Jerry Johnson (minors02)

Jerry Dean Johnson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 185 lb.
• School Temple College
• High School McCallum High School
• Born November 7, 1955 in Austin, TX USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Jerry Johnson was drafted in the first round twice.

He was initially taken as a catcher by the Oakland Athletics as the 22nd overall pick in the 1974 amateur draft, one pick after pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, but he opted not to sign. He did ink a contract after being taken 11th overall in the Secondary Phase of the 1975 January Draft, between second baseman Lenn Sakata and outfielder Gil Kubski.

He struggled mightily to begin his career, posting anemic season batting averages that did not exceed .217 from 1975 to 1978. In 1979, he converted to pitching.

After finding little success behind the plate, Johnson did much better throwing to it -- in his first year as hurler, he went 10-6 with a 2.65 ERA in 36 games (12 starts) for the Gastonia Cardinals. He followed that with a 3.17 ERA in 27 starts for the St. Petersburg Cardinals in 1980. After an off-year in 1981, Johnson posted a 3.69 ERA and completed 10 games between the Arkansas Travelers and Triple-A Louisville Redbirds in 1982. He would spend parts of each of the next three years at Triple-A, going 6-19 with a 5.07 ERA in 49 games (28 starts) at that level overall.

All told, Johnson went 51-68 with a 3.78 ERA in 188 games (136 starts) over seven seasons on the mount. At the plate, he batted .200/.270/.262 with four home runs and 49 RBI in 549 at-bats.