Lou Johnson (johnsjo01)

John Louis Johnson
born John Louis Mercer

• Bats Unknown, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut September 11, 1894
• Final Game September 26, 1894
• Born November 18, 1869 in Pekin, IL USA
• Died January 28, 1941 in Kansas City, MO USA

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Biographical Information

John Johnson (also known as "Lou") came to the majors for a couple of weeks in 1894. He pitched for a Philadelphia Phillies team remembered for having a set of outfielders who all hit over .400 that season. Johnson had an ERA over 6.00, but then it was a big-hitting year and the team ERA was 5.63.

Johnson was born in Pekin, IL. He played in the minors for several teams during the 1890s, mostly in the Western League and the Western Association.

He was quite possibly called "Lou" because there were several other sports figures named John Johnson at the time, so many that Sporting Life took to calling them "John S. Johnson", "John M. Johnson", etc. Presumably the name "Lou Johnson" was, at the time, less common.

He managed an independent club in Hamilton, MO in 1897.

He is not to be confused with the later major league player named Lou Johnson ("Sweet Lou Johnson"), whose first name was indeed Louis.