Books and articles about Alex Johnson

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No one could quite figure how to motivate Johnson, a surly yet talented hitter with a great arm who never achieved popularity despite his skills. He is best remembered for edging the popular Carl Yastremski in the AL batting race in 1970, .3289 to .3286. Known as an aggressive contact hitter who didn't strike out much and who hated to walk or talk, Johnson admitted that he never gave 100% and never hustled. He once told a reporter, "I'm just paid to hit." As a result of this lackadaisical attitude, he spent time with eight different teams in his 13-year career. Called the fastest righthanded hitter from home plate to first, Johnson had his first success with the Reds in the late 1960s, hitting over .300 both seasons he spent in Cincinnati. His fine play in 1970 was quickly forgotten the next season when Angels manager Lefty Phillips suspended him for being "a bad influence." After leaving California, he never again hit .300. (SEW)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 27, 1965: A week after sending veteran Ken Boyer to the Mets, St. Louis trades SS Dick Groat, 1B Bill White and C Bob Uecker to the Phillies for P Art Mahaffey, OF Alex Johnson and C Pat Corrales. » October 27, 1965: C Bob Uecker, 1B Bill White, and SS Dick Groat are traded by St. Louis to Philadelphia for P Art Mahaffey, OF Alex Johnson, and C Pat Corrales. » January 11, 1968: The Cardinals trade OF Alex Johnson to the Reds for OF Dick Simpson. » July 14, 1968: Houston's Don Wilson fans 18 batters in a 6-1 win at Cincinnati, tying the major-league record set by Bob Feller. Wilson (6-11) fans Johnny Bench to end the game. He also ties the major-league record with eight strikeouts in a row, striking out the side in the first three innings. A one-out walk to Alex Johnson in the 1st is the only interruption. Wilson also fans the side in the 5th. The Astros win the opener, 5–4. » November 25, 1969: The Reds trade Alex Johnson and Chico Ruiz to the California Angels for pitchers Pedro Borbon, Jim McGlothlin and Vern Geishert. The talented but troubled Johnson, who hit over .300 in his two seasons with the Reds, will win the AL batting title in 1970. Borbon and McGlothlin will be valuable additions to the big Red Machine. » September 9, 1970: California's Alex Johnson becomes the 3rd player in history to put one into the CF bleachers at Comiskey Park when he connects in the 6th against Chicago's Billy Wynne in a 2–1 loss in eight innings. The Sox also win the opener, 11–4, to break their eight game losing streak. Bill Melton leads to 5-homer offense with a pair and five RBIs. » October 1, 1970: The Angels Alex Johnson grounds out and then hits two singles to edge Boston's Carl Yastrzemski for the American League batting title, .3290 to .3286. Johnson leaves the game after his 2nd hit as the Angels go 13 innings to top the White Sox, 5–4. Yastrzemski goes 12-for-20 over his last six games. The Red Sox ended their season September 30th. » June 13, 1971: Chico Ruiz allegedly pulls a gun on Angels teammate Alex Johnson in a clubhouse incident. There are no witnesses to the episode, which Ruiz denies, and it is one of a series of problems involving Johnson in 1971. Both players are hitless pinch hitters in the 5–2 loss to Washington. » June 26, 1971: Last year's American League batting king Alex Johnson is suspended by the Angels following a series of incidents (including five benchings and 29 fines) resulting from his failure to hustle. » September 28, 1971: Arbitrator Lewis Gill rules that Alex Johnson was "emotionally incapacitated" during events leading to his June suspension, and that he should be treated the same as a physically disabled player. Johnson wins nearly $30,000 in back salary from the Angels. » October 5, 1971: The Angels trade moody OF Alex Johnson and C Gerry Moses to the Indians for outfielders Vada Pinson and Frank Baker, and P Alan Foster. » August 23, 1972: Chicago's Dick Allen becomes the 4th ML player (Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg, and Alex Johnson are the others) to hit one into the CF bleachers in Comiskey Park when he connects off New York's Lindy McDaniel. The 2-run homer in the 7th ices the 5–2 win for the Sox. In 1972, all the Chicago Wednesday games are in the afternoon, and Harry Caray announces them while sitting in the CF bleachers. Allen's drive misses Caray by just a few rows. » September 10, 1974: Former batting champion Alex Johnson, purchased by the Yankees from the Texas Rangers yesterday, arrives in Boston during the Red Sox–Yankee game. With the score tied 1–1 in the 12th, Johnson socks a pinch-HR to win it for New York 2–1.