (.348) and the 1969 Athletics (.343). During the latter season, Johnson made 14 pinch hits in 50 at bats, in a season divided between Oakland and the St. Louis Cardinals.

In the field, Johnson played every infield position: shortstop (201 games), second base (167), third base (166) and first base (107).[3] He collected 66 pinch hits in 243 career at bats — to match his career overall batting average of .272.[2]

Johnson died on November 12, 2019 at age 83.[4]

References
  1. Bob Johnson at the SABR Baseball Biography Project, by Stew Thornley, Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  2. Bucek, Jeanine. Macmillan's Baseball Encyclopedia (10 ed.). p. 1,188.
  3. "Bob Johnson Stats". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  4. Rippel, Joel (November 13, 2019). "Ex-MLB player Johnson dies at 83". The Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
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