Larry Johnson

Former MLB baseball player (Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox)

What is Larry Johnson known for?

Larry Johnson, born on August 17, 1950, was an American professional baseball player hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. He played as a catcher over five Major League seasons for the Cleveland Indians (1972; 1974), Montreal Expos (1975–76), and Chicago White Sox (1978). Johnson, who batted and threw right-handed, had a brief but impactful career on the field.

Johnson was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth round of the 1968 Major League Baseball draft. Although his time in the Major League was limited, he still managed a 14-year career in minor league baseball and achieved an even 100 career minor league home runs. His most prolonged major league stint was six games for the 1976 Expos. In his career, he accumulated five MLB hits in 29 plate appearances, including two doubles. He drew two bases on balls and was credited with one sacrifice.

Notably, Johnson was named after Larry Doby, the first African-American to play in the American League. Doby was a seven-time All-Star outfielder and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and a star for the hometown Cleveland Indians the year of Johnson's birth. Johnson and Doby had the honor of being teammates on three separate MLB clubs during the 1970s: the 1974 Indians, 1976 Expos, and 1978 White Sox.

Johnson's career concluded with his last game as a major leaguer on May 25, 1978. He passed away on May 26, 2013, in Tampa, Florida. His baseball legacy continues through his son, Josh Johnson, who also played professional baseball and coached with the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers.

For more in-depth statistics and information on Larry Johnson's baseball career, you can check out Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference (Minors).