Cliff Johnson (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cliff Johnson |
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Johnson in 1976
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| Designated hitter / First baseman / Catcher | |||
| Born: July 22, 1947 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 13, 1972, for the Houston Astros | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 1986, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .258 | ||
| Home Runs | 196 | ||
| Runs batted in | 699 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Clifford "Heathcliff" Johnson, Jr. (born July 22, 1947) is a former American baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 15 seasons. Cliff was known for his powerful hitting. He played for many teams, including the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. He mostly played as a designated hitter. He also played catcher and first baseman.
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Cliff Johnson's Baseball Career
Starting Out in Baseball
Cliff Johnson grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He played baseball at Wheatley High School. In 1966, the Houston Astros chose him in the baseball draft. This was a big step towards playing professionally.
He spent six seasons playing in the minor leagues. These are teams that help players get ready for the major leagues. Cliff finally made his big league debut on September 13, 1972. He played for the Astros until 1977.
Winning the World Series
In 1977, Cliff joined the New York Yankees. He became part of a very successful team. The Yankees won the World Series in both 1977 and 1978. They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers both times. Winning the World Series is the biggest achievement in baseball.
A Memorable Moment
In 1979, something unusual happened with his teammate, Goose Gossage. Some teasing about hitting ability led to a heated argument between them. During the argument, Gossage hurt his thumb. He missed three months of playing time. This was a tough moment for the team. Cliff was traded to the Cleveland Indians a couple of months later.
Later Career and Retirement
Cliff later played for the Toronto Blue Jays. Fans really liked him there. He played until he retired from baseball on September 30, 1986.
Over his 15-season career, Cliff Johnson played in 1369 games. He had a batting average of .258. He hit 196 home runs and had 699 RBIs. An RBI means he helped a teammate score a run. He was also known for hitting many pinch-hit home runs. A pinch-hitter is a player who bats in place of another player.
Family Life
Cliff Johnson is related to another former baseball player. His brother-in-law is Mike Easler. Mike Easler was a left fielder in Major League Baseball.
