Bill Johnson

Born: 10/18/1892 in Chicago, IL, USA

Died: 11/5/1950 in Los Angeles, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1916-09-22 | Final Game: 1917-07-30

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 170 lbs

Full name: William Lawrence Johnson

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Biography

Bill Johnson, born in 1892, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the early 20th century as a position player. His career spanned from 1916 until July 30, 1917, during a time when Major League Baseball was experiencing the transitional phase between the deadball era and the more offensive-minded play that would emerge in the 1920s. Johnson played a total of 52 games in the major leagues, where he recorded 23 hits, including one home run, and drove in nine runs. His batting average stood at .185, reflecting the challenges many players faced during this period characterized by low-scoring games and a focus on pitching and defense. Despite his modest statistics, Johnson's presence on the field contributed to his teams during a time when baseball was still solidifying its place as America's pastime. He also showcased his speed on the bases, stealing four bases during his career. While his time in the major leagues was brief, Johnson's role as a player during this formative era of baseball history remains a part of the rich tapestry that shaped the game.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
24.0	20.0	5.0	5.0	0	0	0	1.0	4.0	0	1.0	0.250	0.375	0.250	0.625

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Season	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1927	4.0	4.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
1945	24.0	20.0	5.0	5.0	0	0	0	1.0	4.0	0	1.0	0.250	0.375	0.250	0.625

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
52	124	8	23	3	2	1	9	4	8	18	0.185	0.241	0.266	0.507	-398.2

Career AVG .185 vs. league average .249 across their career seasons — 25.4% below league average.

Career OBP .241 vs. league average .313 across their career seasons — 23.2% below league average.

Career SLG .266 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — 18.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.507 vs. league average 0.638 across their career seasons — 20.6% below 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
1916	PHA	AL	4	15	1	4	1	0	0	1	0	0	4	0.267	—	—	—	—	0.0
1917	PHA	AL	48	109	7	19	2	2	1	8	4	8	14	0.174	.248 (-30%)	.312 (-24%)	.323 (-21%)	.635 (-22%)	-398.2

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
OF	34	0	35	5	4	2

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1916	PHA	OF	4	0	4	0	0	0
1917	PHA	OF	30	0	31	5	4	2

Career Games by Position

Position	Games
Left Field	2
Center Field	6
Right Field	27