Jimmy Johnston
Encyclopedia
James Harle Johnston was a major-league baseball player from 1911 to 1926. He played mostly with the Brooklyn Robins
of the National League
.
Johnston, who batted and threw right-handed, made his major-league debut on May 3, 1911 with the Chicago White Sox
, which was his only appearance that season, and did not return to the majors until 1914, when he played 50 games with the Chicago Cubs
. From 1916 through 1925 he was with the Brooklyn Robins. He finished up his career the following year, playing for two teams that year. His final game was played on September 11, 1926.
Johnston played all or part of 13 seasons, ten with the Brooklyn Robins. He played 448 games at third base, 354 in the outfield, 243 at second, 178 at shortstop, and 49 at first base.
He had a .294 lifetime batting average, hitting in the .270 to .280 range near the end of the dead-ball era
and going over .300 once the live-ball era
started. He stole 169 bases in his career, mostly from 1916 to 1923. He had little power, except in 1921 when he had 41 doubles and 14 triples.
He appeared in the 1916 and 1920 World Series
. In the 1916 World Series
he started two of the games, batting in the lead-off position. In the 1920 World Series
, he appeared in four of the games, batting second mostly but also batting sixth in one of the games.
Almost all of his managers were Hall of Fame
rs. Hugh Duffy
managed him in 1911, Wilbert Robinson
in his Brooklyn days, Dave Bancroft
in Boston, and John McGraw
in New York. The only non-Hall-of-Famer was Hank O'Day
in 1914.
After his playing career ended, Jimmy Johnston was a coach with the Brooklyn Dodgers
in 1931.
James married Nora Belle Jones on November 1, 1910. Nora was born July 31, 1888 and died May 14, 1974 in Chattanooga, Tennessee
and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery, Hamilton County
, Tennessee.
They had the following children:
James Hunter JOHNSTON was born January 10, 1913 and died September 2, 2001.
Dorothy JOHNSTON was born 1915. She died 1928.
Ruth JOHNSTON
Harris Gregg JOHNSTON
Caroline Virginia JOHNSTON was born October 23, 1922 and died February 4, 2006.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
.
Johnston, who batted and threw right-handed, made his major-league debut on May 3, 1911 with 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...
, which was his only appearance that season, and did not return to the majors until 1914, when he played 50 games with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. From 1916 through 1925 he was with the Brooklyn Robins. He finished up his career the following year, playing for two teams that year. His final game was played on September 11, 1926.
Johnston played all or part of 13 seasons, ten with the Brooklyn Robins. He played 448 games at third base, 354 in the outfield, 243 at second, 178 at shortstop, and 49 at first base.
He had a .294 lifetime batting average, hitting in the .270 to .280 range near the end of the dead-ball era
Dead-ball era
The dead-ball era is a baseball term used to describe the period between 1900 and the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1919. In 1919, Ruth hit a then league record 29 home runs, a spectacular feat at that time.This era was characterized by low-scoring games and a lack of home runs...
and going over .300 once the live-ball era
Live-ball era
The live-ball era, also referred to as the lively ball era, is the period in Major League Baseball beginning in , following the dead-ball era. During that year offensive statistics rose dramatically in what would be mistakenly attributed to the introduction of a new "lively" ball...
started. He stole 169 bases in his career, mostly from 1916 to 1923. He had little power, except in 1921 when he had 41 doubles and 14 triples.
He appeared in the 1916 and 1920 World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. In the 1916 World Series
1916 World Series
In the 1916 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the Brooklyn Robins four games to one.Casey Stengel shone on offense for the Robins in the 1916 Series but the Red Sox pitching core ultimately proved too much for the denizens of Flatbush...
he started two of the games, batting in the lead-off position. In the 1920 World Series
1920 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 5, 1920 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York-Game 2:Wednesday, October 6, 1920 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York-Game 3:Thursday, October 7, 1920 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York-Game 4:...
, he appeared in four of the games, batting second mostly but also batting sixth in one of the games.
Almost all of his managers were Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
rs. Hugh Duffy
Hugh Duffy
Hugh Duffy was a 19th century Major League Baseball player. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.-Career:...
managed him in 1911, Wilbert Robinson
Wilbert Robinson
Wilbert Robinson , nicknamed "Uncle Robbie", was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball...
in his Brooklyn days, Dave Bancroft
Dave Bancroft
David James "Beauty" Bancroft was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1930. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame....
in Boston, and John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
in New York. The only non-Hall-of-Famer was Hank O'Day
Hank O'Day
Henry Francis O'Day was an American right-handed pitcher, umpire and manager in Major League Baseball who worked as a National League umpire for 30 years between 1895 and 1927, and was the only person in major league history to appear as a player, manager and umpire. His 3,986 total games as an...
in 1914.
After his playing career ended, Jimmy Johnston was a coach with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 1931.
James married Nora Belle Jones on November 1, 1910. Nora was born July 31, 1888 and died May 14, 1974 in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery, Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Tennessee
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 310,935 . Its county seat is Chattanooga....
, Tennessee.
They had the following children:
James Hunter JOHNSTON was born January 10, 1913 and died September 2, 2001.
Dorothy JOHNSTON was born 1915. She died 1928.
Ruth JOHNSTON
Harris Gregg JOHNSTON
Caroline Virginia JOHNSTON was born October 23, 1922 and died February 4, 2006.
See also
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
External links
- His statistics, at Baseball-Reference.com