Johnny Callison, baseball player, 226 home runs, 1958-1973

Johnny Callison

Born: 3/12/1939 in Qualls, OK, USA

Died: 10/12/2006 in Abington, PA, USA

MLB Debut: 1958-09-09 | Final Game: 1973-08-17

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 175 lbs

Full name: John Wesley Callison

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Biography

Johnny Callison was a prominent American baseball player known for his impressive career as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1958 to 1973. Born in 1939, Callison made a significant impact on the game, particularly during the 1960s and early 1970s, an era characterized by fierce competition and evolving playing styles. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,886 games, amassing 1,757 hits and showcasing his power with 226 home runs and 840 RBIs. His batting average of .264 reflected his consistent offensive contribution, while his speed on the basepaths was highlighted by 74 stolen bases. Callison was recognized for his talents with four All-Star selections, affirming his status among the elite players of his time. Known for his strong arm and defensive capabilities in the outfield, he became a fan favorite and a key figure in the lineups of the teams he played for. His durability and performance in critical moments earned him a place in baseball history, as he left an enduring legacy that continues to be appreciated by baseball enthusiasts.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1886 6652 926 1757 321 89 226 840 74 650 1064 0.264 0.331 0.441 0.773 14746.6

Career AVG .264 vs. league average .250 across their career seasons — +5.6% above league average.

Career OBP .331 vs. league average .317 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .441 vs. league average .375 across their career seasons — +17.7% above league average.

Career OPS 0.773 vs. league average 0.692 across their career seasons — +11.7% above league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1958 CHW AL 18 64 10 19 4 2 1 12 1 6 14 0.297 .257 (+15%) .324 (+8%) .394 (+19%) .719 (+14%) 128.2
1959 CHW AL 49 104 12 18 3 0 3 12 0 13 20 0.173 .256 (-33%) .323 (-16%) .392 (-26%) .715 (-22%) -375.5
1960 PHI NL 99 288 36 75 11 5 9 30 0 45 70 0.260 .255 (+2%) .323 (+11%) .387 (+10%) .711 (+11%) 665.9
1961 PHI NL 138 455 74 121 20 11 9 47 10 69 76 0.266 .258 (+3%) .328 (+11%) .399 (+5%) .727 (+7%) 759.8
1962 PHI NL 157 603 107 181 26 10 23 83 10 54 96 0.300 .257 (+16%) .326 (+11%) .393 (+25%) .719 (+19%) 2258.1
1963 PHI NL 157 626 96 178 36 11 26 78 8 50 111 0.284 .246 (+15%) .308 (+10%) .371 (+35%) .680 (+23%) 2643.6
1964 PHI NL 162 654 101 179 30 10 31 104 6 36 95 0.274 .250 (+9%) .312 (+1%) .377 (+30%) .690 (+17%) 1916.2
1965 PHI NL 160 619 93 162 25 16 32 101 6 57 117 0.262 .245 (+7%) .310 (+5%) .371 (+37%) .682 (+23%) 2468.0
1966 PHI NL 155 612 93 169 40 7 11 55 8 56 83 0.276 .248 (+11%) .309 (+9%) .376 (+11%) .685 (+10%) 1197.5
1967 PHI NL 149 556 62 145 30 5 14 64 6 55 63 0.261 .242 (+8%) .306 (+7%) .357 (+14%) .663 (+11%) 1143.9
1968 PHI NL 121 398 46 97 18 4 14 40 4 42 70 0.244 .236 (+3%) .298 (+7%) .340 (+22%) .638 (+15%) 1014.1
1969 PHI NL 134 495 66 131 29 5 16 64 2 49 73 0.265 .248 (+7%) .320 (+4%) .369 (+19%) .689 (+12%) 1025.2
1970 CHC NL 147 477 65 126 23 2 19 68 7 60 63 0.264 .253 (+4%) .325 (+7%) .385 (+14%) .711 (+11%) 1076.5
1971 CHC NL 103 290 27 61 12 1 8 38 2 36 55 0.210 .249 (-16%) .316 (-6%) .365 (-7%) .682 (-6%) -324.1
1972 NYY AL 92 275 28 71 10 0 9 34 3 18 34 0.258 .243 (+6%) .310 (-4%) .353 (+11%) .664 (+4%) 97.6
1973 NYY AL 45 136 10 24 4 0 1 10 1 4 24 0.176 .256 (-31%) .325 (-39%) .378 (-40%) .703 (-40%) -948.5

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 1777 1690 3349 175 57 34

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1958 CHA OF 18 18 39 2 1 1
1959 CHA OF 41 27 54 3 1 0
1960 PHI OF 86 77 176 7 2 4
1961 PHI OF 124 117 227 10 8 2
1962 PHI OF 152 147 327 24 7 7
1963 PHI OF 157 152 298 26 2 4
1964 PHI OF 162 159 319 19 4 3
1965 PHI OF 159 154 313 21 6 2
1966 PHI OF 154 150 275 12 3 2
1967 PHI OF 147 144 286 12 7 1
1968 PHI OF 109 107 187 10 0 1
1969 PHI OF 129 128 273 12 3 3
1970 CHN OF 144 130 244 8 7 3
1971 CHN OF 89 82 158 3 3 0
1972 NYA OF 74 69 127 4 1 1
1973 NYA OF 32 29 46 2 2 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 199
Center Field 24
Right Field 1577
Designated Hitter 10

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1964 All-Star Game MVP

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1965 Most Valuable Player NL 24th 6.0 280 0
1964 Most Valuable Player NL 2nd 187.0 280 2
1963 Most Valuable Player NL 15th 11.0 280 0
1962 Most Valuable Player NL 18th 5.0 280 0