Career
He batted and threw right-handed and split time between catcher, first baseman, and outfielder in the early part of his Major League career before becoming primarily a full-time designated hitter. As a catcher at San Antonio"s Wheatley High School in 1965, Johnson was the 83rd pick in the 1966 baseball draft by the Houston Astros. After six seasons in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut on September 13, 1972, and played for the Astros until partway through the 1977 season, when he was traded to the Yankees.
In 1979, he was traded to Cleveland shortly after a locker room brawl with closer Goose Gossage that put Gossage on the disabled list for two months.
In a 15-season major League career, Johnson posted a.258 batting average with 196 home runs and 669 Reserve Bank of India in 1369 games played. Johnson held the MLB record for pinch hit home runs with 20 until he was surpassed by Matt Stairs in 2010.
