Cliff Johnson
Born: 7/22/1947 in San Antonio, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1972-09-13 | Final Game: 1986-09-30
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 215 lbs
Full name: Clifford Johnson
Biography
Cliff Johnson was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1972 to 1986. Born in 1947, Johnson made a significant impact over 1,369 games, accumulating 1,016 hits and demonstrating his power at the plate with 196 home runs and 699 RBIs. His batting average stood at .258, a testament to his ability to contribute offensively during a time when baseball was experiencing an evolution in both pitching and hitting strategies. Known for his versatility, Johnson played for several teams throughout his career, including the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, where he showcased his skills as a reliable run producer.
Johnson's playing style was characterized by a combination of power and resilience, making him a valuable asset in the lineup. He was part of an era that saw the game transitioning from the traditional small-ball tactics to a more power-oriented approach, which aligned with his strengths as a slugger. Although he finished his career with nine stolen bases, his primary contributions came from his ability to drive in runs and hit for power. Cliff Johnson remains a notable figure in baseball history, remembered for his consistency and impact during a dynamic period in the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1369 | 3945 | 539 | 1016 | 188 | 10 | 196 | 699 | 9 | 568 | 719 | 0.258 | 0.355 | 0.459 | 0.815 | 11650.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | HOU | NL | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1973 | HOU | NL | 7 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0.300 | 0.0 |
| 1974 | HOU | NL | 83 | 171 | 26 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 29 | 0 | 33 | 45 | 0.228 | 524.5 |
| 1975 | HOU | NL | 122 | 340 | 52 | 94 | 16 | 1 | 20 | 65 | 1 | 46 | 64 | 0.276 | 1668.4 |
| 1976 | HOU | NL | 108 | 318 | 36 | 72 | 21 | 2 | 10 | 49 | 0 | 62 | 59 | 0.226 | 868.8 |
| 1977 | HOU | NL | 51 | 144 | 22 | 43 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 23 | 0 | 23 | 30 | 0.299 | 922.4 |
| 1977 | NYY | AL | 56 | 142 | 24 | 42 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 31 | 0 | 20 | 23 | 0.296 | 922.4 |
| 1978 | NYY | AL | 76 | 174 | 20 | 32 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 30 | 32 | 0.184 | -146.6 |
| 1979 | CLE | AL | 72 | 240 | 37 | 65 | 10 | 0 | 18 | 61 | 2 | 24 | 39 | 0.271 | 869.1 |
| 1979 | NYY | AL | 28 | 64 | 11 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0.266 | 869.1 |
| 1980 | CHC | NL | 68 | 196 | 28 | 46 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 34 | 0 | 29 | 35 | 0.235 | 283.7 |
| 1980 | CLE | AL | 54 | 174 | 25 | 40 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 28 | 0 | 25 | 30 | 0.230 | 283.7 |
| 1981 | OAK | AL | 84 | 273 | 40 | 71 | 8 | 0 | 17 | 59 | 5 | 28 | 60 | 0.260 | 763.2 |
| 1982 | OAK | AL | 73 | 214 | 19 | 51 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 31 | 1 | 26 | 41 | 0.238 | 1.8 |
| 1983 | TOR | AL | 142 | 407 | 59 | 108 | 23 | 1 | 22 | 76 | 0 | 67 | 69 | 0.265 | 1833.0 |
| 1984 | TOR | AL | 127 | 359 | 51 | 109 | 23 | 1 | 16 | 61 | 0 | 50 | 62 | 0.304 | 1972.0 |
| 1985 | TEX | AL | 82 | 296 | 31 | 76 | 17 | 1 | 12 | 56 | 0 | 31 | 44 | 0.257 | 424.3 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | 24 | 73 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 15 | 0.274 | 424.3 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | 107 | 336 | 48 | 84 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 55 | 0 | 52 | 57 | 0.250 | 667.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 51 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 0.294 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | ALCS | TOR | 7 | 19 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.368 |
| 1981 | ALCS | OAK | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 1981 | AWDIV | OAK | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.286 |
| 1978 | WS | NYA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1978 | ALCS | NYA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1977 | WS | NYA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1977 | ALCS | NYA | 5 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.400 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 189 | 158 | 1549 | 79 | 12 | 134 |
| C | 179 | 149 | 770 | 76 | 21 | 11 |
| OF | 58 | 56 | 92 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | HOU | C | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | HOU | 1B | 5 | 5 | 47 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 1974 | HOU | C | 28 | 22 | 123 | 9 | 3 | 4 |
| 1974 | HOU | 1B | 21 | 16 | 147 | 9 | 1 | 13 |
| 1975 | HOU | C | 41 | 37 | 195 | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| 1975 | HOU | 1B | 47 | 43 | 407 | 21 | 4 | 33 |
| 1975 | HOU | OF | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | HOU | C | 66 | 64 | 312 | 34 | 8 | 2 |
| 1976 | HOU | 1B | 16 | 8 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 1976 | HOU | OF | 20 | 20 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | HOU | 1B | 10 | 6 | 64 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
| 1977 | HOU | OF | 34 | 32 | 49 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1977 | NYA | C | 15 | 10 | 56 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | NYA | 1B | 11 | 11 | 89 | 8 | 1 | 11 |
| 1978 | NYA | C | 22 | 13 | 67 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| 1978 | NYA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | CLE | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | NYA | C | 4 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | CHN | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | CHN | 1B | 46 | 44 | 468 | 16 | 4 | 34 |
| 1980 | CHN | OF | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | OAK | 1B | 9 | 5 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1982 | OAK | 1B | 11 | 7 | 66 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| 1983 | TOR | 1B | 6 | 6 | 47 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 1984 | TOR | 1B | 2 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | TOR | 1B | 3 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1986 | TOR | 1B | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 179 |
| First Base | 188 |
| Left Field | 57 |
| Right Field | 4 |
| Designated Hitter | 748 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Player of the Week | Week of 1983-06-24 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | TOR | AL | $725,000 |
| 1985 | TEX | AL | $683,333 |
| Total Career Earnings | $1,408,333 | ||