Lou Johnson
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| Lou Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| debut | |
| April 17, 1960, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Last appearance | |
| September 6, 1969, for the California Angels | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .258 |
| Home runs | 48 |
| Runs batted in | 232 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Louis Brown Johnson (born September 22, 1934 in Lexington, Kentucky), nicknamed "Sweet Lou" and "Slick", is a former [[Major League Baseball outfielder. From 1962 through 1969, Johnson played for the 1962 Milwaukee Braves, was back in the minor league for '63 and '64, then played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1965 - 67), 1968 Chicago Cubs, 1968 Cleveland Indians, and the 1969 California Angels. Johnson both batted and threw right-handed.
A star in basketball as well as baseball in high school, Johnson dreamt of playing basketball at the University of Kentucky under the legendary coach Adolph Rupp. However, at the time, members of the Southeastern Conference (of which Kentucky is an affiliate) weren't recruiting black athletes. Some colleges didn't even allow black students to enroll. [1]
Johnson was signed up by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1953. After moving around from team to team in the minor leagues for a decade, Johnson finally made it into the major leagues for a stretch beginning in 1965 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, after a broken ankle in early May sidelined their regular left fielder, Tommy Davis, for the remainder of the season.[1]
In the 1965 season, Johnson scored the only run in Sandy Koufax's perfect game when he walked, went to second base on a sacrifice bunt, stole third base, and then scored on a throwing error by the Chicago Cubs catcher, Chris Krug. In the 1965 World Series, Johnson hit two home runs, including the game winning one in the decisive seventh game.
In his approximately eight-year-long Major League career, Johnson posted a .258 average with 48 home runs and 232 RBI in 677 games.
Today, Sweet Lou is an integral part of the Dodgers’ Community Relations efforts and a member of the Dodgers Speakers’ Bureau, while remaining active with various charities in Southern California and nationally, as well. Johnson serves as a member of the advisory board of the Baseball Assistance Team, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping former Major League, Minor League, and Negro League players through financial and medical difficulties.
References
- ^ Murray, Jim (27 August 1965). "Lou Johnson keeps Dodgers in pennant race". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 7. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
External links
- Baseball Library - profile
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference