Russ Johnson
Born: 2/22/1973 in Baton Rouge, LA, USA
MLB Debut: 1997-04-08 | Final Game: 2005-07-15
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: William Russell Johnson
Biography
Russ Johnson was a professional baseball player who played as a position player from 1997 to 2005. Born in 1973, Johnson made his Major League Baseball debut on April 8, 1997, and concluded his career on July 15, 2005. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 364 games, showcasing his versatility and skill on the field.
Johnson finished his career with a batting average of .264, collecting 221 hits, including 14 home runs and driving in 97 runs. He also demonstrated speed on the bases, recording 16 stolen bases. Known for his solid defensive abilities and reliable bat, Johnson contributed to his teams during an era marked by significant offensive production, as the game was transitioning into a more power-centric phase. His contributions were appreciated by fans and teammates alike, solidifying his place in the landscape of early 2000s baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 364 | 836 | 117 | 221 | 46 | 2 | 14 | 97 | 16 | 105 | 173 | 0.264 | 0.348 | 0.374 | 0.722 | -178.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | HOU | NL | 21 | 60 | 7 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 0.300 | 49.9 |
| 1998 | HOU | NL | 8 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0.231 | 0.0 |
| 1999 | HOU | NL | 83 | 156 | 24 | 44 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 2 | 20 | 31 | 0.282 | 81.6 |
| 2000 | HOU | NL | 26 | 45 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 0.178 | 0.0 |
| 2000 | TBR | AL | 74 | 185 | 28 | 47 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 4 | 25 | 30 | 0.254 | 0.0 |
| 2001 | TBR | AL | 85 | 248 | 32 | 73 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 2 | 34 | 57 | 0.294 | 439.7 |
| 2002 | TBR | AL | 45 | 111 | 15 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 16 | 22 | 0.216 | -319.5 |
| 2005 | NYY | AL | 22 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.500 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | NLDS1 | HOU | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1997 | NLDS2 | HOU | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 7 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2B | 75 | 57 | 119 | 176 | 5 | 37 |
| 3B | 179 | 117 | 81 | 249 | 15 | 27 |
| OF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 26 | 10 | 13 | 29 | 2 | 4 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | HOU | 2B | 3 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997 | HOU | 3B | 14 | 11 | 4 | 22 | 1 | 2 |
| 1998 | HOU | 2B | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | HOU | 3B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | HOU | 2B | 15 | 7 | 16 | 32 | 2 | 6 |
| 1999 | HOU | 3B | 36 | 23 | 16 | 52 | 4 | 8 |
| 1999 | HOU | SS | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 | HOU | 2B | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | HOU | 3B | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | HOU | SS | 5 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2000 | TBA | 2B | 18 | 15 | 27 | 55 | 2 | 9 |
| 2000 | TBA | 3B | 49 | 25 | 14 | 74 | 3 | 6 |
| 2000 | TBA | SS | 11 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 | TBA | 2B | 33 | 31 | 60 | 83 | 0 | 21 |
| 2001 | TBA | 3B | 36 | 28 | 21 | 50 | 6 | 6 |
| 2001 | TBA | SS | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | TBA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | TBA | 3B | 27 | 27 | 23 | 38 | 1 | 5 |
| 2002 | TBA | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | NYA | 1B | 7 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2005 | NYA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | NYA | 3B | 8 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | NYA | OF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 7 |
| Second Base | 75 |
| Third Base | 179 |
| Shortstop | 26 |
| Right Field | 3 |
| Designated Hitter | 10 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | TBA | AL | $575,000 |
| 2001 | TBA | AL | $270,000 |
| 2000 | HOU | NL | $260,000 |
| 1999 | HOU | NL | $205,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $1,310,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge | LA | 1992, 1993, 1994 |