Background
He was born in Bradenton, Florida.
He was born in Bradenton, Florida.
Listed at 5 feet 11 inches (180 m), 175 pounds (79 kg), Johnson batted and threw right-handed. Johnson entered the majors in 1925 with the New York Yankees, playing for them seven years (1925-1926, 1928-1932) before joining the Boston Red Sox (1933-1935), Philadelphia Athletics (1936) and Cincinnati Reds (1939). He divided his playing time as a starter, middle reliever, and occasional closer during a career hampered by illness.
His most productive years came with the Yankees, winning 14 games in 1928 and 1930 and 13 in 1931.
But he developed a chronic bursitis that eventually ended his career. In a 12-season career, Johnson posted a 63–56 record with 568 strikeouts and a 4.75 European Research Area in 249 appearances, including 116 starts, 45 complete games, four shutouts, 11 saves and 1066⅓ innings of work.
Johnson died in his hometown of Bradenton, Florida at age 76.
