Don Johnson

Born: 11/12/1926 in Portland, OR, USA

Died: 2/10/2015 in Portland, OR, USA

MLB Debut: 1947-04-20 | Final Game: 1958-09-24

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 200 lbs

Full name: Donald Roy Johnson

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Biography

Don Johnson, born in 1926, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1947 to 1958. Known for his competitive spirit and reliable presence on the mound, Johnson finished his career with a record of 27-38 and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.78. Over the course of his time in Major League Baseball, he struck out a total of 262 batters and recorded 12 saves, showcasing his ability to not only start games but also contribute in high-pressure situations. During a career that unfolded in the post-World War II era, Johnson played in a time when baseball was experiencing significant changes, including the gradual integration of players and the evolution of pitching strategies. While he may not have achieved the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries, his contributions to the teams he played for were noteworthy, as he provided depth to pitching staffs during a transformative period in the sport’s history. Johnson's dedication to the game and his resilience on the mound left a lasting impression on the teams and fans who followed his career.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
27	38	198	70	17	5	12	631.0	712	335	55	285	262	4.78	0

Career ERA 4.78 vs. league average 3.98 across their career seasons — 20.2% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1947	NYY	AL	4	3	15	8	2	0	0	54.3	57	22	23	16	3.64	3.97 (+8%)	-
1950	NYY	AL	1	0	8	0	0	0	0	18.0	35	20	12	9	10.00	4.36 (-129%)	-
1950	SLA	AL	5	6	25	12	4	1	1	96.0	126	65	55	31	6.09	4.36 (-40%)	-3001.8
1951	SLA	AL	0	1	6	3	0	0	0	15.0	27	21	18	8	12.60	4.04 (-212%)	-1745.4
1951	WSN	AL	7	11	21	20	8	1	0	143.7	138	63	58	52	3.95	4.04 (+2%)	-
1952	WSN	AL	0	5	29	6	0	0	2	69.0	80	34	33	37	4.43	3.70 (-20%)	-
1954	CHW	AL	8	7	46	16	3	3	7	144.0	129	50	43	68	3.12	3.90 (+20%)	-
1955	BAL	AL	2	4	31	5	0	0	1	68.0	89	44	35	27	5.82	4.00 (-46%)	199.6
1958	SFG	NL	0	1	17	0	0	0	1	23.0	31	16	8	14	6.26	3.86 (-62%)	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
198	155	1	9	1	0	0	7	0	5	47	0.058	0.087	0.065	0.151	0.0

Career AVG .058 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — 77.7% below league average.

Career OBP .087 vs. league average .334 across their career seasons — 74.0% below league average.

Career SLG .065 vs. league average .387 across their career seasons — 83.3% below league average.

Career OPS 0.151 vs. league average 0.721 across their career seasons — 79.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS
1947	NYY	AL	15	13	0	0	0	0	1	8	0.000	—	—	—	—
1950	NYY	AL	8	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—
1950	SLA	AL	25	29	0	2	0	1	1	6	0.069	—	—	—	—
1951	SLA	AL	6	3	0	1	0	1	0	1	0.333	—	—	—	—
1951	WSN	AL	21	47	1	4	1	4	1	11	0.085	—	—	—	—
1952	WSN	AL	29	13	0	1	0	0	0	3	0.077	—	—	—	—
1954	CHW	AL	46	35	0	1	0	1	2	12	0.029	—	—	—	—
1955	BAL	AL	31	10	0	0	0	0	0	4	0.000	—	—	—	—
1958	SFG	NL	17	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—