Vic Johnson

Victor Oscar Johnson

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 160 lb.
• High School Eau Claire (WI) High School
• Debut May 3, 1944
• Final Game June 11, 1946
• Born August 3, 1920 in Eau Claire, WI USA
• Died May 10, 2005 in Eau Claire, WI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Left-hander Vic Johnson spent eight seasons in professional baseball after signing as an amateur free agent with the Boston Red Sox before the 1942 season. In his first year, the 21-year-old went 18-7 for the Eau Claire Bears of the class C Northern League, appearing in 32 games and pitching 193 innings, with a 3.08 ERA. Vic would endure a 11-13 split season in his second year in the game, with the Scranton Red Sox (5-1) of the class A Eastern League, and the Louisville Colonels (6-12) of the AA American Association (AA was then the highest tier of the minors). His double-duty season gave him a 2.95 ERA while pitching 193 innings in 32 games.

Johnson would make his big league debut on May 3, 1944 with the Boston Red Sox of the American League and went 0-3 with a 6.26 ERA in 27 games. Johnson also spent part of the '44 season back in Louisville with 5 wins and 3 losses and a 3.60 ERA. Vic was back with the Red Sox in 1945 and had a decent year as a spot starter and short relief pitcher, going 6-4 in 26 games and pitching 85 innings with a 4.01 ERA.

Things change and on December 12, 1945, Vic was traded to the Cleveland Indians with cash for veteran Jim Bagby Jr.. Johnson reported to the Indians in 1946 and appeared in nine games, went 0-1 with a 9.22 ERA and on June 11, he appeared in his final big league game of 1946 and his major league career. Vic finished out the 1946 season with three teams, - the Baltimore Orioles of the International League, and the Nashville Volunteers and New Orleans Pelicans, both of the Southern Association with a 3-2 record in 12 outings.

Johnson spent three more seasons (1947-1949) in the minors, two with the Oklahoma City Indians of the class AA Texas League and one with the Anniston Rams of the class B Southeastern League, winning 31 times and losing 33. Vic finished out his minor league career with a 68-58 record and a .545 winning percentage and appeared in 215 games while pitching 1,015 innings. Vic's numbers for his major league run show that he appeared in 42 games with a 6-8 record and a 5.06 ERA.

After baseball, he worked at the YMCA in Eau Claire and in the recreation department of the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI before his death on May 10, 2005 at Luther Hospital, in Eau Claire, WI.

Related Sites

• Vic Johnson at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors page