- Earl Johnson (baseball)
Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#0d2b56
bgcolor2=#ba313c
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Earl Johnson
position=Pitcher
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date|1919|04|02|mf=y
deathdate=death date and age|1994|12|04|1919|04|02
debutdate=July 20
debutyear=1940
debutteam=Boston Red Sox
finaldate=June 3
finalyear=1951
finalteam=Detroit Tigers
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=40-32
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.30
stat3label=Strikeout s
stat3value=250
teams=
*Boston Red Sox (by|1940-by|1941, by|1946-by|1950)
*Detroit Tigers (by|1951)
highlights=Earl Johnson, (born on April 2, 1919, in
Redmond, Washington ) was aWorld War II veteran. He was also a pitcher for theBoston Red Sox and theDetroit Tigers . [cite web |url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Earl_Johnson |title=Earl Johnson - BR Bullpen |accessdate=2008-02-12 |format= |work= ] [cite web |url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/johnsea01.shtml |title=Earl Johnson Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com|author=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=2008-02-12 |format= |work= ] Johnson, who was nicknamed the "smiling Swedish southpaw", had a brother Chet who also pitched in the major leagues for theSaint Louis Browns . [cite web |url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Earl_Johnson_1919 |title=Earl Johnson - Baseball Library |accessdate=2008-02-19 |format= |work= ]Army Life
Earl Johnson, was also famous for being a
World War II veteran of thearmy , with the Army 120th Infantry Regiment,30th Infantry Division . He enlisted in December of 1941 and during that time he was awarded a Silver and Bronze Star and was commissioned a lieutenant.On the bronze star it read: quote|On September 30, 1944, in
Germany , during heavy concentration of hostile fire, a friendly truck was struck by an enemy shell and had to be abandoned. The fact that the vehicle contained vital radio equipment made it imperative that it be recovered before falling into enemy hands. Sergeant Earl Johnson and several other members of his unit were assigned to this hazardous mission. They courageously braved severe hostile fire and were completely successful in dragging the vehicle over an area in plain view of the enemy|Bronze StarMajor League Baseball
Johnson's debut was on July 20, 1940. For eight years, Johnson pitched for the
Boston Red Sox and theDetroit Tigers . He also pitched two years atSaint Mary's College of California and four years in theminor leagues (three atAAA ). For over 44 years, he was associated with theRed Sox as a player and scout, and during his time, he was affiliated in signing some players such asTed Bowsfield ,Mike Garman and Steve Lyons. His final game was onJune 3 ,1951 . At the age of 75, he died in Seattle,Washington .ee also
References
External links
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/historical/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=116582 Historical Statistics] at MLB.com
*Baseballstats |br=j/johnsea01 |fangraphs=1006450&position=P |cube=J/earl-johnson
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