Billy Johnson
Born: 8/30/1918 in Montclair, NJ, USA
Died: 6/20/2006 in Augusta, GA, USA
MLB Debut: 1943-04-22 | Final Game: 1953-05-10
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: William Russell Johnson
Biography
Billy Johnson, born in 1918, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1943 until 1953. A versatile position player, Johnson played a total of 964 games in Major League Baseball, carving out a notable legacy during an era marked by the aftermath of World War II and the evolution of the game. He was known for his solid batting skills, finishing his career with 882 hits and a batting average of .271. Johnson was a key contributor on offense, accumulating 61 home runs and 487 RBIs, showcasing his ability to drive in runs during critical moments.
Johnson's career was highlighted by his selection as an All-Star, underscoring his status among the game's elite during his playing years. Although he may not have been among the most prominent stars of his era, his consistent performance and reliability on the field made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for. With 13 stolen bases to his name, Johnson also demonstrated speed and agility, adding another dimension to his game. His contributions to baseball during the 1940s and early 1950s remain a testament to his skill and dedication to the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 964 | 3253 | 419 | 882 | 141 | 33 | 61 | 487 | 13 | 347 | 290 | 0.271 | 0.346 | 0.391 | 0.737 | 2608.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | NYY | AL | 155 | 592 | 70 | 166 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 94 | 3 | 53 | 30 | 0.280 | 743.8 |
| 1946 | NYY | AL | 85 | 296 | 51 | 77 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 1 | 31 | 42 | 0.260 | 193.9 |
| 1947 | NYY | AL | 132 | 494 | 67 | 141 | 19 | 8 | 10 | 95 | 1 | 44 | 43 | 0.285 | 712.6 |
| 1948 | NYY | AL | 127 | 446 | 59 | 131 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 64 | 0 | 41 | 30 | 0.294 | 932.4 |
| 1949 | NYY | AL | 113 | 329 | 48 | 82 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 56 | 1 | 48 | 44 | 0.249 | 8.5 |
| 1950 | NYY | AL | 108 | 327 | 44 | 85 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 40 | 1 | 42 | 30 | 0.260 | -193.3 |
| 1951 | NYY | AL | 15 | 40 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0.300 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | STL | NL | 124 | 442 | 52 | 116 | 23 | 1 | 14 | 64 | 5 | 46 | 49 | 0.262 | 0.0 |
| 1952 | STL | NL | 94 | 282 | 23 | 71 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 1 | 34 | 21 | 0.252 | -177.3 |
| 1953 | STL | NL | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 59 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 0.237 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | WS | NYA | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 |
| 1949 | WS | NYA | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.143 |
| 1947 | WS | NYA | 7 | 26 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0.269 |
| 1943 | WS | NYA | 5 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.300 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 26 | 0 | 144 | 10 | 3 | 11 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 897 | 0 | 860 | 1728 | 111 | 163 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | NYA | 3B | 155 | 0 | 183 | 326 | 18 | 32 |
| 1946 | NYA | 3B | 74 | 0 | 71 | 163 | 11 | 15 |
| 1947 | NYA | 3B | 132 | 0 | 136 | 204 | 17 | 12 |
| 1948 | NYA | 3B | 118 | 0 | 147 | 213 | 20 | 25 |
| 1949 | NYA | 1B | 21 | 0 | 130 | 10 | 2 | 10 |
| 1949 | NYA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1949 | NYA | 3B | 81 | 0 | 77 | 136 | 11 | 16 |
| 1950 | NYA | 1B | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1950 | NYA | 3B | 100 | 0 | 82 | 169 | 11 | 20 |
| 1951 | NYA | 3B | 13 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | SLN | 3B | 124 | 0 | 99 | 316 | 10 | 32 |
| 1952 | SLN | 3B | 89 | 0 | 56 | 177 | 12 | 10 |
| 1953 | SLN | 3B | 11 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 26 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 898 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1943 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1943 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 9.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 135.0 | 336 | 3 |