Charles Johnson (catcher) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Johnson
Johnson in 2018
Catcher
Born: (1971-07-20) July 20, 1971 (age 54) Fort Pierce, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
May 6, 1994, for the Florida Marlins
Last appearance
June 11, 2005, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
MLB statistics
Batting average	.245
Home runs	167
Runs batted in	570
Teams
Florida Marlins (1994–1998) Los Angeles Dodgers (1998) Baltimore Orioles (1999–2000) Chicago White Sox (2000) Florida Marlins (2001–2002) Colorado Rockies (2003–2004) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2005)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (1997, 2001) World Series champion (1997) 4× Gold Glove Award (1995–1998)
Medals Men's baseball Representing USA Pan American Games Bronze 1991 Havana Team World Junior Baseball Championship Gold 1988 Sydney Team

Charles Edward Johnson Jr. (born July 20, 1971) is a former American professional baseball player. He was a talented catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). Charles played for several teams, including the Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Charles Johnson was known as one of the best defensive catchers of his time. He won four Gold Glove Awards in a row from 1995 to 1998. He was also a two-time All-Star player. In 1997, he helped the Florida Marlins win the World Series. He is one of only three catchers in MLB history to play at least 100 games in a season without making any errors.

Charles Johnson's Baseball Journey

Charles Johnson was born in Fort Pierce, Florida. He went to Fort Pierce Westwood High School. After high school, he was first picked by the Montreal Expos in the 1989 MLB Draft. However, he decided to go to college instead. He played baseball for the University of Miami.

Later, the Florida Marlins drafted him in 1992. He played for their minor league teams, the Kane County Cougars and the Portland Sea Dogs, before reaching the big leagues.

Becoming a Star Catcher

In 1995, Charles Johnson quickly became known for his amazing defensive skills. He was only the fourth catcher in MLB history to win a Gold Glove Award in his first year. This showed how good he was at catching and helping his team, even if his hitting numbers weren't always the highest.

In 1996, Charles caught a no-hitter thrown by pitcher Al Leiter. A no-hitter is when a pitcher doesn't let the other team get any hits during a whole game.

World Series Champion

The 1997 season was a huge year for Charles Johnson and the Florida Marlins. He played in 123 games without making a single error, which was a Major League record for catchers. This great defense helped him get picked for his first All-Star team. The Marlins went on to win the 1997 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. Charles was a key player in the Series, getting 10 hits and hitting a home run. He also won his third straight Gold Glove Award that year. He even caught another no-hitter, this time thrown by Kevin Brown.

Moving Teams and Later Career

After the 1998 season, the Marlins traded Charles Johnson to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He then played for the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox. In 2000, he had his best year offensively, hitting .304 with 31 home runs and 91 RBIs.

In 2001, Charles was traded back to the Florida Marlins. He continued to play well, earning his second All-Star selection. He also caught his third no-hitter, thrown by A. J. Burnett.

After the 2002 season, Charles played for the Colorado Rockies for two years. He finished his career with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, playing his last game in 2005 when he was 33 years old.

Amazing Career Highlights

Over his twelve-season career, Charles Johnson played in 1,188 games. He had a batting average of .245, hit 167 home runs, and had 570 runs batted in. His fielding percentage as a catcher was .993, which is one of the best all-time for catchers.

Besides his four Gold Glove Awards, Charles was excellent at preventing runners from stealing bases. He threw out 39% of baserunners, which was second only to Iván Rodríguez during his playing time. He also led National League catchers in fielding percentage twice.

Charles Johnson is a member of the Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame, which honors great players from that team.

Personal Life

Charles Johnson lives in Miami with his wife, Rhonda. They have two sons. Their son, Brandon, plays NFL football as a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their other son, Beau, plays college football as a tight end for Georgia Southern University. Charles is also a cousin of former Major League Baseball player Fred McGriff.