Bob Johnson
Born: 11/26/1905 in Pryor, OK, USA
Died: 7/6/1982 in Tacoma, WA, USA
MLB Debut: 1933-04-12 | Final Game: 1945-09-23
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Robert Lee Johnson
Biography
Bob Johnson, born in 1905, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who played from 1933 until his retirement in 1945. Over the course of his career, Johnson appeared in 1,863 games, establishing himself as a formidable hitter with a career batting average of .296. He accumulated 2,051 hits and 288 home runs, while driving in 1,283 runs. Known for his power and consistency at the plate, Johnson also showcased his speed on the bases, finishing his career with 96 stolen bases. His offensive prowess earned him eight All-Star selections, marking him as one of the standout players of his era.
Johnson played during a transformative time in baseball, navigating the league through the Great Depression and into the post-war years. His contributions were vital in the evolution of the game, as he represented a blend of power hitting and solid contact that became increasingly valuable. As a key player in the 1930s and 1940s, Johnson left a lasting legacy, remembered not only for his impressive statistics but also for his role in popularizing a style of play that emphasized both speed and power. His career remains a testament to the skill and competitiveness of players from this significant period in baseball history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.0 | 27.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0.259 | 0.333 | 0.296 | 0.629 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 30.0 | 27.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0.259 | 0.333 | 0.296 | 0.629 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1863 | 6920 | 1239 | 2051 | 396 | 95 | 288 | 1283 | 96 | 1075 | 851 | 0.296 | 0.393 | 0.506 | 0.899 | 37365.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | PHA | AL | 142 | 535 | 103 | 155 | 44 | 4 | 21 | 93 | 8 | 85 | 74 | 0.290 | 2938.2 |
| 1934 | PHA | AL | 141 | 547 | 111 | 168 | 26 | 6 | 34 | 92 | 12 | 58 | 60 | 0.307 | 2950.9 |
| 1935 | PHA | AL | 147 | 582 | 103 | 174 | 29 | 5 | 28 | 109 | 2 | 78 | 76 | 0.299 | 2660.8 |
| 1936 | PHA | AL | 153 | 566 | 91 | 165 | 29 | 14 | 25 | 121 | 6 | 88 | 71 | 0.292 | 2623.0 |
| 1937 | PHA | AL | 138 | 477 | 91 | 146 | 32 | 6 | 25 | 108 | 9 | 98 | 65 | 0.306 | 3464.9 |
| 1938 | PHA | AL | 152 | 563 | 114 | 176 | 27 | 9 | 30 | 113 | 9 | 87 | 73 | 0.313 | 3639.3 |
| 1939 | PHA | AL | 150 | 544 | 115 | 184 | 30 | 9 | 23 | 114 | 15 | 99 | 59 | 0.338 | 4222.4 |
| 1940 | PHA | AL | 138 | 512 | 93 | 137 | 25 | 4 | 31 | 103 | 8 | 83 | 64 | 0.268 | 2440.4 |
| 1941 | PHA | AL | 149 | 552 | 98 | 152 | 30 | 8 | 22 | 107 | 6 | 95 | 75 | 0.275 | 2603.8 |
| 1942 | PHA | AL | 149 | 550 | 78 | 160 | 35 | 7 | 13 | 80 | 3 | 82 | 61 | 0.291 | 2673.1 |
| 1943 | WSN | AL | 117 | 438 | 65 | 116 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 63 | 11 | 64 | 50 | 0.265 | 1236.1 |
| 1944 | BOS | AL | 144 | 525 | 106 | 170 | 40 | 8 | 17 | 106 | 2 | 95 | 67 | 0.324 | 4433.3 |
| 1945 | BOS | AL | 143 | 529 | 71 | 148 | 27 | 7 | 12 | 74 | 5 | 63 | 56 | 0.280 | 1479.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 39 | 0 | 328 | 27 | 5 | 39 |
| 2B | 28 | 0 | 58 | 76 | 9 | 23 |
| 3B | 20 | 0 | 27 | 41 | 8 | 5 |
| OF | 1769 | 0 | 4003 | 208 | 141 | 35 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | PHA | OF | 142 | 0 | 298 | 16 | 16 | 3 |
| 1934 | PHA | OF | 139 | 0 | 304 | 17 | 11 | 3 |
| 1935 | PHA | OF | 147 | 0 | 337 | 13 | 20 | 4 |
| 1936 | PHA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1936 | PHA | 2B | 22 | 0 | 51 | 69 | 7 | 20 |
| 1936 | PHA | OF | 131 | 0 | 289 | 13 | 12 | 3 |
| 1937 | PHA | 2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1937 | PHA | OF | 133 | 0 | 313 | 14 | 8 | 3 |
| 1938 | PHA | 2B | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| 1938 | PHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1938 | PHA | OF | 150 | 0 | 400 | 21 | 16 | 3 |
| 1939 | PHA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1939 | PHA | OF | 150 | 0 | 369 | 15 | 13 | 3 |
| 1940 | PHA | OF | 136 | 0 | 310 | 15 | 13 | 4 |
| 1941 | PHA | 1B | 28 | 0 | 254 | 18 | 5 | 29 |
| 1941 | PHA | OF | 122 | 0 | 287 | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| 1942 | PHA | OF | 149 | 0 | 318 | 18 | 13 | 1 |
| 1943 | WS1 | 1B | 10 | 0 | 69 | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| 1943 | WS1 | 3B | 19 | 0 | 27 | 41 | 8 | 5 |
| 1943 | WS1 | OF | 88 | 0 | 212 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| 1944 | BOS | OF | 142 | 0 | 270 | 23 | 7 | 3 |
| 1945 | BOS | OF | 140 | 0 | 296 | 15 | 8 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 39 |
| Second Base | 28 |
| Third Base | 20 |
| Left Field | 1586 |
| Center Field | 167 |
| Right Field | 27 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | LF |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 51.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 116.0 | 336 | 1 |
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 52.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1938 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 13.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1933 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 5.0 | 80 | 0 |