Ernie Johnson (shortstop)
Encyclopedia
Ernest Rudolph Johnson was a Major League Baseball
shortstop
. A native of Chicago, Illinois, he played for the Chicago White Sox
(1912, 1921–23), St. Louis Terriers
(Federal League
1915), St. Louis Browns
(1916–1918), and New York Yankees
(1923–1925). In between, he spent with the Salt Lake City Bees as their player-manager.
Johnson took over the White Sox shortstop job from the recently banned Swede Risberg
in 1921. He hit .295 and was fourth in the American League
with 22 stolen bases. In 1922 his batting average
dropped to .254 and he had the dubious distinction of leading the league in outs
(494).
He was acquired by the Yankees via waivers on May 31, 1923 and he batted .447 for them in a limited role. He played in two games of the 1923 World Series
against the New York Giants
and scored the series-deciding run
as a pinch runner
in game number six. Johnson spent the next two years with New York in a part-time role, batting .353 and .282. On October 28, 1925 at age 37, Johnson was sent to the St. Paul Saints
of the American Association
as part of a multi-player trade.
Johnson's career totals for 813 games include 697 hits
, 19 home runs, 256 runs batted in, 372 runs scored
, a .266 batting average
, and a slugging percentage of .350.
After Johnson's playing career, he spent several years as a manager in the minor leagues. He managed the Portland Beavers
from until and the Seattle Indians from until . After that, he worked for the Boston Red Sox
as an advance scout until his death in 1952.
His son was former major league second baseman
Don Johnson. His brother, George, was a long-time minor league umpire.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. A native of Chicago, Illinois, he played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1912, 1921–23), St. Louis Terriers
St. Louis Terriers
The St. Louis Terriers were a baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League in and . They played their home games at Handlan's Park. The St. Louis Chapter of SABR placed a marker at the site of Handland's Park, now on the campus of St. Louis University, on October 17, 2007. The team...
(Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
1915), St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1916–1918), and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1923–1925). In between, he spent with the Salt Lake City Bees as their player-manager.
Johnson took over the White Sox shortstop job from the recently banned Swede Risberg
Swede Risberg
Charles August "Swede" Risberg was an Major League Baseball shortstop. He played for the Chicago White Sox from 1917 to 1920. He is best known for his involvement in the 1919 Black Sox scandal.-Background:...
in 1921. He hit .295 and was fourth in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with 22 stolen bases. In 1922 his batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
dropped to .254 and he had the dubious distinction of leading the league in outs
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
(494).
He was acquired by the Yankees via waivers on May 31, 1923 and he batted .447 for them in a limited role. He played in two games of the 1923 World Series
1923 World Series
In the 1923 World Series, the New York Yankees beat the New York Giants in six games. This would be the first of the Yankees' 27 World Series championships...
against the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and scored the series-deciding run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
in game number six. Johnson spent the next two years with New York in a part-time role, batting .353 and .282. On October 28, 1925 at age 37, Johnson was sent to the St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
as part of a multi-player trade.
Johnson's career totals for 813 games include 697 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 19 home runs, 256 runs batted in, 372 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, a .266 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, and a slugging percentage of .350.
After Johnson's playing career, he spent several years as a manager in the minor leagues. He managed the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
from until and the Seattle Indians from until . After that, he worked for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
as an advance scout until his death in 1952.
His son was former major league second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Don Johnson. His brother, George, was a long-time minor league umpire.