Cliff Johnson Marquee

b. July 22, 1947 · Houston Astros 1972–1977, New York Yankees 1977–1979, Cleveland Indians 1979–1980, Chicago Cubs 1980, Oakland Athletics 1981–1982, Toronto Blue Jays 1983–1986, Texas Rangers 1985

He hit 20 home runs as a pinch-hitter, which stood as the record until Matt Stairs passed it, and 196 in all across fifteen seasons in 3,945 at bats — a rate better than one every twenty-one times up, mostly as a designated hitter and pinch-hitter.

In April 1979, in the Yankees' clubhouse, a needling exchange with Goose Gossage turned into a scuffle and Gossage tore a thumb ligament, costing New York its closer for three months and Johnson his place on the roster; he was traded in June.

He caught 179 games early in Houston and had 568 walks in a career of 1,369 games. He hit 22 home runs for Toronto in 1983, at thirty-six. No Hall of Fame ballot ever listed him.

Honors

Award	Times	Years
Player of the Week	1	1983

Batting, season by season

Year	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG
1972	HOU	5	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.250
1973	HOU	7	20	6	6	2	0	2	6	1	7	0	.300
1974	HOU	83	171	26	39	4	1	10	29	33	45	0	.228
1975	HOU	122	340	52	94	16	1	20	65	46	64	1	.276
1976	HOU	108	318	36	72	21	2	10	49	62	59	0	.226
1977	HOU/NYY	107	286	46	85	16	0	22	54	43	53	0	.297
1978	NYY	76	174	20	32	9	1	6	19	30	32	0	.184
1979	CLE/NYY	100	304	48	82	16	0	20	67	34	46	2	.270
1980	CHC/CLE	122	370	53	86	11	1	16	62	54	65	0	.232
1981	OAK	84	273	40	71	8	0	17	59	28	60	5	.260
1982	OAK	73	214	19	51	10	0	7	31	26	41	1	.238
1983	TOR	142	407	59	108	23	1	22	76	67	69	0	.265
1984	TOR	127	359	51	109	23	1	16	61	50	62	0	.304
1985	TEX/TOR	106	369	35	96	17	1	13	66	40	59	0	.260
1986	TOR	107	336	48	84	12	1	15	55	52	57	0	.250
Career	—	1369	3945	539	1016	188	10	196	699	568	719	9	.258

On this day & linked events

1947

Born July 22, 1947

San Antonio, TX, USA

1972

Major-league debut: Cliff Johnson

Cliff Johnson made a major-league debut on September 13, 1972.

1977

Cliff Johnson's Three-Home-Run Game, 1977

Cliff Johnson hit three home runs for the New York Yankees against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 30, 1977.

1986

Final major-league game: Cliff Johnson

Cliff Johnson played a final major-league game on September 30, 1986.

Image: Unknown author Unknown, public domain