Tim Johnson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Timothy Evald Johnson is a former professional baseball
player and manager
. A shortstop and utility infielder in Major League Baseball
from 1973-79, he became better known as a manager when he was caught lying about his service in the Vietnam War
.
in 1967 as a free agent, Johnson was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
for Rick Auerbach
prior to the 1973 season while still a minor leaguer. Johnson played everyday for the 1973 Brewers at shortstop
, but lost his starting job next season to Robin Yount
, thus forcing him to settle in as a utility infielder. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
during the 1978 season where he retired a year later with a lifetime .223 batting average
in 516 career games.
, Boston Red Sox
and Chicago Cubs
.
and the interim management of pitching coach
Mel Queen. Johnson beat out several higher-profile candidates, most notably Davey Johnson
(no relation), Larry Bowa
, Paul Molitor
and Buck Martinez.
Queen remained on as pitching coach under Johnson and the two reportedly feuded extensively, despite Johnson's reputation as a good communicator. Johnson also had rumoured differences with several of his players, including Pat Hentgen
, Ed Sprague, and Cy Young Award
winner Roger Clemens
, all of whom left the team after the 1998 season.
Despite this lack of chemistry, Johnson guided the 1998 Blue Jays to a respectable third place finish in the AL East with an 88-74 record, just four games out of a tie for the wild card. It was the team's first winning season since they won two World Series
in a row in 1992 and 1993.
However, in late November, Johnson told several Toronto newspapers that all of these stories were completely made up. In truth, Johnson had been in the Marine Corps
reserves throughout the war, and trained mortarmen at Camp Pendleton while playing in the Dodgers' farm system. He'd also claimed for over 20 years that he'd been an All-American high school basketball player, and turned down a scholarship to attend UCLA.
During the 1998 baseball winter meetings, Johnson said that admitting the truth was like having "a 50,000 pound weight" taken off his shoulders. He said he'd lied because he felt guilty about going to spring training with the Dodgers while many of his friends fought in the war. He entered therapy, and called several of his players to apologize for lying.
, he apologized to the entire team, and later said that he didn't seem to detect a credibility problem. However, the next month brought a steady diet of questions about Johnson's credibility, as well as outside attacks (Sprague, for instance, called Johnson a "liar" and a "backstabber"). Finally, on March 17, less than a month before opening day, Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash
fired Johnson and replaced him with Jim Fregosi
. Ash said that Johnson's presence had become so much of a distraction that he felt he would have to fire Johnson "if not now ... 30 or 45 days from now." He decided that he had to act in order to save the season. In the years since Johnson's one season at the helm, the Blue Jays have never had an equal or better record than Johnson's 88-74 mark.
In 2003, Johnson became manager of the Lincoln Saltdogs
of the Northern League. In 2006, the Lincoln team joined the American Association. On September 25, 2008, Johnson resigned after six years. His career record as the Saltdogs' manager was 315-255.
On December 16, 2008, Johnson was announced as the inaugural manager of the Golden Baseball League
incarnation of the Tucson Toros
.
On November 12, 2010, Johnson was announced as the second manager of the Lake County Fielders
of the North American League
.
On July 9,2011, Johnson resigned from his Lake County Fielders Managerial Position
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
. A shortstop and utility infielder in Major League Baseball
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...
from 1973-79, he became better known as a manager when he was caught lying about his service in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Playing career
After signing with the Los Angeles DodgersLos 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 1967 as a free agent, Johnson was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Rick Auerbach
Rick Auerbach
Frederick "Rick" Steven Auerbach was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played from - with the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Seattle Mariners...
prior to the 1973 season while still a minor leaguer. Johnson played everyday for the 1973 Brewers at 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...
, but lost his starting job next season to Robin Yount
Robin Yount
Robin R. Yount is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and center fielder. He spent his entire 20-year baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers . In 1999, Yount was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.-Early years:Yount was born in Danville, Illinois...
, thus forcing him to settle in as a utility infielder. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
during the 1978 season where he retired a year later with a lifetime .223 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 :...
in 516 career games.
Scouting, coaching and managerial career
After retiring as a player, Johnson spent the next 20 years as a scout, coach or minor league manager for the Dodgers, Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, 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"...
and 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...
.
1998 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Blue Jays named Johnson as their manager for the 1998 season following the firing of Cito GastonCito Gaston
Clarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
and the interim management of pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
Mel Queen. Johnson beat out several higher-profile candidates, most notably Davey Johnson
Davey Johnson
David Allen "Davey" Johnson is an American Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Washington Nationals. He was the starting second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles when they won four American League pennants and two World Series championships between 1965 and 1972...
(no relation), Larry Bowa
Larry Bowa
Lawrence Robert Bowa is a former middle infielder, playing mainly as a shortstop, and manager in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
, Paul Molitor
Paul Molitor
Paul Leo Molitor , nicknamed "Molly" and "The Ignitor", is an American former Major League Baseball designated hitter and infielder. During his 21-year baseball career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Minnesota Twins...
and Buck Martinez.
Queen remained on as pitching coach under Johnson and the two reportedly feuded extensively, despite Johnson's reputation as a good communicator. Johnson also had rumoured differences with several of his players, including Pat Hentgen
Pat Hentgen
Patrick George Hentgen is a former Major League Baseball player. Hentgen was a right-handed starting pitcher in the major leagues and a Cy Young Award winner in...
, Ed Sprague, and Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, all of whom left the team after the 1998 season.
Despite this lack of chemistry, Johnson guided the 1998 Blue Jays to a respectable third place finish in the AL East with an 88-74 record, just four games out of a tie for the wild card. It was the team's first winning season since they won two 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 a row in 1992 and 1993.
Vietnam War stories controversy
This success was partly attributed to the stories Johnson would tell his players about his battle experiences in the Vietnam War. For example, he told Hentgen a story about his war experiences to get him to accept a different place in the pitching rotation.However, in late November, Johnson told several Toronto newspapers that all of these stories were completely made up. In truth, Johnson had been in the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
reserves throughout the war, and trained mortarmen at Camp Pendleton while playing in the Dodgers' farm system. He'd also claimed for over 20 years that he'd been an All-American high school basketball player, and turned down a scholarship to attend UCLA.
During the 1998 baseball winter meetings, Johnson said that admitting the truth was like having "a 50,000 pound weight" taken off his shoulders. He said he'd lied because he felt guilty about going to spring training with the Dodgers while many of his friends fought in the war. He entered therapy, and called several of his players to apologize for lying.
Departure from the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays were initially willing to stand by Johnson and let him return for 1999. During spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, he apologized to the entire team, and later said that he didn't seem to detect a credibility problem. However, the next month brought a steady diet of questions about Johnson's credibility, as well as outside attacks (Sprague, for instance, called Johnson a "liar" and a "backstabber"). Finally, on March 17, less than a month before opening day, Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash
Gord Ash
Gordon Ian Ash is vice president and assistant general manager for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was the general manager for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1995 to 2001....
fired Johnson and replaced him with Jim Fregosi
Jim Fregosi
James Louis Fregosi is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played from 1961–1978 for four different teams, primarily the Los Angeles and California Angels. In that franchise's first eleven years of play, he became its first star as the team's...
. Ash said that Johnson's presence had become so much of a distraction that he felt he would have to fire Johnson "if not now ... 30 or 45 days from now." He decided that he had to act in order to save the season. In the years since Johnson's one season at the helm, the Blue Jays have never had an equal or better record than Johnson's 88-74 mark.
Managerial record
| Team | |Regular Season | TOR Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League .... |
1998 | 162 | 88 | 74 | .543 | 3rd in AL East | - | - | - | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 162 | 88 | 74 | .543 | - | - | - | - | ||||
After MLB
Following his dismissal from the Blue Jays, Johnson spent four seasons as manager in the Mexican League, with the Mexico City Diablos Rojos in 1999-2002, Obregon Yaquis in 2002-03 and then with the Mexicali Aguilas in 2004-05.In 2003, Johnson became manager of the Lincoln Saltdogs
Lincoln Saltdogs
The Lincoln Saltdogs are a professional baseball team based in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the United States. The Saltdogs 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 Northern League. In 2006, the Lincoln team joined the American Association. On September 25, 2008, Johnson resigned after six years. His career record as the Saltdogs' manager was 315-255.
On December 16, 2008, Johnson was announced as the inaugural manager of the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
incarnation of the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
.
On November 12, 2010, Johnson was announced as the second manager of the Lake County Fielders
Lake County Fielders
The Lake County Fielders are a professional minor league baseball team based in Zion, Illinois, located in Lake County in the northern reaches of the Chicago area...
of the North American League
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
.
On July 9,2011, Johnson resigned from his Lake County Fielders Managerial Position