Deron Johnson

Deron Roger Johnson (July 17, 1938 – April 23, 1992) was an American professional baseball infielder, outfielder, designated hitter, and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox, over the course of his 16-year big league playing career. While an active player, Johnson stood tall, weighing . He batted and threw right-handed.

Johnson later served as an MLB hitting coach for 12 seasons with the California Angels (–; –), New York Mets , Phillies (–), Seattle Mariners (–), and White Sox . He was still an active member of the California coaching staff when diagnosed with lung cancer, which claimed his life on April 23, 1992,

Johnson's contract was purchased from Kansas City by the Cincinnati Reds on April 5, 1963. Playing for Triple-A San Diego, he topped the Pacific Coast League with 33 home runs, tied for fifth with 91 runs batted in (RBI), and was picked as first baseman on the PCL All-Star team. 1964 was his first full season in the major leagues with the Reds where he posted a .273 average with 21 home runs and 79 RBI.

The 1965 season with the Cincinnati Reds was one of the best of Johnson's career, as he hit .287, hit 32 home runs, and drove in an MLB-leading 130 runs. Rose was quoted in 1983, "I had never seen anyone hit the ball harder than Deron Johnson." He finished fourth in NL MVP voting.

While playing for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1971, Johnson clubbed a career-high 34 homers and drove in over 90 runs. Further proof of Johnson's long-ball skill was evident on July 10 and 11, as he belted four consecutive home runs against the Montreal Expos, three of them coming on the 11th. Johnson hit .300 in the 1973 World Series while playing with the Oakland A's. He opened 1974 with the A's, but on June 24, he was released on waivers to the Milwaukee Brewers. On September 7, Johnson was sold to the Boston Red Sox, who were in the middle of a pennant race they ultimately lost. The following April he signed with the White Sox.

In 148 games for the White Sox, Johnson hit 18 home runs, and drove in 72 RBI. On September 21, after Jim Rice had been injured earlier in the day, the Red Sox once again needed supplemental power and reacquired Johnson. Johnson's last home run of his career came on September 27, 1975, off of Indians pitcher Rick Waits at Fenway Park.

In 1,765 games over 16 seasons, Johnson posted a .244 batting average with 706 runs, 247 doubles, 33 triples, 245 home runs, 923 RBI, 585 walks.311 on-base percentage and .420 slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .987 fielding percentage playing primarily at first base but also played at third base and the outfield. In the 1973 postseason, he batted .200 (4-for-20) with no runs, home runs or RBI. From 1958 to 1959, he served for six months in the U.S. Army under the Reserve Training Program, the first of several military stints during his baseball career. His son Dominick pitched in the minor leagues. Former teammate Gary Nolan named Johnson as one of the three nicest MLB players that he got to be around during his career, along with Willie Stargell and Hank Aaron.