Lance Johnson facts for kids

Lance Johnson, born on July 6, 1963, is a former American professional baseball player. He was known for being a speedy center fielder in Major League Baseball. He played for several teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees.

Lance Johnson's Baseball Journey

Starting Out

Lance Johnson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. After high school, he went to the University of South Alabama. The St. Louis Cardinals picked him in the 1984 baseball draft.

In 1986, while playing for a minor league team called the Arkansas Travelers, he showed off his speed. He led the team with 82 runs and 49 stolen bases. He also had 129 hits.

Johnson made it to the "big leagues" (Major League Baseball) on July 10, 1987, when he was 24 years old. He was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the American Association minor league in 1987. From 1988 to 1995, he played for the Chicago White Sox.

Setting Records

Lance Johnson holds a special record in baseball history. He is the only player ever to lead both the American League and the National League in hits. He did this in two years in a row! He led the American League in hits in 1995 with the White Sox. Then, he led the National League in hits in 1996 with the Mets.

He was also amazing at hitting triples (when a batter hits the ball and reaches third base). From 1991 to 1994, Johnson led the American League in triples for four years straight. No other player in Major League history had done that before him.

In 1996, he led the National League in triples too. This made him one of only three players ever to lead both leagues in triples. The other two were Sam Crawford and Brett Butler.

His Best Season Ever

Lance Johnson had his best season in 1996 while playing for the New York Mets. That year, he had an incredible 227 hits. He also hit 21 triples, which was the most by any player since 1985.

He stole 50 bases and hit 31 doubles. He also brought in 69 runs for his team and scored 117 runs himself. His batting average was .333, which means he got a hit about one-third of the times he tried. This amazing season earned him a spot on the All-Star team, which was the only time he was chosen for it.

Later Career and Nickname

After playing for the Mets, Lance Johnson joined the Chicago Cubs from 1997 to 1999. He faced some injuries during these years. In 2000, he played for the New York Yankees. The Yankees won the World Series that year, and Johnson received a World Series ring for being part of the team.

Throughout his 14-season career, Johnson played in 1447 games. He had a .291 batting average, 327 stolen bases, and 117 triples. He was also a good fielder in the outfield.

Because of his incredible speed on the bases and his uniform number "1", fans gave him the nickname "One Dog".

Today, Lance Johnson lives in Alabama with his wife and three children.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders
• List of Major League Baseball triples records
• List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders