Don Johnson

Born: 12/7/1911 in Chicago, IL, USA

Died: 4/6/2000 in Laguna Beach, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1943-09-26 | Final Game: 1948-05-16

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs

Full name: Donald Spore Johnson

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Biography

Don Johnson was born in 1911 and made his mark in Major League Baseball during his career from 1943 to 1948. As a position player, Johnson appeared in 511 games, where he showcased his offensive skills with a career batting average of .273, accumulating 528 hits, 8 home runs, and 175 RBIs. His speed on the base paths was evident as he recorded 26 stolen bases throughout his career. Johnson’s achievements earned him two selections as an All-Star, highlighting his impact and recognition during an era characterized by the transition from the deadball period to a more offensive-minded game. Playing primarily in the mid-1940s, Johnson navigated a league that was beginning to see the integration of African American players and a shift toward a more dynamic style of play. His contributions to the teams he played for were significant, as he combined solid hitting with a keen ability to swipe bases, making him a valuable asset in the lineup. Johnson’s dedication to the game and his performance on the field left a lasting impression on fans and teammates alike, marking him as a noteworthy player of his time.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
4.0	4.0	1.0	1.0	0	0	0	1.0	0	0	0	0.250	0.250	0.250	0.500

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Season	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1944	4.0	4.0	1.0	1.0	0	0	0	1.0	0	0	0	0.250	0.250	0.250	0.500

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
511	1935	219	528	89	6	8	175	26	112	171	0.273	0.315	0.337	0.653	-1851.9

Career AVG .273 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .315 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .337 vs. league average .362 across their career seasons — 6.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.653 vs. league average 0.693 across their career seasons — 5.8% 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
1943	CHC	NL	10	42	5	8	2	0	0	1	0	2	4	0.190	—	—	—	—	0.0
1944	CHC	NL	154	608	50	169	37	1	2	71	8	28	48	0.278	.261 (+6%)	.325 (-5%)	.357 (-2%)	.683 (-3%)	-501.3
1945	CHC	NL	138	557	94	168	23	2	2	58	9	32	34	0.302	.260 (+16%)	.328 (+4%)	.354 (+2%)	.683 (+3%)	279.6
1946	CHC	NL	83	314	37	76	10	1	1	19	6	26	39	0.242	.256 (-6%)	.328 (-7%)	.358 (-19%)	.687 (-13%)	-712.4
1947	CHC	NL	120	402	33	104	17	2	3	26	2	24	45	0.259	.262 (-1%)	.336 (-10%)	.376 (-11%)	.712 (-11%)	-917.8
1948	CHC	NL	6	12	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0.250	—	—	—	—	0.0

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
7	29	4	5	2	1	0	0	0	8	0.172

Playoff Batting by Year

Year	Round	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
1945	WS	CHN	7	29	4	5	2	1	0	0	0	8	0.172

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
2B	495	0	1175	1457	94	267
3B	8	0	6	13	2	5

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	PO	A	E	DP
1943	CHN	2B	10	32	35	3	8
1944	CHN	2B	154	385	462	47	85
1945	CHN	2B	138	309	440	19	74
1946	CHN	2B	83	192	228	8	34
1947	CHN	2B	108	255	291	17	65
1947	CHN	3B	6	5	11	0	4
1948	CHN	2B	2	2	1	0	1
1948	CHN	3B	2	1	2	2	1