Wallace Johnson (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wallace Johnson |
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: December 25, 1956 Gary, Indiana, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 8, 1981, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 3, 1990, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .255 | ||
| Home runs | 5 | ||
| Career statistics | |||
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Wallace Darnell Johnson, born on December 25, 1956, is a former professional baseball player and coach from the United States. He played as a first baseman for teams like the Montreal Expos and the San Francisco Giants. Later, he became a coach, including being the third base coach for the Chicago White Sox. Wallace Johnson was especially known for being a great pinch hitter, which means he was good at batting when he came into the game to replace another player. He was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both sides of the plate, and he threw with his right hand.
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Wallace Johnson's Early Life and College Baseball
Wallace Johnson went to Indiana State University. He earned a degree in Accounting there. He was a very good student and athlete. He was even named to the CoSida Academic All-American team. This award honors college athletes who are excellent in both sports and academics.
College Baseball Achievements
Johnson was a co-captain for Indiana State's baseball team. He helped them win their first Missouri Valley Conference baseball championship. They also made their first appearance in the NCAA regional post-season games. During the regular season, Johnson led the entire nation in hitting with an amazing .502 batting average. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. In 1985, Wallace Johnson was honored by being inducted into the Indiana State University Hall of Fame.
Wallace Johnson's Professional Baseball Career
Wallace Johnson was chosen by the Montreal Expos in the sixth round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft. He was one of the first baseball players from Indiana to be drafted that year. He started his professional career in 1979 in the New York–Penn League.
Rising Through the Minor Leagues
By 1980, Johnson was playing in the Florida State League. He led that league in batting with a .334 average. He also led the league in stolen bases, with 58. Johnson was named the MVP of the FSL Southern Division. He also received an award for being the Minor League Player of the Year for the FSL.
Major League Debut and Pinch-Hitting Skill
Johnson played on championship teams in the minor leagues. These included the 1981 Denver Bears and the 1986 Indianapolis Indians. He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball for the Expos in September 1981. On October 3, he hit a crucial pinch-hit triple. This hit scored two runs and helped his team win their first-ever National League East title.
Wallace Johnson became famous for his skill as a pinch-hitter. He holds the Expos' all-time record for pinch-hits, with 86. He also played winter baseball for the champion Leones del Escogido team.
Playing for the Giants and Return to Expos
In 1983, Johnson played part of the season with the San Francisco Giants. He was traded to them on May 25. The next spring, the Giants released him. Soon after, he returned to the Montreal Expos as a free agent.
Breaking a Perfect Game
On May 2, 1988, Wallace Johnson made a memorable play. He broke up a perfect game bid by Ron Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds. Johnson hit a single with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning. This was the only hit Robinson gave up in that game.
Johnson led all of Major League Baseball in pinch-hits from 1986 to 1990. He played his final major league game on August 3, 1990. During his time with the Expos, Johnson was teammates with several players who later became Hall of Famers. These included Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Randy Johnson, and Larry Walker.
Wallace Johnson's Coaching Career
After his playing career, Wallace Johnson became a baseball coach. He spent one season as the hitting instructor for the 1994 Gulf Coast League Expos. He then coached for three years in the Atlanta Braves minor league system.
Coaching for the Chicago White Sox
Johnson spent five years as the third base coach for the Chicago White Sox. He was part of the 2000 American League Central Division championship team. This team led the league in runs scored and offense. They lost in the playoffs to the Seattle Mariners.
Former major league player and TV analyst Hawk Harrelson gave Johnson the nickname "Wavin' Wally." During his coaching career, Johnson helped instruct two more Hall of Famers: Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas and Vladimir Guerrero.
