Lance Johnson

Who is Lance Johnson?

Kenneth Lance Johnson is a retired Major League Baseball center fielder. After graduating from Princeton High School, Johnson completed his education at the University of South Alabama. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in 6th round of the 1984 amateur draft. In 1986, he led the Class AA Arkansas Travelers with 82 runs, 129 hits, 6 triples, and a league-leading 49 stolen bases. At the age of 24, Johnson broke into the big leagues on July 10, 1987, In 1987 Johnson, playing for the Louisville Redbirds, was the American Association Most Valuable Player. From 1988-95 Johnson played for the Chicago White Sox.

From 1991 through 1994, Johnson led the American League in triples, becoming the first player in Major League history to lead his league in triples for four consecutive years. In 1996, he led the National League in triples, becoming the third player in history to lead both Major Leagues in triples.

As of 2009, he is one of only four players to lead a Major League in triples as many as five times.

His finest season came in 1996 with the New York Mets. That year, he accumulated 227 hits, 21 triples, 50 steals, 31 doubles, 69 Runs Batted In, 117 runs scored, and a .333 batting average, all career highs. This was Johnson's only season in which he was selected for the All Star team.