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 an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball for 15 seasons. Cliff was known for his powerful hitting. He played for several teams, including the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays. He mostly played as a designated hitter, but also as a catcher and first baseman. Cliff batted and threw with his right hand.
Contents
Baseball Career Highlights
Early Days and Draft
Cliff Johnson started his baseball journey as a catcher. He played for Wheatley High School in San Antonio, Texas. In 1966, the Houston Astros picked him in the baseball draft. He was the 83rd player chosen that year.
Making it to the Major Leagues
After playing for six seasons in the minor leagues, Cliff made his big league debut. This happened on September 13, 1972. He played for the Astros until the middle of the 1977 season.
Winning the World Series with the Yankees
In 1977, Cliff Johnson was traded to the New York Yankees. He became a key part of their team. The Yankees won the World Series in both 1977 and 1978. They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in both championship series.
A Disagreement and a Trade
During his time with the Yankees, a disagreement happened between Cliff and his teammate, Goose Gossage. This led to an injury for Gossage, who missed three months of the season. The Yankees' owner, George Steinbrenner, was very upset. He fined both players. Cliff Johnson was traded to the Cleveland Indians a couple of months later.
Later Career and Retirement
After playing for the Indians, Cliff also played for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics. He then joined the Toronto Blue Jays in the mid-1980s. Fans in Toronto really liked him. He retired from baseball on September 30, 1986.
Career Statistics and Records
Over his 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, Cliff Johnson played in 1369 games. He had a batting average of .258. He hit 196 home runs and had 699 RBI. Cliff also held an impressive record for pinch-hit home runs. He hit 20 of them, which was the most in MLB history for a long time. This record was later broken by Matt Stairs in 2010.
Personal Life
Cliff Johnson is related to another former Major League player. He is the brother-in-law of Mike Easler, who played as a left fielder.
