- Connie Johnson
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Connie Johnson Pitcher Born: December 27, 1922
Stone Mountain, GeorgiaDied: December 28, 2004 (aged 82)
Kansas City, MissouriBatted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut April 17, 1953 for the Chicago White Sox Last MLB appearance September 14, 1958 for the Baltimore Orioles Career statistics Win-Loss record 40-39 Earned run average 3.44 Strikeouts 497 Teams Connie Johnson, born Clifford Johnson Jr. (December 27, 1922 — November 28, 2004), was an American professional baseball player, a pitcher in the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball.
Contents
Baseball career
Kansas City Monarchs
Johnson played in his first game for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues at the age of only 17. After a great season, he was selected to the East-West All-Star game, and was the youngest player ever to do so. He was one of the pitchers on the Monarchs 1942 Negro World Series champion team that included future Hall of Famers Satchel Paige and Hilton Smith. In 1943 he took a break from baseball to fight for the US in World War II. In 1946 he returned to the Monarchs and played for them until 1950. In his final season in the Negro Leagues he made his second East-West All-Star game after going 11-2.
Canadian league
In 1951 Johnson played for a team in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. After leading the Canadian Provincial League in strikeouts, his contract was purchased by the Chicago White Sox after the season.
Chicago White Sox
After a couple of seasons in the minors Johnson made his major league debut at the age of 30 on April 17, 1953. During his first season he played in 14 games, 10 starts, going 4-4 with a 3.56 ERA and 44 strikeouts. After spending the entire 1954 season in the minors, he started 16 games in 1955. He finished the season 7-4 with a 3.45 ERA and 72 strikeouts. In 1956 he pitched in 5 games for the White Sox going 0-1 with 6 strikeouts and a 3.65 ERA. Overall with the White Sox he appeared in 36 games, 28 starts, going 11-9 with 122 strikeouts.
Baltimore Orioles
On May 21, 1956 the White Sox traded Johnson along with Mike Fornieles, George Kell, and Bob Nieman to the Baltimore Orioles for Jim Wilson and Dave Philley. He started 25 games for the Orioles in 1956 going 9-10 with 130 strikeouts and a 3.43 ERA. Johnson had his best season major league season in 1957, going 14-11 with 177 strikeouts and a 3.20 ERA. In his final major league season in 1958 he went 6-9 with 68 strikeouts and a 3.88 ERA. He finished his five-year major league career going 40-39 with 497 strikeouts and a 3.44 ERA.
Final years
In 1959 Johnson played for the Vancouver Mounties of the Pacific Coast League going 8-4. After playing for a team in Puebla, Mexico he retired after 1960.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Baltimore Orioles Opening Day starting pitchers Jeff Ballard • Steve Barber • Mike Boddicker • Hal Brown • Érik Bédard • Storm Davis • Pat Dobson • Scott Erickson • Mike Flanagan • Jeremy Guthrie • Jack Harshman • Pat Hentgen • Billy Hoeft • Connie Johnson • Jimmy Key • Lou Kretlow • Don Larsen • Rodrigo López • Dennis Martínez • Scott McGregor • Dave McNally • Bob Milacki • Kevin Millwood • Mike Mussina • Jim Palmer • Milt Pappas • Tom Phoebus • Sidney Ponson • Dave Schmidt • Steve Stone • Rick Sutcliffe • Jerry Walker • Bill Wight
Categories:- 1922 births
- 2004 deaths
- Negro league baseball players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Chicago White Sox players
- Baltimore Orioles players
- Baseball players from Georgia (U.S. state)
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