Dick Johnston

Born: 4/6/1863 in Kingston, NY, USA

Died: 4/4/1934 in Detroit, MI, USA

MLB Debut: 1884-08-12 | Final Game: 1891-08-16

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 155 lbs

Full name: Richard Frederick Johnston

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Biography

Dick Johnston was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1884 to 1891. Born in 1863, Johnston played primarily as a position player during an era characterized by the early development of professional baseball, moving away from its rough-and-tumble roots into a more established sport. Over the course of his career, he participated in 746 games, during which he amassed 751 hits and recorded 33 home runs, alongside 386 RBIs. His batting average stood at .251, a respectable figure for the time, reflecting the competitive landscape of late 19th-century baseball. Johnston was also known for his speed on the base paths, finishing his career with 151 stolen bases. This ability to steal bases was a valuable asset, especially during a period when the running game was becoming increasingly important. While he may not have been a household name, Johnston's contributions were significant in the evolution of offensive strategies in baseball. His career is a testament to the game's early years, showcasing the transition from the deadball era to a more dynamic style of play that would characterize the sport in subsequent decades.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
746	2992	453	751	109	68	33	386	151	133	283	0.251	0.285	0.366	0.651	-1927.6

Career AVG .251 vs. league average .253 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .285 vs. league average .313 across their career seasons — 8.8% below league average.

Career SLG .366 vs. league average .341 across their career seasons — +7.2% above league average.

Career OPS 0.651 vs. league average 0.654 across their career seasons — near 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
1884	RIC	AA	39	146	23	41	5	5	2	0	0	2	0	0.281	.243 (+15%)	.278 (+4%)	.327 (+30%)	.606 (+18%)	311.6
1885	BSN	NL	26	111	17	26	6	3	1	23	0	0	15	0.234	.244 (-4%)	.287 (-19%)	.325 (+14%)	.613 (-2%)	-89.1
1886	BSN	NL	109	413	48	99	18	9	1	57	11	3	70	0.240	.246 (-3%)	.302 (-19%)	.331 (+1%)	.634 (-9%)	-850.3
1887	BSN	NL	127	507	87	131	13	20	5	77	52	16	35	0.258	.270 (-5%)	.331 (-15%)	.373 (+5%)	.705 (-5%)	-747.1
1888	BSN	NL	135	585	102	173	31	18	12	68	35	15	33	0.296	.238 (+24%)	.290 (+8%)	.319 (+48%)	.610 (+29%)	2479.0
1889	BSN	NL	132	539	80	123	16	4	5	67	34	41	60	0.228	.263 (-13%)	.334 (-15%)	.357 (-16%)	.691 (-15%)	-1685.9
1890	BSP	PL	2	9	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.111	—	—	—	—	0.0
1890	NYP	PL	77	306	37	74	9	7	1	43	7	18	25	0.242	.260 (-7%)	.336 (-14%)	.351 (-7%)	.687 (-11%)	0.0
1891	CN3	AA	99	376	59	83	11	2	6	51	12	38	44	0.221	.254 (-13%)	.331 (-9%)	.343 (-10%)	.675 (-10%)	-662.2

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
OF	743	0	1621	172	193	34
SS	4	0	3	3	2	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	PO	A	E	DP
1884	RIC	OF	37	86	10	15	3
1884	RIC	SS	2	1	3	2	0
1885	BSN	OF	26	40	8	9	2
1886	BSN	OF	109	243	29	33	4
1887	BSN	OF	127	339	34	27	9
1888	BSN	OF	135	286	30	36	3
1889	BSN	OF	132	267	22	26	6
1890	BSP	OF	2	3	1	1	0
1890	NYP	OF	76	164	18	21	3
1890	NYP	SS	2	2	0	0	0
1891	CN3	OF	99	193	20	25	4