Bob Johnson (infielder)
Robert Wallace Johnson, nicknamed "Rocky", was an American professional baseball player. Largely a utility infielder and pinch hitter, Johnson appeared in 11 Major League Baseball seasons, from 1960 through 1970.
Johnson was a member of the 1966 World Series champion Baltimore Orioles. He threw and batted right-handed, stood tall, and weighed.
Johnson played for seven teams during his 11-season MLB career — which began with the Kansas City Athletics and ended with the same franchise, when it was based in Oakland. He was a member of the expansion Washington Senators during their maiden season in the American League, then moved on to the Orioles, where he would play four full seasons and establish himself as a top pinch hitter. In 1964 he led the American League with 45 pinch hit at bats and 15 pinch hits. Three years later, in 1967, Johnson collected 13 pinch hits in 34 at-bats in a season split between the Orioles and the National League's New York Mets.
He was dealt along with Milt Pappas and Ted Davidson by the Reds to the Atlanta Braves for Tony Cloninger, Clay Carroll and Woody Woodward on June 11, 1968.
Although Johnson's career batting average was only.272, he twice hit over.340 as a part-time player, for the 1967 Mets and the 1969 Athletics. During the latter season, Johnson made 14 pinch hits in 50 at bats, in a season divided between Oakland and the St. Louis Cardinals.
In the field, Johnson played every infield position: shortstop, second base, third base and first base. He collected 66 pinch hits in 243 career at bats — to match his career overall batting average of.272.
Johnson died on November 12, 2019 at age 83.
