Bob Johnson

Who is Bob Johnson?

Robert Dale Johnson is a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of seven seasons with the New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

Johnson was a member of the 1971 World Series champion Pirates. The 1971 season was also his most productive, finishing 9–10 with a 3.45 ERA, including 27 starts, seven complete games and one shutout.

The Pirates faced the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series that year, and with the 5-game series tied 1–1 after two games, Johnson started Game 3. He out-dueled Juan Marichal at Three Rivers Stadium, pitching eight innings and allowing only one unearned run for the win. The Pirates went on to win Game 4 to reach the World Series for the first time in 11 years. Johnson didn’t fare as well in the World Series, losing Game 2 at Memorial Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles.

An alumnus of Bradley University, for his career he compiled a 28–34 record with a 3.48 ERA and 507 strikeouts in 183 appearances, including 76 starts, 18 complete games, two shutouts, 12 saves and 692⅓ innings pitched. He garnered 15 hits in 157 at-bats for an .096 lifetime batting average.