Books and articles about Syl Johnson

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Syl Johnson's injury-plagued career extended for 19 unspectacular seasons as a starter and workhorse reliever. At various times, line drives broke his cheekbone, ribs, big toe, and three fingers on his pitching hand. He did have six consecutive healthy seasons, in which time he compiled almost half his career wins and appeared in three Cardinals World Series. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 6, 1931: The visiting Cardinals tighten their hold on first place by shutting out the Reds twice, winning 3–0 and 7–0. Flint Rhem allows three hits in the opener to beat Si Johnson, then Syl Johnson wins the nitecap over Larry Benton. The Reds are credited with a triple play in the 2nd inning of game 2, going from LF Nick Cullop to C Lena Styles to 3B Joe Stripp to 2B Tony Cuccinello. Cooch's last out is a hidden ball trick and since the ball is never returned to the pitcher, a triple play is recorded. » January 11, 1934: The Cardinals send C Bob O'Farrell and P Syl Johnson to the Phillies for P Glenn Spencer and cash. The Phils immediately name O'Farrell as player-manager. » May 16, 1934: The Reds send pitcher Syl Johnson and OF Johnny Moore to the Phils for pitcher Ted Kleinhans, Art Ruble, and OF Wes Schulmerich. Moore will turn out to be the class of the swap, hitting .300+ in the next three years. » May 8, 1935: Reds backstop Ernie Lombardi equals the major-league record with four straight doubles, all in consecutive innings (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th) and each off a different pitcher: Syl Johnson, Orville Jorgens, Euel Moore, and Franklin Pearce. The slow-footed Lombardi also has a "long single" in the 23-hit, 15–4 win over the Phillies in game 1. The Reds collect seven doubles and two homers. In the nitecap, the Phils snap their nine game losing streak with a 5–4 victory. » May 26, 1935: In Cincinnati, Babe Ruth K's three times and makes an easy out in his 4th at bat on "Babe Ruth Day" as his Braves lose 6–3 to the Reds. Syl Johnson is the winning pitcher. Tomorrow, the Babe will walk as a pinch hitter in the 9th as the Reds win, 9–5. » June 30, 1935: At Boston, the Phils unload on the Braves winning 15–5 to give Syl Johnson his 8th straight win. » August 26, 1940: Bucky Walters pitches the first-place Reds to a 3–2 win over the lowly Phillies. Bucky wins his 18th, driving in two runs with a homer and single. Ancient—40 in December—Syl Johnson then holds the Reds to three hits to win the nitecap, 6–1.